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The Legacy of Lost Things
Aida Zilelian's breathtaking debut novel, The Legacy of Lost Things , follows three generations of a family of Armenian immigrants living in the United States, as they struggle with one another and against the Old World expectations of their community. When Araxi, the oldest daughter of the desperately unhappy Levon and Tamar, goes missing, the remaining family members are forced to confront their painful histories together, and the role each of them has played in driving Araxi away. Through Araxi and her family, readers are given a unique look at the generational and cultural tensions that both keep families together and tear them apart. Using spare, poignant prose, Zilelian deftly explores the themes of romance, duty, infidelity and guilt. Because of the mature content, this book is intended for adult and young adult audiences.
195 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2015
2 people are currently reading
486 people want to read
About the author
Aida Zilelian
5 books49 followersAida Zilelian is a first generation American-Armenian writer, educator and storyteller from Queens, NY. She is the author The Legacy of Lost Things (2015, Bleeding Heart Publications) which was the recipient of the 2014 Tololyan Literary Award. Her most recent novel All the Ways We Lied, follows an Armenian family of three sisters and an indomitable mother, as they struggle with each other in face of tragedy.
Aida has been featured in the Huffington Post, NPR’s Takeaway, Poets & Writers, Kirkus Reviews, among other reading series and print outlets. Her short story collection These Hills Were Meant for You was shortlisted for 2018 Katherine Anne Porter Prize in Short Fiction. She is currently completing her short story collection Where There Can Be No Breath At All.
Aida has been featured in the Huffington Post, NPR’s Takeaway, Poets & Writers, Kirkus Reviews, among other reading series and print outlets. Her short story collection These Hills Were Meant for You was shortlisted for 2018 Katherine Anne Porter Prize in Short Fiction. She is currently completing her short story collection Where There Can Be No Breath At All.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 19, 2015
Araxi has gone missing and seems to have slipped into an abyss, leaving behind her parents and younger sister, Sophie. When we finally catch up with her, we learn that Araxi has run off with her classmate, Cecile. The two friends have embarked on a cross country journey to find themselves and get away from their families. An unfathomable event happens to Araxi, and though she makes it out alive, the haunting memory of her brutal experience won’t let go. Old wounds keep surfacing, not just for her, but for her family back home. Zilelian deftly uses this trope to examine the bittersweet memories of an Armenian-American family whose roots swerve from Queens, New York to Lebanon, and to Armenia. The sharp contrast of cultures is illuminating, but upon closer inspection, once you get beyond the nostalgia, the sights and smells of the past, the perceived distance is rather narrow is more like a confluence regarding the trials and tribulations of the human spirit.
Old wounds is definitely the leitmotif of The Legacy of Lost Things. Throughout the novel there is the subtle, but penetrating trope that no matter how far you go you cannot break free from yourself. Zilelian doesn’t leave us there she scratches deeper beneath the surface so that we see the cathartic sometimes bullying pleasure of learning to live with our wounds.
The novel takes place over a rather large swath of time, and yet Zilelian does an awesome job weaving flashbacks into the story so that we learn more about the characters without it feeling like infodump. What I love most about Zilelian’s writing is the pace and the tone. She’s chosen a goliath undertaking for a debut novel, tackling such hefty topics as domestic abuse, self-worth, and personal identity.
Keep an eye on this rising star. I can’t wait until her next book comes out.
Old wounds is definitely the leitmotif of The Legacy of Lost Things. Throughout the novel there is the subtle, but penetrating trope that no matter how far you go you cannot break free from yourself. Zilelian doesn’t leave us there she scratches deeper beneath the surface so that we see the cathartic sometimes bullying pleasure of learning to live with our wounds.
The novel takes place over a rather large swath of time, and yet Zilelian does an awesome job weaving flashbacks into the story so that we learn more about the characters without it feeling like infodump. What I love most about Zilelian’s writing is the pace and the tone. She’s chosen a goliath undertaking for a debut novel, tackling such hefty topics as domestic abuse, self-worth, and personal identity.
Keep an eye on this rising star. I can’t wait until her next book comes out.
March 6, 2015
*I received an ARC of this novel via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
I have a soft spot in my heart for novels that reflect the immigrant experience. I've traveled a lot and met a lot of interesting and displaced people, and the questions that always seem to come up in conversation involve how families change as they try and assimilate into new surroundings and a new way of life. There are often tensions there, as Zilelian reflects in the descriptions of Sunnyside's Armenian community where her characters life. There are multi-generational pressures, religious pressures, social class pressures, compounded with the pressure of understanding and embracing American life.
But this book is more than just an "immigrant" novel. It's about feeling lost, lost in place, lost in your family, and lost in the world. The theme of desertion and being alone runs throughout, first starting with the main conflict: Araxi, the oldest daughter of Tamar and Levon, runs away. The novel begins with her having deserted her family and we get a glimpse into how this desertion has affected everyone, from Tamar, who withdraws into herself, to Levon, who becomes angry and sullen, to dear young Sophie, the youngest daughter, who feels deserted by everyone in her life, including the first boy she's ever liked. But we also see Araxi's side of the coin, and how she figures out life on her own in places where she has no family, no friends, and no real connection to a home.
As the family figures out how to survive without Araxi, Zilelian provides context to the tumultuous relationship between Tamar and Levon and the violent repercussions that may have caused Araxi's sudden disappearance. We meet Faris, Tamar's starcrossed first love, and begin to understand why Levon harbors such anger towards her. As we learn how the two met, and the progression of the relationship, as well as meet their families and see how much their behavior reflects that of their parents, we begin to understand why Araxi left and we begin to see Tamar and Levon change.
That's where the novel lost me a bit. I began to see Levon soften towards his wife as he realized the grudge he had been holding against her for loving Faris was for naught. I began to see him embrace his children, like the scene in which he comforts Sophie after she realizes her boy is moving away. I began to see Tamar understand why her behavior with Faris and her behavior towards Levon had created such a drama within her family. And yet, the characters had all of these realizations and didn't change.
And I hate that.
I dislike when characters are given opportunity to grow and learn from all the history they've presented, and yet, at the end, they are still the sad schlubs with the missing daughter they were in the beginning. Sometimes, I have hope that after the words of the novel end, the characters will live on to grow and change and love. But this novel didn't give me that sense. I imagine they are still stuck on the same plastic-covered couch, not talking, and not addressing any of the problems presented in the book.
As far as writing, this is Zilelian's debut published novel, but she has been writing short stories and journalistic fiction for many years, and it shows. Her writing is pristine and she had the perfect balance of exposition and dialogue to keep me interested while also helping me to set the scene in my head.
My one criticism is the use of flashback as the start of a chapter. Multiple times, I started a chapter and could not figure out which era I was in. It often took me a few pages to figure out if I was back in Beirut or at the time of Tamar and Levon's wedding, or in the present. This could have been easily remedied by putting a date stamp at the chapter head. That would have helped me frame the characters better as I was reading, especially since many times the flashback didn't make sense to the unfolding of the story. Flashback was used primarily to reflect things going on in the present, but sometimes, those present things weren't uncovered until a few chapters later which made the flashback seem out of place and not as important.
Overall, this is a novel worth checking out if you are a fan of the immigrant experience as I am. I hope to read more from Zilelian in the future.
I have a soft spot in my heart for novels that reflect the immigrant experience. I've traveled a lot and met a lot of interesting and displaced people, and the questions that always seem to come up in conversation involve how families change as they try and assimilate into new surroundings and a new way of life. There are often tensions there, as Zilelian reflects in the descriptions of Sunnyside's Armenian community where her characters life. There are multi-generational pressures, religious pressures, social class pressures, compounded with the pressure of understanding and embracing American life.
But this book is more than just an "immigrant" novel. It's about feeling lost, lost in place, lost in your family, and lost in the world. The theme of desertion and being alone runs throughout, first starting with the main conflict: Araxi, the oldest daughter of Tamar and Levon, runs away. The novel begins with her having deserted her family and we get a glimpse into how this desertion has affected everyone, from Tamar, who withdraws into herself, to Levon, who becomes angry and sullen, to dear young Sophie, the youngest daughter, who feels deserted by everyone in her life, including the first boy she's ever liked. But we also see Araxi's side of the coin, and how she figures out life on her own in places where she has no family, no friends, and no real connection to a home.
As the family figures out how to survive without Araxi, Zilelian provides context to the tumultuous relationship between Tamar and Levon and the violent repercussions that may have caused Araxi's sudden disappearance. We meet Faris, Tamar's starcrossed first love, and begin to understand why Levon harbors such anger towards her. As we learn how the two met, and the progression of the relationship, as well as meet their families and see how much their behavior reflects that of their parents, we begin to understand why Araxi left and we begin to see Tamar and Levon change.
That's where the novel lost me a bit. I began to see Levon soften towards his wife as he realized the grudge he had been holding against her for loving Faris was for naught. I began to see him embrace his children, like the scene in which he comforts Sophie after she realizes her boy is moving away. I began to see Tamar understand why her behavior with Faris and her behavior towards Levon had created such a drama within her family. And yet, the characters had all of these realizations and didn't change.
And I hate that.
I dislike when characters are given opportunity to grow and learn from all the history they've presented, and yet, at the end, they are still the sad schlubs with the missing daughter they were in the beginning. Sometimes, I have hope that after the words of the novel end, the characters will live on to grow and change and love. But this novel didn't give me that sense. I imagine they are still stuck on the same plastic-covered couch, not talking, and not addressing any of the problems presented in the book.
As far as writing, this is Zilelian's debut published novel, but she has been writing short stories and journalistic fiction for many years, and it shows. Her writing is pristine and she had the perfect balance of exposition and dialogue to keep me interested while also helping me to set the scene in my head.
My one criticism is the use of flashback as the start of a chapter. Multiple times, I started a chapter and could not figure out which era I was in. It often took me a few pages to figure out if I was back in Beirut or at the time of Tamar and Levon's wedding, or in the present. This could have been easily remedied by putting a date stamp at the chapter head. That would have helped me frame the characters better as I was reading, especially since many times the flashback didn't make sense to the unfolding of the story. Flashback was used primarily to reflect things going on in the present, but sometimes, those present things weren't uncovered until a few chapters later which made the flashback seem out of place and not as important.
Overall, this is a novel worth checking out if you are a fan of the immigrant experience as I am. I hope to read more from Zilelian in the future.
December 30, 2015
There's a lot of good stuff here, though the writing is missing a level of polish necessary to tackle all the heavy stuff these characters go through. Still, I found this book very compelling-- the story of how carrying around the pain of the genocide wreaks havoc on families for generations is one that's not really been told before. When Zilelian writes about domestic violence and familial dysfunction she's dealing with material that's embarrassing, taboo, and not talked about or written about by Armenian-Americans. What the book lacks in polish it makes up for in authenticity.
February 10, 2018
A multi-generational story of Armenian immigrants to America struggling to adapt to contemporary American life whilst retaining their own cultural identity and norms. There are generational and cultural conflicts aplenty, not helped by the fact that each and every one of the characters has lost something along the way, and all of them have longings, desires and regrets to reconcile with the life they have each ended up with. It all comes to a head when Araxi, the teenage daughter of Levon and Tamar, runs away and all those around her have to confront both past and present. It’s a compelling read, one which gives insight into the history and culture of the Armenian community as a whole as well as into the day to day lives of the families themselves. The novel shifts to a new character in each chapter thus giving the reader everyone’s point of view and each strand of the narrative is slowly brought together. Touching on many themes – parenthood, immigration, assimilation, love and ambition - it’s a well-written and well-paced novel, engaging and thoughtful, and one which I very much enjoyed.
October 21, 2022
This story of life in the Armenian immigrant community in New York City was just so dismal. None of the main characters were sympathetic or likeable to me really. They were all depressed, troubled, violent physically or emotionally, repressive and repressed, living unhappy lives and apparently stuck in them. Even the so-called friends hardly seemed to really be friends. I truly hope this is not a reflection of Armenian culture and life! While the story had some interesting aspects, the fact that no one was sympathetic brought it down.
May 20, 2023
Engaging, funny, cerebral. A narrator you can empathize with. Cynical precise imagery, emotionally descriptive. A modern classic New York - Armenian family tale.
April 5, 2015
I received an advanced reader copy of this novel via Greenleaf Book Group.
Any writer as interpreter of cultures different from his or her own has a tough job from the get-go. The story being read will be heard/read by someone who probably doesn't have a clue as to what the norm of that culture looks like or feels like. Thus, the writer must keep in mind the thought, "Will my readers understand this?"
For the most part our author here does a respectable job, but the book's constant switching between the past and present, the old country and the new, the characters in old age and in youth, gets pretty confusing sometimes.
Another problem for the reader is trying to remember who is being talked about when the given name of almost every character is foreign to our eyes and our ears. A personal example of this is that when I lived in the near east I could remember the people with the names I was familiar with - Mohammed or Farouk - but could not quickly place or identify Dalal, Firdaus, Gudur or Harith. I couldn't even remember if they were male or female. It blurs the story a bit if one doesn't quickly recognize the characters. In this story I often had a very difficult time not only recognizing which character it was, but also which one it was in a different time period.
Having said that, I certainly don't advocate the author changing her characters' names to John, Mary, David and James, but I think perhaps Zilelian might have carefully placed a few clues in her settings that would help us "foreigners" more quickly identify her characters in a different time or place.
I felt the author had fine-tuned the first maybe two-thirds of the book but turned loose the control from there until the end. From the point of Kingman, Arizona, the story seemed to gallop along in extreme stretches, as if the conclusion was ready to come but there was too much left to happen – so cram! Heavier editing all along might have helped with a better balance.
Now having said all that, I must say I liked her story. I liked the kids, all of them. I liked the families (all the families in the world are not like the ones we know best, but even so, the author helped us understand those differences), and I liked the author's effort to show us the awful difficulties and stresses of adapting to a new culture in a new place.
And most importantly, I would like to see, and read, her next book.
Any writer as interpreter of cultures different from his or her own has a tough job from the get-go. The story being read will be heard/read by someone who probably doesn't have a clue as to what the norm of that culture looks like or feels like. Thus, the writer must keep in mind the thought, "Will my readers understand this?"
For the most part our author here does a respectable job, but the book's constant switching between the past and present, the old country and the new, the characters in old age and in youth, gets pretty confusing sometimes.
Another problem for the reader is trying to remember who is being talked about when the given name of almost every character is foreign to our eyes and our ears. A personal example of this is that when I lived in the near east I could remember the people with the names I was familiar with - Mohammed or Farouk - but could not quickly place or identify Dalal, Firdaus, Gudur or Harith. I couldn't even remember if they were male or female. It blurs the story a bit if one doesn't quickly recognize the characters. In this story I often had a very difficult time not only recognizing which character it was, but also which one it was in a different time period.
Having said that, I certainly don't advocate the author changing her characters' names to John, Mary, David and James, but I think perhaps Zilelian might have carefully placed a few clues in her settings that would help us "foreigners" more quickly identify her characters in a different time or place.
I felt the author had fine-tuned the first maybe two-thirds of the book but turned loose the control from there until the end. From the point of Kingman, Arizona, the story seemed to gallop along in extreme stretches, as if the conclusion was ready to come but there was too much left to happen – so cram! Heavier editing all along might have helped with a better balance.
Now having said all that, I must say I liked her story. I liked the kids, all of them. I liked the families (all the families in the world are not like the ones we know best, but even so, the author helped us understand those differences), and I liked the author's effort to show us the awful difficulties and stresses of adapting to a new culture in a new place.
And most importantly, I would like to see, and read, her next book.
April 17, 2015
I received a free ARC of this book from Greenleaf Book Group through Goodreads First Reads.
The best word I can think of to describe my feelings after finishing this book is wow. This story is so complex. I was so drawn to each and every one of these characters, even the ones that at first came across as unsympathetic. The more I read, the more I realized that each of these characters, though flawed, were just the product of their environment and that their lives could not be defined by simply taking a peek at their bad decisions.
This book centers around a family whose teenage daughter, Araxi, has run away from home. The reader hears from many different viewpoints including that of the abusive father; the cold, detached mother who is likely suffering from depression; and the innocent sister who is slowly coming to realize what everyone else around her had already learned-life is full of painful disappointments.
What happens when societal and cultural pressures force you into a life that you would not have otherwise chosen? When you realize that the person you loved wholeheartedly never loved you? When the one person who brings you comfort and solace in a world full of turmoil is snatched from your life and there is nothing you can do stop it? The answers to these questions are reflected in the choices each of these characters made and in the lives that they lived.
The author's ability to write such complex characters speaks to her ability as a great storyteller. For me "what" these characters did became less alarming when the author started revealing "why". And while the "why" didn't excuse the "what" it helped shed some light on how this family got to be in the situation they were in. By the end my viewpoint was completely different than it was when I started the book. This was such an emotional journey for me and it really forced me to think about some of the rash judgments I make about others without fully thinking about the "why" behind who they are.
I highly recommend this book.
The best word I can think of to describe my feelings after finishing this book is wow. This story is so complex. I was so drawn to each and every one of these characters, even the ones that at first came across as unsympathetic. The more I read, the more I realized that each of these characters, though flawed, were just the product of their environment and that their lives could not be defined by simply taking a peek at their bad decisions.
This book centers around a family whose teenage daughter, Araxi, has run away from home. The reader hears from many different viewpoints including that of the abusive father; the cold, detached mother who is likely suffering from depression; and the innocent sister who is slowly coming to realize what everyone else around her had already learned-life is full of painful disappointments.
What happens when societal and cultural pressures force you into a life that you would not have otherwise chosen? When you realize that the person you loved wholeheartedly never loved you? When the one person who brings you comfort and solace in a world full of turmoil is snatched from your life and there is nothing you can do stop it? The answers to these questions are reflected in the choices each of these characters made and in the lives that they lived.
The author's ability to write such complex characters speaks to her ability as a great storyteller. For me "what" these characters did became less alarming when the author started revealing "why". And while the "why" didn't excuse the "what" it helped shed some light on how this family got to be in the situation they were in. By the end my viewpoint was completely different than it was when I started the book. This was such an emotional journey for me and it really forced me to think about some of the rash judgments I make about others without fully thinking about the "why" behind who they are.
I highly recommend this book.
November 24, 2014
Araxi is 18 years old when she runs away from home with her friend Cecile. Her disappearance forces her Armenian relatives to reevaluate their lives and think about the past to determine what went wrong. Levon, Araxi’s father, has to deal with his anger towards his wife and his sister. Tamar, Araxi’s mother, is depressed because of her failed marriage and a lost love. Sophie, Araxi’s younger sister, feels lonely and is convinced everybody is abandoning her. While driving across the United States, Araxi is determined to have a brand new life and never to come back home. But will she succeed in reinventing herself? Will her relatives come to terms with her decision?
The Legacy of Lost Things is an interesting story about dark family secrets and the difficulty for immigrants to fit in a new country. Like Araxi and Sophie, Aida Zilelian is a first-generation Armenian being raised in America, and she drew a lot from her experiences while writing this book. She aptly describes how most immigrants want to embrace their new country without compromising their culture. However, I found that the many characters and flashbacks in the story could be confusing. In addition, the author left some loose ends when the story concluded: for example, what happened to Cecile after she met Casey? I must say though that this novel motivated me to know more about the Armenian genocide, and I would have been curious to see what happened to Araxi’s ancestors during these dark times. Maybe this could be the basis for another book…
The Legacy of Lost Things was sent to me for free in exchange for an honest review.
To read the full review, please go to my blog (Cecile Sune - Book Obsessed).
The Legacy of Lost Things is an interesting story about dark family secrets and the difficulty for immigrants to fit in a new country. Like Araxi and Sophie, Aida Zilelian is a first-generation Armenian being raised in America, and she drew a lot from her experiences while writing this book. She aptly describes how most immigrants want to embrace their new country without compromising their culture. However, I found that the many characters and flashbacks in the story could be confusing. In addition, the author left some loose ends when the story concluded: for example, what happened to Cecile after she met Casey? I must say though that this novel motivated me to know more about the Armenian genocide, and I would have been curious to see what happened to Araxi’s ancestors during these dark times. Maybe this could be the basis for another book…
The Legacy of Lost Things was sent to me for free in exchange for an honest review.
To read the full review, please go to my blog (Cecile Sune - Book Obsessed).
March 7, 2015
I was really surprised by this book and in a good way. The Legacy of Lost Things is a prose about a lost family. The narration is done by a family in turmoil with each chapter telling their story from going back in time to present; from Beirut to across the United States, a family that is disconnected from each other. Levon who married Tamar to rescue her from her family’s grip and Tamar marries Levon to escape from her family while in love with another man. Tamar has only changed prisons of her own making. Levon and Tamar have a loveless marriage in the United States; however, this loveless marriage has brought them two daughters Araxi and Sophie into their prison as well.
No longer able to cope, Araxi has run away and the walls that Levon’s family have put up so carefully come crashing done.
Levon who deeply loved Tamar discovers that she is still in love with her boyhood friend, is deeply hurt and lashes out. He discovers his own insecurities are what drive his family into the prison they are now in.
Tamar who is deeply depressed because of the oppression she has lived first from her own parents and sisters and then her own marriage.
Araxi runs away to escape the resentment her parents have of her. The courage her parents lack that Araxi runs to find.
Easy to get caught up In each of their stories as they fight for redemption.
A special thank youGreenleaf Book Group
BH Publications Pte Ltd. , and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
No longer able to cope, Araxi has run away and the walls that Levon’s family have put up so carefully come crashing done.
Levon who deeply loved Tamar discovers that she is still in love with her boyhood friend, is deeply hurt and lashes out. He discovers his own insecurities are what drive his family into the prison they are now in.
Tamar who is deeply depressed because of the oppression she has lived first from her own parents and sisters and then her own marriage.
Araxi runs away to escape the resentment her parents have of her. The courage her parents lack that Araxi runs to find.
Easy to get caught up In each of their stories as they fight for redemption.
A special thank youGreenleaf Book Group
BH Publications Pte Ltd. , and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
March 28, 2015
It's rare that a first novel appears so powerfully: usually authors are honing their styles with their first books; but The Legacy of Lost Things is a standout because it appears such refinements have already been done and what is left is a true gem that centers on not just the struggles but the dysfunctional interactions of an Armenian immigrant family living in the United States.
Aida Zilelian is a New York writer with many publications to her name; but this is her first book; and if this is any indication of her powers, it's a formidable entry into the literary world. In it she follows three generations of an Armenian family and the changes they experience when a daughter goes missing, forcing the family to examine their heritage, their interactions, and their world.
Lesser works would have turned the drama into an emotionally wrenching saga alone; but there are bigger truths going on in The Legacy of Lost Things; and so the metaphor of being lost applies on many different levels within the family structure and individual growth. The result is a powerful saga of a family's heritage and its lasting effects; so don't expect your usual 'vanished child' pop drama.
The Legacy of Lost Things moves deftly beyond the personal to embrace the social and political worlds of Armenian expats and society, and this is its crowning strength which sets it well apart from others, cementing its characters in solid descriptions, dialogue, and insights that leave readers satisfied.
Aida Zilelian is a New York writer with many publications to her name; but this is her first book; and if this is any indication of her powers, it's a formidable entry into the literary world. In it she follows three generations of an Armenian family and the changes they experience when a daughter goes missing, forcing the family to examine their heritage, their interactions, and their world.
Lesser works would have turned the drama into an emotionally wrenching saga alone; but there are bigger truths going on in The Legacy of Lost Things; and so the metaphor of being lost applies on many different levels within the family structure and individual growth. The result is a powerful saga of a family's heritage and its lasting effects; so don't expect your usual 'vanished child' pop drama.
The Legacy of Lost Things moves deftly beyond the personal to embrace the social and political worlds of Armenian expats and society, and this is its crowning strength which sets it well apart from others, cementing its characters in solid descriptions, dialogue, and insights that leave readers satisfied.
April 22, 2015
NOTE: I Received a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was excited to read this - In addition to historical fiction, I think that books about immigrants are second favorite kinds of books to read.
I was disappointed with this though; the writing was good but there just seemed to be something missing - no real drama or excitement.
This book tells the story of an Armenian family who is struggling with the fact that their oldest daughter, Araxi has run away from home and they don't know where she is or what's happened to her. The father of this family is an abusive, silent man who will not let go of the secret of his wedding night, the mother is depressed about her family and her situation and continues to remember the "love of her life" that she couldn't marry because of her parents' strict Armenian customs. Araxi's sister silently wills her sister to stay away, away from the sadness and abuse but is also angry that her sister left her alone to deal with the fallout of her disappearance.
There are a few things that could have been expanded on (I think) that could have added a little more excitement. I was extremely disappointed in the ending.
I was excited to read this - In addition to historical fiction, I think that books about immigrants are second favorite kinds of books to read.
I was disappointed with this though; the writing was good but there just seemed to be something missing - no real drama or excitement.
This book tells the story of an Armenian family who is struggling with the fact that their oldest daughter, Araxi has run away from home and they don't know where she is or what's happened to her. The father of this family is an abusive, silent man who will not let go of the secret of his wedding night, the mother is depressed about her family and her situation and continues to remember the "love of her life" that she couldn't marry because of her parents' strict Armenian customs. Araxi's sister silently wills her sister to stay away, away from the sadness and abuse but is also angry that her sister left her alone to deal with the fallout of her disappearance.
There are a few things that could have been expanded on (I think) that could have added a little more excitement. I was extremely disappointed in the ending.
August 17, 2015
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and would like to thank the author and/or publisher for the opportunity to read and honestly review it.
I wavered between 2 and 3 stars but went with 3 because of the writing style.
This was a very riveting read for me and each person's voice was interesting but it was occasionally difficult to distinguish between the time changes.
It had so much potential but ended so quickly. Some things wrapped up too neatly (implausible ending) but so much more was left unresolved. It was entirely unsatisfactory after the investment I made in the characters.
Overall, good writing and I would read the author again but the arc and resolution needs a lot of work in this particular book.
Quote from the Book
"Anoush looked in the mirror as she dried her face. She had accepted the weight of time and her unhappy life a long time ago. It was enduring it that mattered the most to her."
Find all my reviews at:
http://readingatrandom.blogspot.com/
I wavered between 2 and 3 stars but went with 3 because of the writing style.
This was a very riveting read for me and each person's voice was interesting but it was occasionally difficult to distinguish between the time changes.
It had so much potential but ended so quickly. Some things wrapped up too neatly (implausible ending) but so much more was left unresolved. It was entirely unsatisfactory after the investment I made in the characters.
Overall, good writing and I would read the author again but the arc and resolution needs a lot of work in this particular book.
Quote from the Book
"Anoush looked in the mirror as she dried her face. She had accepted the weight of time and her unhappy life a long time ago. It was enduring it that mattered the most to her."
Find all my reviews at:
http://readingatrandom.blogspot.com/
March 30, 2015
Given To Me For An Honest Review
The Legacy of Lost Things by Aida Zilelian for being her debut novel is a great one. This book will be hard to put down once you open it and start reading it. It's about three generations of an Armenian family and the changes that they go through when a daughter goes "missing". Because of it the begin to look at their heritage, their interaction with each other and their world. Did the daughter go missing or did she run away? Why did they have to look at their background? This was such an excellent book. I highly recommend this book to everyone. Once you finish reading it, you'll find yourself re-reading it again. I look for many more great books from Aida Zilelian.
The Legacy of Lost Things by Aida Zilelian for being her debut novel is a great one. This book will be hard to put down once you open it and start reading it. It's about three generations of an Armenian family and the changes that they go through when a daughter goes "missing". Because of it the begin to look at their heritage, their interaction with each other and their world. Did the daughter go missing or did she run away? Why did they have to look at their background? This was such an excellent book. I highly recommend this book to everyone. Once you finish reading it, you'll find yourself re-reading it again. I look for many more great books from Aida Zilelian.
July 17, 2015
Legacy of Lost Things is beautiful. The author amazingly takes a story about a dispersed and displaced people and brings it into focus through the experiences of several wonderfully developed characters. Some try to make sense of who they are since they can no longer be who they were. Others grapple with the pain of becoming someone for someone else. It's the push and pull between these forces that makes for exceptionally authentic and emotional moments. And, for me, the beautiful thing is how skillfully the author takes you in and out of these moments. You feel these people and through them you understand so much more than a story about a people. You understand a little more about yourself.
March 9, 2016
The novel is a wonderful story about all that is changed, lost, and misunderstood and how much can be lost within ones culture. It is a story about immigrants who come over to America for a better life. But do they all find a better life??? Are the members of the older generation ready or able to accept different cultural norms??? Can the younger generation accept the cultures and customs of the older generations???? There is a great deal about how poorly women are regarded in many customs, how they are treated or mistreated and what is expected of them. We can also question do we always find what we are looking for....can running away bring us peace and acceptance within our selves? As the author states, it is "The Legacy of all that is Lost?"
April 18, 2015
I won a copy of this book through the Goodreads First Reads program.
The Legacy of Lost Things tells a multigenerational story of an Armenian immigrant family whose oldest daughter is missing. We see the impact of this loss on the various family members, and learn more back-history about the parents and grand-parents as the story unfolds. It is a compelling, quick read (I read it in one day) with each chapter told in the voice of a different character. The characters are fully formed and we come to care about each of them. Rather depressing overall as each member of the family is so unhappy and unfulfilled, but the writer is obviously talented, and I like her writing style.
The Legacy of Lost Things tells a multigenerational story of an Armenian immigrant family whose oldest daughter is missing. We see the impact of this loss on the various family members, and learn more back-history about the parents and grand-parents as the story unfolds. It is a compelling, quick read (I read it in one day) with each chapter told in the voice of a different character. The characters are fully formed and we come to care about each of them. Rather depressing overall as each member of the family is so unhappy and unfulfilled, but the writer is obviously talented, and I like her writing style.
March 22, 2015
Reminiscent of that old saying about unhappy families being unhappy in their own way, THE LEGACY OF LOST THINGS is an emotionally resonant tale of family trauma passed from one generation to another. While this is a tale of a family of Armenian immigrants, the characters reminded me of my own family, who are generations separated from the immigrant experience. A great read that offers no easy answers to the unhappiness from which families suffer.
April 3, 2015
Iwon this book on good reads. thank you for allowing me to read it. It's the story about three generations of Armenian immigrants who moved to the United States. The families are torn between old world traditions and the new American culture.I enjoyed the story but felt sad at times for the women who were destined to follow tradition instead of their of their hearts. It left me wanting more at the end,
March 30, 2015
Gritty.True to life and compelling. Captures the essence of the immigrant experience and that of a young runaway repeating the mistakes of those who came before her. Loved this book!
* I received this book through the Goodreads giveaway program. Thanks Goodreads and Bleeding Heart Publications*
* I received this book through the Goodreads giveaway program. Thanks Goodreads and Bleeding Heart Publications*
August 25, 2015
Interesting insight into points of view from several members of an Armenian/American family - very sensitive, also somewhat shocking!
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