My Name is Aram (Capuchin Classics) [Paperback]

William SAROYAN (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 15, 2009 | Series: Capuchin Classics

First published to international acclaim in 1940, 'My Name is Aram' is a collection of semi-autobiographical stories about a boy of Armenian descent called Aram Garoghlanian set in Fresno, California. The book is novel-like in that the stories all involve the same character and are placed in a roughly chronological order, the first story taking place when Aram is 9 years old, the last when he is a young man leaving his hometown for the first time. Each episode vibrates with warmth and humour, building a rich portrait of Aram's large family and of the immigrant experience in general an utter delight of a book, as easy to read today as it was when it was published almost 70 years ago.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Book of 14 interconnected short stories by William Saroyan, published in 1940. The book consists of exuberant, often whimsical episodes in the imaginative life of young Aram Garoghlanian, an Armenian-American boy who is the author's alter ego. -- The Merriam-Webster Encyclopedia of Literature --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

William Saroyan's most celebrated work of short fiction- a boy's view of the American Dream. Aram Garoghlanian was a Californian, born in Fresno on the other side of the Southern Pacific tracks. But he was also part of a large, sprawling family of immigrant Armenians--a whole tribe of eccentric uncles, brawling cousins, and gentle women. Through these unforgettable, often hilarious characters Aram comes to understand life, courage, and the power of dreams. Whether it is fierce Uncle Khosrove who yells "Pay no attention to it" in any situation, Uncle Melik, who tries to grow pomegranate trees in the desert, or angelic-looking Cousin Arak who gets Arma into classroom scrapes, Aram's visions are shaped and colored by this turn-of-the-century clan. Like Sherwood Anderson's Winesburg, Ohio, William Saroyan's brilliant short stories in My Name Is Aram work together to create a picture of a time, a place, and a boy's world-a truly classic account of an impoverished family newly arrived in America-rich in matters of the heart.

"He has written so charmingly about his immigrant forebears that we are not only glad ours are Americans... but wish they too had been Armenian."--Georgia Review --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Capuchin Classics; Reprint edition (May 15, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0955915635
• ISBN-13: 978-0955915635
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 6.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #969,149 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars My Name Is Aram, June 16, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: My Name Is Aram (Mass Market Paperback)

I am a high school student, and we read an excerpt from this book in our literature class. I immediately was intrigued by Saroyan's method of writing and the fact that his novels are autobiographical. This is a story of Aram Garoghlanian, a boy living in Fresno with his large family of Armenian immigrants. Throughout the book, such ideas are touched upon as maturity, honesty, and acceptance. My Name is Aram is a portrait not only of Aram Garoghlanian and William Saroyan himself, but Americans in general. Americans struggle with basic values and ideas everyday, and accepting our eccentric family members is something we learn to do. Saroyan describes small details in hi writing that bring the story to life and open up a new world. Readers will soon realize when they open this novel that each of us holds Aram inside us, whether it means we struggle with the idea of stealing a horse or keeping the families reputation. I strongly recommend this book to anyone.

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, February 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: My Name Is Aram (Mass Market Paperback)

The book is composed of different events that happened in the author's life. It is the life of an Armenian immigrant family in the beautiful San Juaquin Valley. Although, the story is about events that are happening in a particular Armenian family, in reality it is the life all immigrants in America. The stories some how effects all Americans. I am positive that some where in our lifetime we were criticized for a certain cultural trait. It is the story of the ultimate underdog who is determined to succeed. At the same time it is a very fun and easy book to read. I could not put the book down.

Saroyan has to be the best writer to come out of the West. He should have been recognized more for his genius work.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My name is Aram, July 3, 2007

By 

Lilit Yenokyan (MI, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Name Is Aram (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a nice small book of short stories which offers a pleasing weekend or evening read. Book is about a young boy by name Aram Garoghlanian and his family, Armenian immigrants living in Fresno, CA. It describes Aram's adventures during his early teenage years and events happening in his great and proud tribe of Garoghlanians.

Book is base on episodes of the author's childhood, and the characters of Aram's tribe are based on real individuals, Saroyan's relatives. The book is sensitive and pleasant, and each of the 14 chapters, is written as a separate short-story.