Welcome to Litsy!

Continuing the countdown of my books, from 1st to 25th, THE JACKAL‘S MISTRESS. Today it‘s my 15th, THE SANDCASTLE GIRLS (2012), a love story set in the midst of the Armenian Genocide. As a grandson of two survivors, this is a profoundly important book to me.

Do you like historical fiction? Look what‘s on sale for $1.99, my love story set in the midst of the ArmenianGenocide !

An important part of history, but I didn't really care for the book.

“She describes…how once she built a sandcastle near Truro. She tells him she gets seasick. She prefers cats. She likes Dickens. She talks and talks because whenever she is silent, she finds herself looking at him, and her breath grows a little short." -- From The Sandcastle Girls, my love story set amidst the Armenian Genocide, published 11 years ago this week. Shown here with my Armenian sneakers.

This was my first novel by Chris Bohjalian and it was intriguing, terrible and wonderful. #LetterS #AlphabetGame @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

I have two Turkish brother-in-laws.They are kind and caring individuals. I also have a friend whose husband is Armenian.Years ago,she mentioned to me that he did not like the Turks because of something that happened a long time ago. Now,I know what it is. I was fooled by the beautiful cover, and did not realize that this is a story of the Armenian genocide in 1915-1916. It is also a love story, but the horrors were difficult to read. Well written.

Very compelling story that could have gone very maudlin but didn‘t. There are even moments of dark and other types of humor. I was unsure about the dual timeline structure, but in the end I think it worked to make the story more accessible to current times. This is my second @ChrisBohjalian book, and I‘m intrigued by the range of topics between the two books, as well as among those I haven‘t yet read. #authoramonth

Just started this one yesterday and I was hooked with the Prologue! It‘s really good. #AuthorAMonth

🌸 🇦🇲🇹🇳⚔️🪖👩🏻‍🦰🧔🏽🧕🏽🥵💔
🪷 I would say The Violin Conspiracy…except I feel like Ray has already been through enough and doesn‘t need another adventure.
🪺⭐️⭐️⭐️

#wondrouswednesday

My goodness, this was wonderful. Beautifully written, perfectly paced, I really appreciated learning about this painful history with my first @ChrisBohjalian book. The way he makes this true story as riveting as a thriller is remarkable. I highly recommend this book, thank you @Soubhiville and #authoramonth for encouraging me to pick it up. Great on #audio too!

I‘m embarrassed to admit that I was woefully unaware of the atrocities of the Armenian genocide. This book educated me about events and people I probably should have known. Thanks to #AuthoraMonth for pushing me to read it!

I was unaware of the atrocities that happened to the Armenians until I read this book. OMG! I knew nothing about the massacres and the death of over 1.5 million people that took place in 1915. While I loved this book, I am still reeling to hear of the events. I am so sorry that so many of us are unaware. To say this book was a real eye opener is an understatement.

Thank you so much for the thoughtful package, @Soubhiville ! I almost never win anything, so to be one of the lucky random winners for #AuthorAMonth is the high point of 2022 so far! 🙂

The Sandcastle Girls was such a great read that I couldn't stop listening and sketching until it had ended. Set in Syria during the Armenian Genocide, this novel sheds light on love, cultural identity, courage, trauma, and perseverance. The reader is anchored by another character exploring her Armenian heritage in 2012. An important read, as there aren't many books that focus on Armenian culture and history. Beautiful, emotional!

I finally finished my study of Chrysopsis gossypina (Cottonleaf Golden-aster) while diving deeper into The Sandcastle Girls. Feeling all the emotions of this beautiful and difficult story while broadening my awareness of Armenian culture and history.

Completely unaware of the topic, I coincidentally began listening to this on Armenian Genocide Remembrance day, when President Biden announced this recognition. Bohjalian is a masterful storyteller, a #litsyauthor, and is of Armenian descent. I can tell this will be a difficult but important read. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/why-biden-e2-80-99s-armenian-genocide-dec...

Thrilled that right now you can download the ebook of THE SANDCASTLE GIRLS, my love story set in the First World War in the midst of the Armenian Genocide, for $1.99. A bestseller in 2012, USA Today called it "a deeply moving story of survival and enduring love."

UPDATE: US House passed H. Res 296 to publicly acknowledge and recognize the Armenian Genocide in October 29, 2019. Senate passed S Res 150 affirming the systematic mass extermination on December 12, 2019.

Beautiful, yet heart-rending.
Hopeful, yet left me morose.
The Slaughter You Know Next to Nothing About
Extermination of a race by any criminal way.
Cruelty, yet sacrificial love..

My emotions are all over the place. Anger, most of all because of the denial of this genocide from Turkey and America.

It just has to be read. #NeverForget

This is a very hard read.

I found one of my favorite books by one of my favorites authors, Chris Bohjalian at the Ye Olde Book Shoppe. This book and the other books will be placed in our Little Free Library. (Heathsville Virginia, Northern Neck).

I put this tough topic / prompt off for a while, but appreciated learning about the Armenian genocide from this solid historical fiction choice. It's set in current day and early 20th century. I like Bohjalian generally, but this time it was hard to connect to his characters. I have a few theories about why, but still liked this novel.

Full review http://www.TheBibliophage.com
#thebibliophage2020 #booked2020 #aboutgenocide

Buying a book secondhand, and discovering that it‘s an autographed copy. #serendipity #beautifulwords @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @OriginalCyn620

Good as always.

#Syria
#LetsTravelAugust

#TBR

Part of this is set in #Syria. #letstravelaugust @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @OriginalCyn620

Amazingly beautiful day here in Queens, NY - sitting at my pool club looking at bright, blue skies and wishing I could bottle this day and save it for January! But will settle for starting this one!

Seven years ago month, THE SANDCASTLE GIRLS was published. This will always be among the most important books I write. Deepest thanks to Doubleday Books, Vintage Anchor, Jenny Jackson, Dr. Khatchig Mouradian, and the Armenian National Committee of America. It was sold in 20 countries. #ArmenianGenocide #lovestory

Today is April 24, #ArmenianGenocide Memorial Day. On this date in 1915, the Ottoman Empire began its systemic annihilation of 1.5 million Armenians, 300,000 Assyrians, and countless Greeks. I‘m a grandson of two survivors. Turkey still does not acknowledge the crime.

Artist Josephine D. Coyle was inspired to paint this image after reading THE SANDCASTLE GIRLS. I am honored and humbled. For the 1.5 million. #ArmenianGenocide

I love it when a book teaches me things. This was a hard read. There are a lot of terrible things that happen. But it‘s also an important read. I learned so much. If you don‘t know about the Armenian genocide, read this book.

It‘s taking me a long time to read this one. I can‘t decide if I‘m more disturbed by the horrors of the Armenian Genocide or the fact that we have barely acknowledged it‘s existence. 1.5 million people. I‘m spending a lot of time stoping to google the facts. I‘m learning a lot.

Attention Charlotte Littens! Look who will be in your neighborhood! I may be driving to Charlotte! (PS: This is on Facebook).

Timer at 8:30pm. I really like this book though, so I‘ll probably read a bit more before bed.
#24B4Monday
@TheReadingMermaid @Andrew65

Today is Holocaust Remembrance Day. This gentleman? Armin Wegner, a German military field nurse in the First World War who courageously challenged Ottoman authorities to photograph the horrors of the Armenian Genocide in 1915 and then fought the Nazi race laws in the 1930s -- until he was imprisoned by the Nazis and then deported. He was the inspiration for Helmut and Erik in "The Sandcastle Girls."

The Croatian edition of THE SANDCASTLE GIRLS was just published. Thank you — hvala vam! #Grateful to Znanje Publishers. #lovestory #armeniangenocide

Well, this book is pretty eye opening. I‘m embarrassed to admit that I didn‘t know much about the Armenian Genocide so this is really an eye opener. I can‘t wait for bedtime tonight so I can read more!

Two awesome surprises in my mailbox!!! Thank you so much @Jas16 and @RebelReader ❤️📚❤️📚 I love the kindness and generosity that I see and experience each and everyday here!! It makes my heart happy 😘😘

#JustBecause

“In any case, the short answer to that first question—How do a million and a half people die with nobody knowing?—is really very simple. You kill them in the middle of nowhere.” If you haven‘tread this yet, what are you waiting for?
#Dar-El-Zor #sand #readingresolutions #quotsyaug18 @Jess7 @TK-421 @ChrisBohjalian

It was heartbreaking learning about the Armenian genocide, which I knew next to nothing about. There were things I did not like such as the two different time periods that made this a book that I liked rather than loved but I am still glad I read it. #reversereadathon

It was 6 years ago today this novel was published. It remains such an important novel to me as a descendant of two survivors of the #ArmenianGenocide. I will always be so grateful to the team at @DoubledayBooks . Beside the book you will see six stones. They are from Historic Armenia, from the world in Turkey from which my ancestors were ethnically cleansed: Van, Kayseri, Cis, Aintab, Diyarbakir, and Kharpert. I keep them beside my writing desk.

I knew _of_ the Armenian genocide before reading this, but I had no idea of the extent of the horror. That said, this is a very readable novel, with as much hope as devastation. It‘s characters will fill your heart, and you will want to tell everyone about The Slaughter You Know Next to Nothing About, and vow that it ends with this generation. Highly recommended.

Referring to the Armenian genocide of 1915, a bit of irony. “How the Germans can remain allies with the Turks is beyond me. No European nation would ever commit the sorts of crimes that this regime is blithely committing right now.”

I may be marking too many passages for next month‘s #bookclub discussion. Or not.

I just discovered that my ThriftBooks copy of this is autographed!

1. Purple
2. Jane the Virgin
3. The Sandcastle Girls - is never even heard of the Armenian genocide
4. Usually just ketchup is I'm putting them on myself but I like all the condiments restaurants put on.
5. Maybe going fishing, maybe a book signing, no concrete plans yet.
#firyayintro
😍😘😗😙😚

Mom‘s review is in. #momreviews @Momreviews @ChrisBohjalian

Selfie at the @whitneymuseum right now, reliving the first page of chapter 10 of THE SANDCASTLE GIRLS. #Gorky #ArmenianGenocide #Ararat #Egoyan

Visited some wonderful bookstores this morning in Yerevan, Armenia. My thanks to Lilit Lalayan and the team at Noyan Tapan and Shakeh Haven at Artsbridge.