Sister of Darkness: A Memoir [Paperback]

Lili Bita (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 18, 2005

From chilhood on an idyllic Greek island to coming of age in a world torn by war to entrapment and final escape from a brutal marriage, Sister of Darkness is the powerful story of a woman's journey of self-discovery and personal liberation. Through the saga of her own life, Lili Bita expresses the quest of a generation for freedom, and the ongoing struggle of women everywhere against violence and oppression. Sister of Darkness is destined to be a feminist classic.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Author and actress, Greek-born Lili Bita has published more than a dozen volumes of fiction and verse, and has performed classical and modern theater on three continents. Her work has been translated into several languages and widely anthologized, and she has held residencies and offered master classes at leading American universities. Please visit www.lilibita.com for more information.

Product Details

• Paperback: 286 pages
• Publisher: Somerset Hall Press (October 18, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0972466185
• ISBN-13: 978-0972466189
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (136 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,582,947 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sister of Darkness, August 12, 2006

By 

Sharon Britton (Miami, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sister of Darkness: A Memoir (Paperback)

Sister of Darkness, by Lili Bita, was an interesting book. It was at times a little confusing, but yet interesting since it shared the struggling life story of Lili Bita. Through her book, she takes us through every event in her life. The book begins with her birth, describing how from the moment she was born she wanted to be free; then, goes on to tell all of the struggles she was faced with in life. She had a life filled with rules, things she could and couldn't do. With her mom always telling her what she couldn't do and the things she should do, and then having a father who belonged in the military, she never really had the opportunity to do the things she liked. I thought that it was very interesting to see that she didn't write the book in chapters, but I believe she did this because she was just writing her life through the different stages that she was going through. I think that this was a good way to release the frustration that she felt deep inside due to all the pain and suffering she went through most of her life. As a woman, especially in that time, things weren't as easy as they are now and women had fewer opportunities in the world. When Lili Bita moved to America in search of her freedom, and her dream of becoming an actress, she was faced with the exact opposite. She was abused and mistreated by her husband, the man she thought would finally give her the freedom she had always wanted. It's great to see that she later stands up for herself and stops the abuse from Taso (her husband). I think this book would be good for people to read, so that they can see that although we are faced with many struggles in life, if we put our mind and heart into it we can achieve all that we want no matter the obstacles.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sister of Darkness, February 2, 2006

By 

Brendi S. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sister of Darkness: A Memoir (Paperback)

It is a wonderful book that every reader will enjoy; not only because it is interesting, but also impulsive. Lili Bita is a passionate woman that takes you to the journey of her life. She expresses herself freely, and uses words that may shock you while you are reading the book. As you read the book; you will be able to see Lili's radical changes, how she learned what the real world is about, and how much she has to suffer to become herself.
The book was written with details, honesty and passion. She is a person that does not care about what others may say, and this helped her to become the person who she is now. She suffered a lot in her life, and was not supported by anyone. Also, no one told her that "beautiful" feelings existed; and this had severe consequences, especially when she got married to Tasos.
The story begins in a Greek island, where Lili was born. She grew up with a narrow-minded family, in which she was not allowed to experience or learn about the important steps in life. As she grows up, she starts becoming curious about the changes that are occurring in her body. Lili tries to look for an answer and begins to discover her body by herself. Years later, she learns there is something called "sexual encounters". Her curiosity starts growing faster and decides to experience it. After the first time, she becomes obsessed with it until she meets Tasos. At the beginning of their relationship everything was fine; but as time passes by, their relationship changes completely and her nightmare begins. In this part, the book becomes more interesting and strong. I will highly recommend this book to anyone. I enjoyed reading it, and loved the way she portrayed her own life.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sister of Darkness, February 2, 2006

By 

Isabelle Gueller (California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sister of Darkness: A Memoir (Paperback)

As a student who really doesn't enjoy reading for a class, this book is one of the few that ended up being a page turner. It has everything a college student needs to obtain motivation to read it. Using descriptive details, Lili Bita speaks boldly and honestly about her life's journey. She shares with us her years on a small Greek island growing up in a religious family, entrapment by war, her experiences in an unfamiliar place, her determination for freedom, and her struggle in an abusive relationship. Destined to be a feminist classic, Lili Bita's memoir is remarkable and is guaranteed to grasp your attention.
From childhood, Lili is taught by her parents how to live her life. She was to follow the rules of good girls from good families, rules she must not break. Never really understanding why, she follows them without questioning. As she gets older, her curiosity leads her to experiment with different things from her body, to breaking the rules, to boys. Lili wasn't too thrilled about the fact that she was only to marry, reproduce children, and become a housewife. She wanted more out of life. She wanted to act and write. Besides, she thought that if men could do what they wanted, why couldn't women?
Confusion strikes when she leaves the little island and is thrust into the real world. She has no idea what it's like and therefore has to find out on her own with the help of a few friends along the way. Although a lot of it is strong, the language in the novel is necessary in order to entirely grasp the author's perspective. Some of it shocked me at first, but I realized that if it were not used in the way it was, then the whole mood would change. The novel would lose its intensity, which is of major importance in the memoir.
As Lili later reveals to us the struggles of being involved in a brutal relationship, she actually becomes an inspiration to women who may be in similar situations. She shows courage, strength, and passion, all of which is truly amazing. She shows us that freedom is worth fighting for. She inspires women to hold on and to strive for their dreams no matter what the circumstances. She also shows her readers that it's okay to make mistakes because in the end, it all leads you where you're meant to be. Lili Bita, a talented, passionate writer, should be very proud of her work.