Recently, 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.
