Where is this train of thought taking me?
I don't know, but nevertheless the train continues its march that journey that began in the green gardens of Silihdar and passed through the literary salons of Constantinople, Cairo's orphanages, Paris's universities, the brilliant minds of Yerevan, and Stalin's concentration camps, all the time heading towards the steppes of eternity...
Photo of Yerevan via Unsplash
Shushanik Kurghinian [published in 1947 but not until] half a century after her death that serious literary critique and publication around her work began to form.
....it was a careful, intentional, and organized disavowal. First, in the form of tsarist censorship because of her socialist and revolutionary material, then by Soviet Armenian intellectuals because she was a rebel; and finally, by literary criticism...
pickThis tale is about a small Armenian village whose population has dwindled to the point it faces extinction.
This book seems to represent the best & worst of magical realism. The reader meets a quirky group of villagers who believe in curses and folklore. The reader meets so many people, generations of them in short order, it can be tough to keep names and stories straight. Also the major plot twist seems like a bit much even for magical realism!
This novel describing the lives of various families in a remote Armenian village in the 20th century is quite propulsive. Also, I didn't expect the Anne of Brittany mention.
Pic: Miniature depicting Anne of Brittany receiving from Antoine Dufour the manuscript praising famous women, Musée Dobrée, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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 !
pickFinally finished colorful book about Turkish-Armenian family connections. Some magic realism included. Has food and culture and family secrets both in US and Istanbul. Quite different from what I usually read. Will likely read more from her.
pickThis was a nice but odd little read... Nothing was in chronological order, and a lot of characters were introduced for such a short novel, but it was still very pleasant. A tiny close knit community in a small Armenian mountain village go through ups and downs and lean on each other for the good and bad. I feel like I can‘t explain much more without giving too much 🥲😂
