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Set in rural Armenia in the aftermath of war, Narine Abgaryan’s heartwarming short stories show people finding hope and purpose again.
Set in an Armenian mountain village immediately after the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the early 1990s, these thirty-one linked short stories trace the interconnected lives of villagers tending to their everyday tasks, engaging in quotidian squabbles, and celebrating small joys against a breathtaking landscape. Yet the setting, suspended in time and space, belies unspeakable tragedy: every character contends with an unbearable burden of loss. The war rages largely off the book’s pages, appearing only in fragmented flashbacks. Abgaryan’s stories focus on how, in the war’s aftermath, the survivors work, as individuals and as a community, to find a way forward. Written in Abgaryan’s signature style that weaves elements of Armenian folk tradition into her prose, these stories of community, courage, and resilience celebrate human life, where humor and love and hope prevail in unthinkable circumstances.
View Table of ContentsRecently, I was given a complimentary copy of the book, "To Go on Living," by Narine Abgaryan. I had no idea what the book was about until I started reading. I was captivated after reading the first chapter. I knew nothing about the country of Armenia or about the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. I've never been much of a history buff, but found these very poignant stories touching my heart. The author uses a very descriptive writing style and immediately draws the reader in. Though the stories were very difficult to read, I was thankful to have the opportunity to read them. They helped me understand the realities of war. I was astounded at the ability of the people mentioned to rise above their situations. Their resilience was astounding. I don't think I'd I've been able to respond in the same way if I'd experienced the tragedies they had experienced. I would like to think that I would be able to have a positive outlook on life as they did, but I'm not sure I would have been able to do that. As I read, it seemed to me that each person in the story had accepted war as an integral part of life and had learned to either accept or reject it. As they learned to accept it, they managed to find a way to keep on living. Two quotes in the book really touched my heart: "To write about a war means almost destroying any hope within yourself. Like staring death in the face while trying not to avert your eyes. Because if you do, you will have betrayed your own self." And the other one, "Life is fairer than death, and that's what encapsulates it's unbreakable truth. It is necessary to believe this in order to go on living." Those powerful words gave me a new perspective. I would like to thank Plough publishing for allowing me the honor and privilege of reviewing this book. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in history but also to those interested in learning how to overcome tragic circumstances.
The way we consume media has desensitized us to the brutality, horror, and day-to-day despair of war, but this book slaps you in the face with it. The writing is so mundanely beautiful, and you can tell it comes from a place of love and honor for the land and people that she writes of. Often when we read of war it depicts concentration camps or diaspora, but we so rarely see the lives of those who stayed in their homes and towns, and how their lives are altered as they survive in a warzone. Women are the bearers of culture and community, and this book is beautiful.
What a lovely, lovely book. Bittersweet, heartbreaking, sad, melancholic, about the pain that lingers long after a war is finished. How war shapes lives not only physically but also mentally and emotionally. It is the second book by Abgaryan that I've read (the first was "Three apples fell from the sky" which I also liked a lot) and I will definitely add her to my "authors to follow" list.
A masterful exploration of the human capacity for endurance and renewal in the face of profound loss. Narine Abgaryan’s storytelling is both tender and unyielding, offering readers a window into the lives of those who persist in the aftermath of tragedy. Through its vivid characters, lyrical prose, and universal themes, the book affirms the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of community.
The relentless sorrow of people living in the hills of Armenia during war cannot overcome their dignity and connectedness; their perseverance gives me hope for humanity. These stories, full of painful beauty, are difficult to get through, but well worth the effort. In spite of never having lived in a war zone, I feel a commonality with these far-away people that makes me wonder how anyone can really go to war.
