Kate
The novel in verse, Like Water on Stone by Dana Walrath, tells the intertwined stories of the three youngest members
of an Armenian family and an eagle, Ardziv from 1914-1919 in Armenia where the
Turks, Kurds and Armenians coexist peacefully. Thirteen year old Shahen is
taught by the Armenian priest, Father Manoog, but dreams of traveling to America
to live with his uncle. His twin sister, Sosi, has no interest in leaving home
as she has fallen in love with the clockmaker’s son. Papa will not allow Shahen
to leave for America as he foolishly believes that even after the Ottoman
Empire declares war on Russia that the Turks and Kurds will protect his family.
Shahen speaks of his father, “He’s the one who dreams of peace, that friendships
will protect us. It’s his eyes, not mine, that must open before the soldiers
come again” (Walrath, 2014, p. 111) . But, the soldiers
come and take the two oldest brothers away with their hands tied behind their
backs as well as any other Armenian men that able to fight. After the Armenian
males were taken and executed, the women, children, and young boys too young to
fight were killed or forced to walk to northern Syria with no food or water. Before their parents are executed, they send Shahen,
Sosi, and their younger sister, Mariam to make their way during the nights to the
safety of Aleppo as the eagle, Ardziv watches over them from the sky to ensure
their safety. Thankfully, they are taken in by a family who hides them until
their uncle sends them tickets to America.
The book is told in four parts: Palu
in 1914, Massacre in 1915, Journey and Summer of 1915, and 1919 as a novel in
verse. Having never read a novel in
verse, I read it as though it were any other book, as it’s still a narrative.
Now, as I review the structure, I can see the similarities in syllables in many
of the lines. I think the way this book was written enhances the reading
experience and sets it apart from many others. The topic of Armenian genocide
is not a well-known one and telling it using a verse structure gives it a
unique quality, as well as a reduced amount of text that could entice reluctant
readers. The topics of mutilation, rape, and the graphic descriptions of
murders call for a recommended audience of high school students and adults.
Bibliography
Walrath, D. (2014). Like Stone on Water .
Delacourt Press.
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