Response to The Bastard if Isantbul

The Bastard of Istanbul, a novel by Elif Shafak, demonstrates the way history and the past effects the present. This book circled around the topic of the Armenian Genocide that occurred in 1915. With the novels' present setting, the characters are placed in a situation where they are forced to remember the past which they have chosen to forget and at the same time learn about their culture and their true individual identity as it relates to the past.
I found this book interesting not only because of the culture it represented and they new things I was able to learn about it as a result of this book but because of the history involved. The characters in the book either are oblivious to the fact that there ever was an Armenian Genocide or dwell on this event because of the way it effected their family and even years later are still seeking recognition. I thought one of the most powerful distinctions in the book was between the Armenian community living in Istanbul and the Armenian American community in the United States. These two groups, although from the same heritage, think completely different about the past. In relations to the Turks, Armenians who live in Turkey have come to accept the past and live among the Turks without resentment and hatred. The Armenian Americans however, are they ones who still continue to hate the Turks for what they have done to their families even though it was so many years ago. I found this geographical distinction very interesting.
Other than the characters relations to the events of 1915, I found it interesting to learn about this event through the novel since I had never known of its occurrence. The facts regarding this historical event that effected so many Armenian lives are presented through memories. As per class discussion on Thursday, it is hard to believe that such an event would go so unrecognized. We compared the publicity given to the Holocaust of the Jews in Nazi Germany during World War II and how thoroughly it is covered in grade school curriculum and how astonishing it is that other acts of genocide occurred even less than one hundred years ago yet many people have never heard of it. I find it really hard to believe that such an even can go so unrecognized, but after class discussion is realized the frustration of those who were actually effected by such an event must be astronomical. This explains why they Armenian Americans are still so agitated with the Turks. Since they left to come to America their last memory of their home land is this horrific genocide of their people. They have yet to experience the society under the Turkish Republic and therefore dwell on what used to be for the sole purpose of their hardships being recognized as so many other cultures hardships have been.
This book was most enjoyable. Not only did it provide an interesting and easy to read story but it was able to present history in a way that was not textbook and therefore made it more interesting. I believe this is a true issue concerning many Armenian Americans today and find it shocking that they have yet to be recognized for it. Perhaps more literature like this book could provide that recognition for them.