I just read David's post and intended to post a very similar entry myself. I'm noticing with these memoirs that I rather enjoy the build up to the history. I like getting the family history and seeing all the groundwork of the NOW before we go back to see the BEFORE and WHY and WHEN. It is engaging and allows for a more sympathetic--if not empathetic--reading.
I thought the structure of this book was rather effective. In starting with the grandmother as a person, an Armenian in America, and a grandmother most importantly, Balakian created a strong character. Furthermore, he created a strong relationship between his grandmother and himself. Despite this tight relationship, he knew little about her other than Armenian traditions and present day occurrences.
Creating this character of The Grandmother, I began to really relate. She was a very grandmotherly character. I saw a lot of my grandmother in her--eenching me to death, but in an Italian-American way. This allowed me to really engage with the story and be ready, when Peter was, to hear the full history.
I thought it was masterly crafted; the weaving of Armenian history hinted at through half-intentional phrases and stories, as perceived by an American boy...very interesting and very compelling.
No comments:
Post a Comment