Combining the historical urgency of The Burning Tigris, the cultural sweep of Middlesex, and the psychological complexity of Bending Toward the Sun, Garin K. Hovannisian's Family of Shadows is a searing history of Armenia, realized through the lives of three generations of a single family. In Family of Shadows, Hovannisian traces the arc of his family's changing relationship to its motherland, from his great-grandfather's flight to America after surviving the Armenian Genocide to his father Raffi Hovannisian's repatriation and subsequent climb to political prominence as the head of the Heritage Party. Hovannisian's articles on Armenian issues, including the Genocide, the Armenian Diaspora, and the challenges of post-Soviet statehood, have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Christian Science Monitor, Chicago Tribune, Armenian Observer, Ararat, and numerous other publications.
Family of Shadows
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
Hovannisian is an American-born journalist who now lives both in the U.S.and Yerevan, Armenia. In this engrossing and inspiring saga of three generations of Armenian Americans, he recounts the personal histories of his great-grandfather, grandfather, and father and places them within the context of Armenian history over the past century. The result is a story of personal redemption and national renewal. Great-grandfather Kaspar witnessed the slaughter of family members in 1915 during the Young Turk–inspired genocide in western Armenia. He fled to the U.S., where he became a prosperous farmer in California. Grandfather Richard awakened to his heritage as a teenager and immersed himself in Armenian language and history and became a renowned professor of Armenian history at UCLA. Father Raffi emigrated to the newly independent Armenian republic in 1990 and is active in political life there. Given recent Armenian history, there is tragedy as well as triumph here, but this generally is a joyful celebration of a family’s role in a national revival of an ancient people and land. --Jay Freeman
Review
Hovannisian narrates in a swift, novel-like style…. Cultural history and memoir gracefully entwined. -Kirkus Reviews
Garin Hovannisian brings a historian’s rigor, a poet’s lyricism, and a native son’s passion to this remarkable book. Intimate as memoir yet expansive as an epic, Family of Shadows puts the Armenian experience, in all its tragedy and triumph, into memorably human terms. -Samuel G. Freedman, author of Who She Was: My Search for My Mother’s Life
The history of the Hovannisian family is an extraordinary saga, and Garin Hovannisian provides here a moving account of its survival and triumph through three generations. Weaving together history, culture, and original reporting, Family of Shadows is an inspired tribute, full of passion and appreciation for the genealogy of the Hovannisian family and its transformation into an American success story. -Dr. Vartan Gregorian, President of Carnegie Corporation of New York and author of The Road to Home: My Life and Times
With what one can only describe as an artistic skill, Garin Hovannisian interleaves the micro-story of his resilient family with the macro-narrative of the Armenian Genocide. One swiftly learns to appreciate the true meaning of the word ‘indestructible’. -Christopher Hitchens, author of Hitch-22: A Memoir
Garin Hovannisian tells one of modern history’s great unexamined stories. Whether you are an Armenian American like me or come to this story anew, Family of Shadows will move you with the intensity and intimacy of its detail. The Hovannisian family lived the story of the extinction and resurrection of the Armenian nation, and we are lucky that Garin Hovannisian has put it all down on paper so that the world can understand. -David Ignatius, columnist for The Washington Post and author of Body of Lies
Garin Hovannisian brings a historian’s rigor, a poet’s lyricism, and a native son’s passion to this remarkable book. Intimate as memoir yet expansive as an epic, Family of Shadows puts the Armenian experience, in all its tragedy and triumph, into memorably human terms. -Samuel G. Freedman, author of Who She Was: My Search for My Mother’s Life
The history of the Hovannisian family is an extraordinary saga, and Garin Hovannisian provides here a moving account of its survival and triumph through three generations. Weaving together history, culture, and original reporting, Family of Shadows is an inspired tribute, full of passion and appreciation for the genealogy of the Hovannisian family and its transformation into an American success story. -Dr. Vartan Gregorian, President of Carnegie Corporation of New York and author of The Road to Home: My Life and Times
With what one can only describe as an artistic skill, Garin Hovannisian interleaves the micro-story of his resilient family with the macro-narrative of the Armenian Genocide. One swiftly learns to appreciate the true meaning of the word ‘indestructible’. -Christopher Hitchens, author of Hitch-22: A Memoir
Garin Hovannisian tells one of modern history’s great unexamined stories. Whether you are an Armenian American like me or come to this story anew, Family of Shadows will move you with the intensity and intimacy of its detail. The Hovannisian family lived the story of the extinction and resurrection of the Armenian nation, and we are lucky that Garin Hovannisian has put it all down on paper so that the world can understand. -David Ignatius, columnist for The Washington Post and author of Body of Lies
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More About the Author
Garin K. Hovannisian is a recipient of the Fulbright Fellowship in Creative Writing and the Lynton Award for Book Writing. A graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles, and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, he lives in Los Angeles and Yerevan, Armenia. He has written for the Los Angeles Times, Liberty, and the literary journal Ararat.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By nyc41
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a beautiful and heartbreaking story. If you know nothing about Armenia's past, it certainly won't be a pleasant read, but it's a necessary one.
The good news is that, despite the tragedy of the Armenian genocide and its aftermath, the story of the Hovannisian family is one of hope and one of resilience. If anything can be done to repair this broken country, it most certainly will stem from one of the many memorable characters in Family of Shadows.
The good news is that, despite the tragedy of the Armenian genocide and its aftermath, the story of the Hovannisian family is one of hope and one of resilience. If anything can be done to repair this broken country, it most certainly will stem from one of the many memorable characters in Family of Shadows.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Family of Shadows is the story of an Armenian-American family, one that most Armenians will recognize. The best part about the book is that even if you don't know much about Armenia, its history and the lives of its sons and daughters in America, Family of Shadows still has something for you.
Armenians will recognize many familiar names and stories in the pages of this book, while non-Armenians will get introduced to one of the most amazing nations on the face of the Earth. Surviving Genocide and rising to prominence in the US, the Hovhannisian family's story bears similarities to that of a number of other Armenians in various parts of the globe and is a wonderful testament to the importance of identity and heritage. The book is well written and a pleasure to read and the author is, at times, painfully honest about his own relationships with the protagonists.
Garin K. Hovhannisyan has made a strong debut in the world of global literature and after reading Family of Shadows, I find myself looking forward to his next books!
Armenians will recognize many familiar names and stories in the pages of this book, while non-Armenians will get introduced to one of the most amazing nations on the face of the Earth. Surviving Genocide and rising to prominence in the US, the Hovhannisian family's story bears similarities to that of a number of other Armenians in various parts of the globe and is a wonderful testament to the importance of identity and heritage. The book is well written and a pleasure to read and the author is, at times, painfully honest about his own relationships with the protagonists.
Garin K. Hovhannisyan has made a strong debut in the world of global literature and after reading Family of Shadows, I find myself looking forward to his next books!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Engaging cultural story of resilience, survival, and passionate history-makers
October 6, 2010
By cheryls
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Family of Shadows is the only historical account of Armenia's past and present that has completely captured my attention. Not only did I learn about the geography and history of Armenia and the diaspora, but also of the gut-wrenching strength of those who created its history and whose vision led them to tread the waters of uncertainty. The author did a tremendous job of bringing personalities to life while painting a unique picture through the story of four generations of Hovannisians- Genius!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
good
This is a great book. The author captures the family's story beautifully as well as teaches readers about Armenian history.
Published 1 month ago by nck
5.0 out of 5 stars
Compelling -- Uplifts the soul
Garin Hovannisian presents his first ambitious literary work by undertaking to record three generations of one of the earth's oldest peoples, the Armenians. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Vahe
5.0 out of 5 stars
Family of Shadows
Tremendously interesting, factual and very human story. It meant a great deal to me as and American of Armenia descent because I knew many of the characters. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Judy E Sarber
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good work!
If there was just one book about their historical ethnic heritage my half-Armenian grand children had to read, I would suggest this one. Read more
Published 16 months ago by CerebralMM
5.0 out of 5 stars
Five Stars for Family of Shadows
Truly a wonderful book. I couldn't put it down from the moment I started reading. A must read for all!
Published 18 months ago by Hermine B
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great story from a talented armenian writer
A great family story and an enjoyable read from a talented young writer, who, in my humble opinion, has potential to achieve international fame. Read more
Published on May 11, 2011 by Raf AK
5.0 out of 5 stars
Deeply Moving!
I read this book this weekend and it was quite difficult to put down! The author has been able to masterfully combine the story of four generations of his family with that of the... Read more
Published on May 8, 2011 by Alfred
5.0 out of 5 stars
History Revisited
This is a great book and one that keeps you wanting to read and learn more. Unlike any other "genocide" related book where the stories are sad and dark, Garin sheds hope and light... Read more
Published on December 4, 2010 by LoveBooks
5.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting family as well as national history.
The book is an interesting read, detailing a personal family history intertwined with the history of the Armenian people and nation of the 2oth century.
Published on November 22, 2010 by Arman M.
5.0 out of 5 stars
So glad I found this book
I'd like to think of myself as a history buff, but somehow the Armenian Genocide had been filtered out of my studies--until I came across Family of Shadows. Read more
Published on November 7, 2010 by Mark
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