My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia

by Markar Melkonian

Known at various times as "Abu Sindi", "Timothy Sean McCormick", "Saro", and "Commander Avo", Monte Melkonian was denounced in Europe as an international terrorist, while his adopted homeland of Armenia decorated him as a national hero who led a force of 4,000 men to victory in Azerbaijan. Markar Melkonian spent seven years unravelling the mystery of his brother's road: a journey which began in his ancestors' town in Turkey and led to a blood-splattered square in Tehran, the Kurdish mountains, the bomb-pocked streets of Beirut, and finally, to the windswept heights of mountainous Karabagh. Monte's life embodied the agony and the follies of the end of the Cold War and the unraveling of the Soviet Union. Yet, who was this man, really? A terrorist or a hero? My Brother's Road is not just the story of a long journey and a short life, it is an attempt to understand what happens when one man decides that violent deeds speak louder than words

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, History, Biography

344 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Brett Pierce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having met the Azeri children of Nagorno Karabagh living in slum conditions in Baku, Azerbaijan, and met Armenians from the other side, I found this book opened up a slice of modern history with impeccable detail. The author has a beautiful way with language, thoughtful and insightful, balanced and reflective, and the story fascinates. Monte Melkonian chose a path to do something for his people. He simply threw himself into the opportunities he saw in front of him - a single man almost fumbling his way forward - but somehow his journey had that sense of timing to place him at the forefront of his people's history. Monte had a mystery to him, all through his life, yet his personality slowly emerges through the story until you feel you begin to understand him. This very human story brings very modern insights into the struggle of any oppressed people.

[Lilly Minasyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Monte died at the age of thirty-five and one-half years, 110 years after his great-great-uncle Jacob Seropian had died at the same age. Separated by five generations, they crossed paths in opposite directions. "I am here a stranger and a pilgrim," Jacob had written after arriving in America. Monte, too, was a pilgrim of sorts. But unlike Jacob, Monte did not consider himself to be a stranger anywhere on Earth. And unlike Jacob, his long road had led him home.”

***

You need to love your people and country so much that you look right into the truth and embrace it. Monte was not the perfect human that I grew up to know, he was flawed and he made mistakes that he admitted himself. That’s when you know he was a good leader, he was in a competition with himself and would admit his wrongdoings. Monte’s brother wrote this book, but from the very beginning I could tell Markar loved his brother fully and unconditionally that he is able to recount his brother’s life from a place of truth, and not sugarcoating the events.
Monte was a flawed person but in his heart he wanted the best for the Armenian people. I think if he was alive today, Armenians would rip him apart with their words. I don’t think Armenians were ready for a leader like Monte then and they are not ready for a Monte today.

There were parts that made me sick, reading the parts about Khojali by Armenians and other atrocities committed by Azeris, you just see that both sides had “blood bleeds blood” mentality and both were not able to stop the bloodshed and 30 years later the hate continues.

Do not read this book if you want to read an idealistic version of Monte. It means you never really liked Monte, you LIKE the idea of Monte.

[L.Y. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve rated this 5 stars because it was well written, descriptive and informative.
This was a somewhat emotional trip in the life of a man whom I knew as Marcia’s brilliant brother, Monte. But all of the Melkonian’s were brilliant as I recall. I have vague memories of Monte at their house when I would come to hang out with Marcia. I don’t think I had many real conversations with him since we were the little sister and her friend. I was not around during the time that the family was praying for him and hoping for his safety.
What I got out of this book was that Monte was a passionate and empathetic man who saw the fight of the Armenian people as his fight. I don’t quite understand why, since he grew up in Visalia, so far away from the people he fought to protect. It is probably hard for many to understand the lengths he went to in order to pursue justice. It is not for me to judge since I sit in a comfortable house in relative safety. I can’t be expected to understand.
I learned a lot about the Armenian plight and feel more informed by Markar’s writing.
I am sorry that he is gone, as a sister who misses her brother. And I’m sorry for the hushed hurtful words in our little community.

[Ross Miletich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible. The story of a man who saw the future more clearly than a thousand over-educated and bloodless analysts. Anyone even remotely interested in the Armenian struggle for justice and self determination must read this book.

[Arsen]

Ավո. Մոնթե Մելքոնյանի կյանքը և մահը
Թվային տարբերակ

https://online.fliphtml5.com/nfycf/idhx/

[E Mat · Rating 5 out of 5]

The reason why Monte Melkonian is a hero for the Armenians is not as such as the work that he has done. Obviously his existence was significance in the fight against Azerbaijan.
However the reason for him being a national hero is that he could have chosen the easy and rich life very easily. This man lived in the US and had all the peace and potential to become happy and successful. He did not know that he was Armenian until he became like 12. He did not speak the language until he went to Lebanon to help the movement. There was no reason whatsoever to do what he did except for the noblest reason. And he sacrificed his life for it.

Today is the 22nd of November. Nagorno-Karabach is as good as lost. All the Armenian culture is going to be erased. God bless the hearts of the Christian Armenians and God bless the little boys that fought against Azeri's, Turks and jihadi's. The world has lost its heart for righteousness.

Now, let the whole diaspora of Armenia (7 million) become Monte Melkonian and not choose for the easy life. Let us all choose for Armenia and make Armenia the great nation it was. With love and prosperity.

[Garni Assadourian · Rating 5 out of 5]

The degree to which passages of this book sound exactly like news headlines from Armenia and Artsakh right now, is astonishing. This book is not simply about war or bravery or righteousness, but rather, a story that exemplifies the struggle that characterizes and haunts the lives of every Armenian, past and present.

"If we lose Artsakh, we will turn the last page of the Armenian people's history."- Monte Melkonian

[Ulviyya · Rating 4 out of 5]

if you're interested in nagorno-karabakh conflict (let me guess, probably not)

[Natavan Quliyeva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I put 5 stars only because the book was well written and objective in some parts. So, while reading about Monte, I understood that he was controversial person. If we put aside his fanatism and nationalism, he was a bright, very highly-educated, intelligent person who was loyal to the woman he loved, kind hearted to the animals and so on. But at the same time he was a dramatic person who couldnt keep himself from fighting, even if the fighting is for the wrong cause let it only be a fight, I am pretty curious could he lead a quiet life? Nope, I guess. In short, he was a person who could have done too many good stuffs for his nation but chose the wrong way and didnt dig or paid too much attention to the root of the conflict between Turks, Azerbaijanis and Armenians.
BTW I am very happy that my country regained its territorial integrity in 2020 and separatist regime collapsed.
P.S. Whoever over there in diaspora via social media starts that debunking shit about Khojaly Genocide must read this book.

[Stella Hovsepyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will be forever thankful to the person that told me to read this. As an Armenian, finding books written by an Armenian is a challenge but to find one written about Monte was like finding a treasure trove. Monte is an Armenian Hero, and to hear his story told by his brother was a great pleasure I'll never forget. If anyone wants to get into Armenian history this is a great place to start. This talks about Monte's rise in the Armenian army as well as how his life ended, which is still in speculation.

[Aris · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exceptional book that every Armenian, especially those born in the United States, will learn much from.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Melkonian has written quite a balanced biography, not glorifying his brother while recognizing the significance of his work.

[Ani Margaryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read for generation born in 90s(like me) to step back in timeline and understand more details of what we have now.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so thankful that Monte Melkonian’s, brother took the time and effort to carefully research the details of this book. I learned so much about my friend’s brother and his passion for Armenia.

[T. Isajanyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my absolute favorite books about a man who is revered as a hero in the Armenian reality

[Patrick Sauriol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Monte Melkonian's world tour. I read this entire biography to get a single citation for my dissertation but damn this man excelled at everything except dodging shrapnel

[Charlotte · Rating 2 out of 5]

My Brother's Road tells the story of teenage idealist / Armenian terrorist / Karabagh war hero Monte Melkonian. The book was written by his older brother, who didn't share the views nor the lifestyle that ultimately lead Monte Melkonian to his death. Markar Melkonian evidently did a lot of research to write a precise and detailed account of Monte's life. It probably makes a fascinating read if you're interested in the Lebanese civil war, and the Karabagh war, as we follow Monte Melkonian's every step in those two conflicts. However, the signficant number of new names, places and dates introduced every two paragraphs made the book fall off my hands a few times. I understand that people who knew, or admired Monte Melkonian, would be interested in learning every detail of his life - his clothing during the lebanese civil war, what airline he flew from Lebanon to Greece, the progress of his love relationship with his future wife, whose comrade's girlfriend visited him while he was in jail, and his sleeping habits during the Karabagh war, but I found all these details quite unnecessary, and thought they really undermined my understanding of the bigger picture (mainly because the boring details slowed my reading progress, and made me loose track of what exactly Melkonian was up to). It's definitely a good book to read if you already have prior knowledge of Monte Melkonian and his various endeavours, and are desperate to learn every little detail of his life. If, like me, you're only vaguely curious about the character, you're better off reading his wikipedia entry...

[George Donigian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Details the fight for freedom in Artsakh and the heroic journey of Monte Melkonian, an American-Armenian who returned to Artsakh to lead the militant struggle for independence. Helpful notes for those who want to do more research and a helpful glossary for those who know little of Armenian history.

[Joseph N. Mule · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

A must if you are interested in the recent history of this region and the kid from california who greatly impacted it.