Customer Reviews

Lines In The Sand

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The book is devastating. What it does that's unusual is tell its story at both the largest scale and the smallest, with both global context and heartbreaking detail. Initially I was wary of the technique, thinking that it would be better to just tell the villagers' story, but I was quickly won over; the other sections provided the answer to why, without which Hagop's and Sona's story would be less powerful. What it manages to do particularly well is to present such heartbreaking incidents in a voice that avoids all mawkishness and overt sentimentimentality, yet doesn't seem at all cold or dispassionate. I think a lot of this felt emotion is supplied by the reader, motivated by the sympathy we feel for the
charachters, who are so well-drawn that our identification with them comes naturally. This is a book that will stay with you for a long time.

Lines in the Sand, by Thomas Ohanian, is a brilliant story of love, courage, abd triumph over death and desruction in the wake of the Armenian genocide 1915-1917. The story fluctuates between historical events that led to the destuction of a peaceful people in small Armenian towns in what is now present day Turkey. Besides historical perspectives, this book tells of the fictional story of two Armenian families, one from the town of Palou, Turkey, and the other from the town of Bitlis. Hagop, the young Armenian man had fallen in love with Sova, a beautiful young Armenian girl, and they were bethrothed to marry each other in a years time. The story of their young lives, family, and traditions are beautifully portrayed in this unique story. The customs, beliefs, and traditions of the Armenian people are explained with beautiful description concerning the Christian rituals and religious holidays and feasts. In addition to different types of Armenian foods and deserts, the book captures the strong binding family ties that even today's Armenians continue to display. In conclusion, the book is phenomenal and captivating; it is one of the best done on this subject.

I just read Lines in the Sand by Thomas A. Ohanian and thoroughly enjoyed it! This book deals with the Armenian genocide during WWI, which I knew little about. I got an intimate view of several families of that era and the atrocities their people endured. I felt many emotions reading this book, from happiness to despair, anger to satisfaction. It took me less than two days to read this book as I couldn't put it down. I learned much and I would recommend this book to anyone who would like an excellent read.

For two days I was absorbed in this wonderful, terrible odyssey. Wonderful because of the love, tradition, pride, and strength shown by the characters as their lives unfolded and the reader was masterfully assimilated into their families. Then, terrible as the reader was thrust into the blinding reality of unspeakable horrors that annihilated this gentle, proud race of fellow human beings. May God in His wisdom prevent this tragedy from ever happening again...and, when will people EVER learn???

Mr. Ohanian's story educates and informs while putting the reader on a roller coaster of emotions. I enjoyed the descriptive insight into life of the Armenian people, their culture, customs and emphasis on family and religious faith. The depiction of the attrocities and apathy of the majority raises questions of morality and responsibility that continue to reverberate in the World today. I highly recommend this well documented, emotional story of a time in history that should never be forgotten!

I have read this novel on the Armenian genocide and I found it to be enthralling. Not many people know about the genocide of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Turks from 1896-1923. Not only ethnic Armenians but Assyrians and Greeks of Turkey were annihilated and 'ethnically cleansed' from their historic homeland. The Turkish government has never admitted nor apologized for the events of this time period. After reading this novel, one can't help but wonder what the current Turkish government is thinking! Lines in the Sand brings the story of the Armenians of that era and place to life. Entwined with the story of the main characters is what was going on militarily during World War I. Very good story Mr. Ohanian!