My Name Is Aram [Black & White] [Paperback]

William Saroyan (Author), Don Freeman (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1973

Aran is a boy growing up in America. And like small boys everywhere he is blessed with all the spontaneous pleasures and excitements which come in growing up: the thrill of waving at passing trains, the warmth of comradeship among the gang, the brillance and aliveness of a summer morning with a new day ahead. Aram's adventures range from astounding the local Health Officer by inhaling for four minutes and exhaling for four to mad encounters with crazy grocers. Surrounded by a wonderful group of relatives and friends. Aram exudes joy and humor when he proclaims with pride "My Name Is Aram."

Product Details

• Paperback: 156 pages
• Publisher: A Laurel Edition; 8th edition (1973)
• Language: English
• ASIN: B000M1NXW4
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,279,477 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.