6 minute read
YEREVAN, JULY 17, ARMENPRESS: Praise for New York Times best-selling author Chris Bohjalian’s latest epic, "The Sandcastle Girls," continued today, with The Washington Post and USA Today publishing powerful reviews spotlighting the Armenian Genocide and Turkey’s ongoing denial of this crime, reports Armenpress citing the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
"Today's reviews confirm the brilliance of Bohjalian's masterful literary presentation of the Armenian Genocide, and underscore the vital role that he is playing in educating readers about this crime, highlighting the ongoing human costs of Turkey's denials, and galvanizing a growing movement to end forever the cycle of genocide," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "Bohjalian's story truly speaks to our hearts and our hopes. Let's do all we can to make sure that its impact is felt as widely as possible - among citizens and Senators alike."
Eugenia Zuckerman, in her review for The Washington Post, cites the very real impact that the Armenian Genocide, and Turkey’s denial, has on international relations today, and the role of books, like ‘The Sandcastle Girls’, in highlighting the truth about this crime. "In some circles, controversy over the nature of this crime still rages. Just this month, relations between France and Turkey were tested again by President Francois Hollande’s commitment to making it illegal to deny that the killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks was genocide," noted Zuckerman. “Bohjalian’s ‘The Sandcastle Girls’ may be a novel, but, based on his family history, it is a valuable and powerful piece of evidence pointing to the undeniable."
Hundreds of Armenian Americans from the LA area welcomed New York Times Best-Selling author Chris Bohjalian as he joined with the ANC Grassroots Film and the Arts Committee, The Genocide Education Project and Doubleday Books in launching the national tour for his latest novel “The Sandcastle Girls.”
“We have seen incredible enthusiasm here in the LA area and in communities across the country in anticipation of the July 17th publication of Bohjalian’s epic on the Armenian Genocide,” ANCA Western Region co-Chairperson Nora Hovsepian, Esq. “Chris’ presentation today, like his book, was engaging and inspiring – guaranteed to serve as a starting point for discussions about the Armenian Genocide and genocide prevention the world over.”
Community members purchased hundreds of copies of the book and stood in line to meet the author and have them signed prior to the official book presentation. ANCA Western Region Chairwoman Nora Hovsepian, Esq. welcomed attendees and cited the important role that works like “The Sandcastle Girls” play in educating mainstream America about the Armenian Genocide and the consequences of Genocide denial. Those remarks were echoed by Adrin Nazarian and LA City Controller Wendy Greuel, upon presentation of a proclamation by LA Councilman Paul Krekorian welcoming Bohjalian and the publication of his masterpiece.
ANC Grassroots Film and the Arts Committee Chairwoman Nora Yacoubian was eloquent in her introduction of Bohjalian, highlighting the ANC’s commitment to supporting education about the Armenian Genocide and Armenian American concerns through the arts. “By sponsoring this event as its maiden voyage into a social, cultural and political environment, it [the Film and Arts Committee] intends to develop and set a very high standard for projects to come.” Yacoubian praised “The Sandcastle Girls,” describing it as “one of those books you cannot put down. Moreover, it becomes a book that will permanently be etched in the virtual library of your memory.”
The luncheon will be followed by an evening presentation at 7:30pm, by Bohjalian held at Woodbury University Fletcher Jones Auditorium. The event has limited seating and his open to the public. Bohjalian will then be traveling to events in San Francisco, CA; Watertown, MA; Warwick, RI; New Milford, NJ and Washington, DC where his Capitol Hill debut is co-hosted by Congressional Armenian Genocide Resolution lead sponsors, Representatives Robert Dold (R-IL) and Adam Schiff (D-CA). Bohjalian will be meeting with Congressional members throughout the day on August 1 and then offering remarks and signing books beginning at 6 p.m. at the Rayburn House Office Building, Room B-369.