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CHRIS BOHJALIAN TO SPEAK AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
by Taleen Babayan
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/04/03/chris-bohjalian-to-speak-at-columbia-university/
April 3, 2013
For years, the stories were told in hushed voices. The tragic true-life
tales would escape the lips of the survivors in the privacy of their
homes as they revealed their struggles to family members, not only
to ease the burdens of their harrowing pasts, but to make sure one
of the most mournful chapters in the history of their people would
never be forgotten.
Chris Bohjalian (Photo by Tom Vartanedian) For too long, it had been
a story only for Armenians. With the emergence of a new generation of
writers, however, came a new approach. They believed that the stories
previously told in secrecy should now be told to the world. The latest
of these is New York Times best-selling author Chris Bohjalian's
critically acclaimed novel The Sandcastle Girls. On Thursday evening,
April 18, Bohjalian will lead a book discussion at Columbia University,
in an event hosted by the Armenian Center at Columbia.
A love story that takes place during the Armenian Genocide between
an Armenian engineer and an American nurse, The Sandcastle Girls
follows a genocide survivor's granddaughter as she tries to uncover
her family's history and the sorrows of the Armenian massacres that
she learns about along the way.
Bohjalian, who is the author of 16 books, has received high praise and
accolades from literary critics and readers since his first novel was
published 25 years ago. His novel, Midwives, was chosen for Oprah's
Book Club, and Winfrey also selected The Sandcastle Girls as her Book
of the Week last summer. Literary praise for Bohjalian's writing and
for the accurate historical portrayal of the Armenian Genocide in
The Sandcastle Girls has been covered by such major news outlets as
USA Today, Washington Post, and the Boston Globe.
Although the lamentable premise of The Sandcastle Girls is familiar to
Armenians, it has been a moment of pride to have such a book published,
as they continue to seek justice and worldwide acceptance for the
atrocities committed against their ancestors.
"I have been overwhelmed by the support for this novel by the Armenian
community around the world. I am deeply and profoundly grateful,"
said Bohjalian, whose Armenian grandparents on his father's side were
survivors of the Armenian Genocide. "Whenever I've spoken to audiences
that are predominantly Armenian, I have left moved beyond words,"
he said.
The reaction from non-Armenians towards The Sandcastle Girls has been
equally positive. "Consistently non-Armenians have asked me the same
sort of question: Why did no one teach me this? Why does no one know
this story? They are appalled and, sometimes, aghast," said Bohjalian.
"This is a part of our story that too few people know, and we all hope
this novel will help open people's eyes to a cataclysmic injustice."
Mark Momjian, the chair of the Armenian Center, expressed the
significance of Bohjalian's appearance on campus. "The enormous power
of Chris Bohjalian's literary art has been recognized worldwide,
and his masterful novel, The Sandcastle Girls, is of particular
interest to the area's Armenian-American community, who in just two
years will be commemorating the centennial of the Armenian Genocide,"
said Momjian. "I know the center's friends and supporters are eager
to hear this distinguished writer, whose originality and brilliance
have touched so many hearts."
Dr. Nicole Vartanian, the vice chair of the Armenian Center, said
the Armenian Center is excited to be hosting Bohjalian upon the
paperback release of The Sandcastle Girls. "His passionate portrayal
of love and loss set amidst the backdrop of the Armenian Genocide
has rightly earned him widespread praise from all corners of the
literary community," she said. "It seems particularly fitting that
our event will take place at Teachers College, given the rich and
robust educational content which forms the foundation of Chris'
novels. The Sandcastle Girls is an especially poignant example of
this, as the story has educated masses of Chris' loyal readers who
learned the horrific events of the genocide through the quality of
his research and the power of his prose."
"My sense is that this may be the most important book I ever write,"
said Bohjalian, who first attempted to write about the Armenian
Genocide 15 years ago. "I hope with all my heart that this time I
have gotten it right."
The book discussion of The Sandcastle Girls will take place on Thurs.,
April 18, at 7 p.m. in the Cowin Conference Center (147 Horace Mann
Hall) at Columbia University Teachers College, 525 W. 120th Street,
between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue. A question-and-answer session,
reception, and a book signing will take place after the presentation.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
by Taleen Babayan
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/04/03/chris-bohjalian-to-speak-at-columbia-university/
April 3, 2013
For years, the stories were told in hushed voices. The tragic true-life
tales would escape the lips of the survivors in the privacy of their
homes as they revealed their struggles to family members, not only
to ease the burdens of their harrowing pasts, but to make sure one
of the most mournful chapters in the history of their people would
never be forgotten.
Chris Bohjalian (Photo by Tom Vartanedian) For too long, it had been
a story only for Armenians. With the emergence of a new generation of
writers, however, came a new approach. They believed that the stories
previously told in secrecy should now be told to the world. The latest
of these is New York Times best-selling author Chris Bohjalian's
critically acclaimed novel The Sandcastle Girls. On Thursday evening,
April 18, Bohjalian will lead a book discussion at Columbia University,
in an event hosted by the Armenian Center at Columbia.
A love story that takes place during the Armenian Genocide between
an Armenian engineer and an American nurse, The Sandcastle Girls
follows a genocide survivor's granddaughter as she tries to uncover
her family's history and the sorrows of the Armenian massacres that
she learns about along the way.
Bohjalian, who is the author of 16 books, has received high praise and
accolades from literary critics and readers since his first novel was
published 25 years ago. His novel, Midwives, was chosen for Oprah's
Book Club, and Winfrey also selected The Sandcastle Girls as her Book
of the Week last summer. Literary praise for Bohjalian's writing and
for the accurate historical portrayal of the Armenian Genocide in
The Sandcastle Girls has been covered by such major news outlets as
USA Today, Washington Post, and the Boston Globe.
Although the lamentable premise of The Sandcastle Girls is familiar to
Armenians, it has been a moment of pride to have such a book published,
as they continue to seek justice and worldwide acceptance for the
atrocities committed against their ancestors.
"I have been overwhelmed by the support for this novel by the Armenian
community around the world. I am deeply and profoundly grateful,"
said Bohjalian, whose Armenian grandparents on his father's side were
survivors of the Armenian Genocide. "Whenever I've spoken to audiences
that are predominantly Armenian, I have left moved beyond words,"
he said.
The reaction from non-Armenians towards The Sandcastle Girls has been
equally positive. "Consistently non-Armenians have asked me the same
sort of question: Why did no one teach me this? Why does no one know
this story? They are appalled and, sometimes, aghast," said Bohjalian.
"This is a part of our story that too few people know, and we all hope
this novel will help open people's eyes to a cataclysmic injustice."
Mark Momjian, the chair of the Armenian Center, expressed the
significance of Bohjalian's appearance on campus. "The enormous power
of Chris Bohjalian's literary art has been recognized worldwide,
and his masterful novel, The Sandcastle Girls, is of particular
interest to the area's Armenian-American community, who in just two
years will be commemorating the centennial of the Armenian Genocide,"
said Momjian. "I know the center's friends and supporters are eager
to hear this distinguished writer, whose originality and brilliance
have touched so many hearts."
Dr. Nicole Vartanian, the vice chair of the Armenian Center, said
the Armenian Center is excited to be hosting Bohjalian upon the
paperback release of The Sandcastle Girls. "His passionate portrayal
of love and loss set amidst the backdrop of the Armenian Genocide
has rightly earned him widespread praise from all corners of the
literary community," she said. "It seems particularly fitting that
our event will take place at Teachers College, given the rich and
robust educational content which forms the foundation of Chris'
novels. The Sandcastle Girls is an especially poignant example of
this, as the story has educated masses of Chris' loyal readers who
learned the horrific events of the genocide through the quality of
his research and the power of his prose."
"My sense is that this may be the most important book I ever write,"
said Bohjalian, who first attempted to write about the Armenian
Genocide 15 years ago. "I hope with all my heart that this time I
have gotten it right."
The book discussion of The Sandcastle Girls will take place on Thurs.,
April 18, at 7 p.m. in the Cowin Conference Center (147 Horace Mann
Hall) at Columbia University Teachers College, 525 W. 120th Street,
between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue. A question-and-answer session,
reception, and a book signing will take place after the presentation.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress