The Sandcastle Girls (2012)

A stunning tale of love, despair, heartache, and genocide. Bohjalian does an amazing job in this novel. Well developed characters. Wonderful though sad story. A definite should read but not a light read.

Fascinating, painful novel based on the Armenian massacre of 1915. Bohjalian brings the reader into the horror but tempers the experience with beautiful characters to ease the tension. The technique of interspersing the desperate scenes in Aleppo and Gallipoli with the search for truth by a current day relative of the characters also dilutes the dread, thankfully. Aleppo, Syria and Watertown, MA --how ironic. ( )

The story of the genocide of over one million Armenians by the Turks.
Elizabeth arrives in Aleppo Syria with her father, doctors and supplies and food. She and her father are of Armenian descent and they do what they can do to help. She and Armen, an Armenian who has escaped the masacre fall in love. He goes off to fight but returns and they marry and come to the states. The storyteller is the great granddaughter.

The movement from the present to the past becomes confusing at certain points and the romance overshadows the horror of the slaughter which I don't believe was the author's intent. ( )

This story taught me something that as a student and teacher of history, I had very little knowledge of- the Armenian genocide. I was amazed by the depth of information and description the author brought forward in this novel. I have been a fan of Chris Bohjalian since I first read Midwives. He is a wonderful writer and I alsway look forward to his next novel. I think this might be his best. It is not a feel good story- but it is powerful and leaves a lasting impression.

“When it seems you have nothing at all to live for, death is not especially frightening.”
― Chris Bohjalian, The Sandcastle Girls

This is a powerful historical novel about the Armenian Genocide. It takes place in two time periods- 1915 and the present. During 1915, we learn the story of Elizabeth Endicott, who has traveled from America to Aleppo with her father to administer humanitarian aid on behalf of the Friends of Armenia. There she meets and befriends Armen Petrosian, an Armenia who has lost his entire family, and is planning on fighting with the British forces against the Germans. The two fall in love and exchange of the genocide from both of their perspectives.

The Sandcastle Girls is excellent depiction of this tragedy. Immediately after I finished, I went onto my computer to learn as much as I could about this event. I am thinking of reading it again, after I learn more. ( )

The Sandcastle Girls by Chris Bohjalian is a powerful and masterful novel of war, love, loss with a bittersweet secret buried for generations. An engrossing historical novel depicting the Armenian Genocide; this is a passionate novel that glorifies the formidable human spirit of survival and endurance. Epic stories of love and war that will leave you pondering on the facts long after you have finished this novel. I found this a powerful, insightful, touching and an unforgettable novel. ( )