At Politis To The Point, we speak to people whose daily work revolves around words and storytelling. This festive season, our series A Book Under the Tree turns to those who believe that a book remains the finest gift money can buy, a gesture of thoughtfulness that lasts long after the wrapping is gone.
Currently working as a parliamentary assistant in communications, Chara Xymara brings to her role a rich background in journalism and writing. Her relationship with books is both personal and instinctive, shaped by curiosity, admiration and the quiet joy of sharing stories with others.
For Chara, books have always been among the most thoughtful gifts one can offer. She smiles as she admits that she has already bought a couple to give this Christmas, eager to see the reactions of the people who will unwrap them. A book, she believes, is a gift that carries intention, provided it is given to someone who truly reads.
When asked which book she would choose as a gift this year, her answer comes without hesitation. She has selected Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan Novels, a tetralogy she describes as her absolute favourite. She is gifting it to someone who inspires and motivates her, much like the heroines who drive Ferrante’s unforgettable narrative.
Her own reading tastes are broad and affectionate. Alongside the Neapolitan series, she holds a deep admiration for the novels of Ann Patchett, each one a companion that has offered her a glimpse into a different creative universe. These books, she says, have shaped her as a reader and as a writer.
At the moment, Chara is trying to gently step out of what she calls her Agatha Christie phase. She is finishing At Bertram’s Hotel and is on the lookout for her next literary obsession. Recommendations, she insists, are always welcome.
The last book she received as a gift arrived only recently. Her friend Marina surprised her with Stavros Christodoulou’s new novel Six More Minutes (Έξι Λεπτά Ακόμα). It is already waiting on her bedside table, and she cannot wait to dive in.
About Chara Zymara
Chara Zymara is also the writer of a novella, Iremias 21 (2024)
She maintains a blog, mikreskakesistories.com, featuring short stories with strong female leads.