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Summary: Totally made-up story, doesn't reflect any truth
Review: I have bought this book to understand the so-called "Armenian Genocide", but I am terribly disappointed by the dramatical story which was totally made-up by the writer.Based on no historical facts or documents, the author's sole aim is to provoke the Armenian diaspora living in English-speaking countries against Turks and Turkey. This is one more example of fanatic Armenian literature, which does no better than provoking terrorist groups like "ASALA" to continue their terrorist attacks. In a time like this, especially after the terrorist attacks to the WTC, this terror-provoking book shall find its place in the trash bin of the history...
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Summary: Now I understand "spare, elegant prose"
Review: I just read this book and the beauty of Mr. Bagdasarian's writing - oh, it's just stunning. Stunning! I love effective use of the language, the use of just a few words to convey an abundant truth, and the entire book is written this way. It does tell the truths of the Armenian genocide, and how our ancestors were brutalized by the evil attackers - but it tells it sparely, with just the facts, but in a way that conveys depths of meaning throughout.
I have read at least 40 Armenian survivors' stories, and this one ranks right at the top: same song, but beautifully performed.
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Summary: Searching for a Home
Review: I once read where the Pulitzer Prize winning novelist Carol Shields said that a great novel should follow the characters' search for a metaphoric home. Forgotten Fire does that, both literally and metaphorically, and the result is a masterpiece of a novel.The novel's protagonist is Vahan. At the beginning of the novel, he is one of the sons of a very rich and influencial Armenian lawyer. He is twelve. The family's life is certainly one of luxury and security. Then, the Armenian Holocaust begins, though. Vahan sees brothers murdered, his grandmother shot, and his sister's suicide among other almost unspeakable atrocities. Eventually, Vahan is forced to try to run, and that results in his three year struggle to survive alone in a country torn by war and the hatred of his race. There are so many things that make this novel great. First, the characterizations are wonderful as you see Vahan forced to grow into a man. It is also inspiring to see a person like Vahan moving ahead in life in such horrible conditions. The writing is so good; the prose flows smoothly yet the narrative is unflinching and unsentimental. The novel also has the ability to blow you away with one beautiful piece of insight or one loving human relationship amongst the chaos. This is one of the most powerful reads I've had, and I'm sure that Forgotten Fire will never be forgotten. It will survive to remind the world of the plight of the Armenian people.
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Summary: The Best Novel on the Armenian Genocide
Review: I read this book two years ago and its impact is still fresh in my mind. The point of view of this story ... from the eyes of a child ... is creative and strong. I could not put this book down. I have recommended this novel to all of my friends and was thrilled to see that it was on the summer reading list of required books at the local high school. Finally, through the words of an Armenian author, the youth of our nation will be educated in the Armenian Genocide. Pass the word on to your local schools. A word of caution... there are portions of the novel that deal with sensitive issues, apart from violence. Teachers and parents should be made aware of this fact, yet use it in educating the students as to the ultimate brutality of the genocide. Thank you Adam Bagdasarian, your ancestors are smiling down at you and thanking you for such a moving novel. "Abrees!"
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Summary: Well Written
Review: I thought that The Forgotten Fire deserved a four as a rating because it was very well written and it captured the essence of how it was like back then. I have read a few books about the Holocaust and this was one of the better ones. This book was good because it was based off of non-fiction but was written in the fiction format. The author made sure that the readers would be keen to read on and to find out more about what was going on. It wasn't just telling information; it had a plot behind it and reasons for every action that was taken. It was very easy and quick to read because the author let everything flow throughout the book.
The characters in this book were well developed, even if they were only in the story for a short time. For every character, Bagdasarian was sure to create a vivid picture of them in your mind. Every time that character spoke, you could see them as if they were standing in front of you, and not Vahan Kenderian.
Vahan endured many hardships and the reader was able to know what he was feeling through out the book. The reader became emotionally involved in what was happening and became involved with what decisions Vahan made. You could see that he grew stronger throughout the book, and that he made some difficult choices that had harsh consequences.
This book was well written, had developed plot and characters, and made the reader emotionally involved.
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Summary: A story of survival
Review: I was asked to read this for school and I was quite intrested in the book. I finished the book within the 2nd day I rented it. It was a real page turner for me. Things happen so fast in this book. It's a book containing all emotions Vahan Kenderian goes from a rich man's son to a beggar and goes through a journey to survive and not get killed by the Turks. In this story, Vahan loses several loved ones but he continues until he finally reaches freedom. I highly recommmend this book
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Summary: One of the best books I've ever read!!!
Review: I'm 11 years old and I love to read novels. They are so intersting and have so much power. This book is one of the best books I have ever read. When you are through reading it you feel as if in some ways yo relate to him. ALl in all this is a book that people can read over and over and never get tired of it.
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Summary: Historical Fiction at it's Finest.
Review: Imagine being 12 years old, the youngest child in a wealthy family, with no concerns beyond plotting mischief. One day, soldiers arrive at your door, ending your carefree existence. Within a week, you are transformed from a lighthearted child into a homeless, starving orphan in constant fear of execution. This is the story of Vahan Kenderian. Author Adam Bagdasarian's novel, based on his great uncle, is a well written look at the horrors of the often forgotten Armenian Genocide. Written in first person, Bagdasarian does a wonderful job of making it seem as though he is the one that went through this terrible tragedy, rather than his great uncle. It is easy reading, with short chapters, and text geared toward the young adult. Don't hesitate to pick this book up just because of the easy reading, anyone would enjoy it. Forgotten Fire is a great book that you won't be able to put down.
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Summary: Forgotten Fire
Review: Once you pick up Forgotten Fire you're taken into a page turning adventure that you can hardly put down. And, even once you do put it down, it's deep images and lessons will stay with you for the rest of your day. You're taken into a whirlwind of emotions ranging from love to hate and back again.
Bagdasarian shows skillfully, through this true story of a relative, the hardships that Armenians faced during the Turkish genocide of their people. However, without enough background history for his readers Bagdasarian leaves us somewhat confused and in the dark as to what's happening in the world outside of Vahan Kenderian's view. Briefly he explains, in the foreword, some of the causes for the genocide but once I jumped in to the book I became too caught up in the story to remember much of it.
Bagdasarian's characters are all well developed people whose minds he takes you into. And it is in their minds and through their eyes that you see the horrors faced by the Armenians. As I watched Vahan become stripped of his family, friends, home and even the freedom to walk the streets, I couldn't help but feel for him.
Despite the small lack of historical information, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or just wants a good book in which they can really connect with the characters. Be warned, however, that within the pages of Forgotten Fire is a boy who will take you along with him on an emotional roller coaster throughout his own holocaust in the country that his no longer his.
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Summary: "We must be very strong now."
Review: Oskina Kenderian speaks to her younger brother those words as they realize that their seemingly secure world will never be the same again. Their father was summoned from his home at night and is rumored to have been shot by Turkish gendarmes. Some of their servants are missing...
I think this book is a good one to start with if you know nothing about the genocide of Armenians and others in 1915. The story is told from a young boy's perspective, that of Adam Bagdasarian's great-uncle Vahan Kenderian, who, along with his sister Oskina, were the only survivors out of their large family. The book is simply and beautifully written, easily read in a day. The only historical details are found in a two page foreword of the book. The bulk of the story is Vahan's ordeal which began as a 12 year old orphan and ends three years later at the war's end in 1918 when he has finally found refuge at an orphanage run by Armenians in Constantinople. I already know quite a bit about the plight of the Armenians from other books and movies and from Armenians themselves. What this book offers that others don't is that it reveals the psychological impact on Vahan of seeing his loved ones, one by one, killed violently right before his eyes, and yet you wonder why this sweet christian boy doesn't lose it altogether. You wonder why, having seen such cruelty, that he doesn't become as cruel as they. He remembers his father's words to him when times were tough, "This is how steel is made." So he keeps on going and has many adventures, scares, tragedies along the way.
Yes, this book does not explain why the Armenians would be hated so much. Did they do something deserving their punishment, you may ask? I think that one has to understand the culture in which they were living at that time, and understand that, as christians by faith, ironically, by others, then and now, they're considered infidels and blasphemers. All I can say is that the Armenians I came to know, I've admired them for their quiet faith and their intense devotion to G-d which is so evident in their very, sweet natures. My explanation for their suffering, though partly explained by where Armenia is located geographically, is that there is an unseen, spiritual dimension to it based on what we've been taught by Christ and his disciples. His disciple Paul writes in Ephesians 6:12 that 'we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.' With so many people, so many factions, vying for others' loyalties today, as a person of the christian faith, it is imperative that one does 'not participate in evil deeds of darkness'. And King Solomon writes in his proverbs 'They that forsake the law praise the wicked, but such as keep the law contend with them'. Vahan's father was a lawyer, was one of the first in his town to disappear. These Armenians are contenders with and nonparticipants in the evil deeds they witnessed. Adam Bagdasarian heard a recording of his great-uncle who told of his experience. Possibly he had a key to Vahan's diary and edited his story somewhat. Yes, the story cannot be categorized as heart-warming, yet, from all I've read about Armenians, I'm always impressed by their families, how loving, sincere, and kind they are; that's a rarity these days.
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