Book Review: "American Gyro"
- marthaengber
- 27 minutes ago
- 1 min read
Jim Zervanos’ newest book, AMERICAN GYRO is a deeply immersive dive into the world of a Greek-American family in the Philadelphia area.
When the book opens, we’re with teenager Johnny Demos’ as he and his family keep vigil at the deathbed of Johnny's grandfather, the patriarchal immigrant who established a restaurant on which the family continues to thrive. But Johnny wants to be free of the expectation he’ll remain in the area and work at the restaurant. He’s got his own dreams of being an actor that are no less grand and important than those of his grandfather when, as a young man, he moved to a new country with the hope of finding a place where his family could prosper.
The author does a wonderful job of describing the subtle, but important, interactions within the extended family, as well as tracking the internal shifts that push Johnny toward a life-defining—and life-changing—decision. Poignant as Arthur Miller’s “Dead of a Salesman,” and at times edgy as “The Outsiders,” the book also exudes the warmth of a young man trying to navigate family and what it means to dream.
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SCATTERED LIGHT, a novel, sequel to WINTER LIGHT, (Nov. 2025)
THE FALCON, THE WOLF AND THE HUMMINGBIRD a historical novel
BLISS ROAD, a memoir
WINTER LIGHT, a novel, in paperback and audiobook
THE WIND THIEF, a novel
GROWING GREAT CHARACTERS, a resource for writers
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