Black Dog of Fate

In Black Dog of Fate, Peter Balakian cover a vast amount of material, spanning from his childhood, when he knows little about his family's past, to his adulthood, in which he becomes a witness to his family's history. What stands out the most to me is the amount of time that he spends discussing the women in his family. The memoir is framed by his grandmother's life and the moments that he and his grandmother share--first by his listening and then by his understanding. What really stands out to me is the strength of this woman. Before we delve into her past, we see her cooking with her grandson, taking his shopping, getting lost in the city, and even getting into a fight.

It seems like such a small moment in retrospect, but I was very impressed with the way she traversed through the city. I am not good with directions myself, so I know that I would probably panic a little if I found myself lost in an unfamiliar place, no matter what city. Yet, Balakian tells: "Tired and confused, we dragged our shopping bags along the sidewalk past the dark, low tenement buildings and street signs with unfamiliar names. My grandmother stopped next to a man selling ice cream from a silver cart and bought us each a Creamsicle. I don't know if my grandmother sensed my uneasiness...." I am sure that she did sense her grandson's uneasiness, and I think that it is perfect that she buys him an ice cream.

Plus, I love her reaction when he cannot summon a taxi: "'That's no way to get a cab,' my grandmother said, and got up with characteristic vehemence and began waving her cane like a conductor, and in a minute a yellow checker cab was at our disposal."

I also see this as clever writing. Balakian intentionally introduces us to this kind woman who can take charge in any situation, so that later, when we see her daughters say their supposed final goodbyes to her, we do not see just the frail woman on her deathbed. We see the power, poise, and confidence that she embodies. I believe that this makes the image far more potent.