Papanikolas' fine skills as a writer seldom give way to shortcuts, never to triteness or sentimentality. The novel nurtures its own light, its own forward movement, its own life.
Nothing is imposed.
Utah is lucky to have Papanikolas, and should be grateful for the rich and significant history her work represents. In 1906 a young, semiliterate Greek arrived in America with a few dollars in his pocket and his people's legacy of proverbs, superstitions, and cultural traits to guide him through the dangers and opportunities of a new world. The Time of the Little Black Bird begins with the story of this young man and his plan to build a future for his family as it makes its way in America. Told in a clear-eyed yet compassionate voice, The Time of the Little Black Bird is a novel of generations, loyalty, betrayal, tradition, and greed. Centering on a family business that grows from a few shabby storefronts and a run-down hotel at the side of the Salt Lake City railroad yards, the story finds the Kallos family weathering the Depression and the war years to become rich.