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PRESS RELEASE
Monday, January 25, 2010
Author Michael Bobelian Promotes His New Book, Children of Armenia, in a
Series of Book Readings Hosted By AGBU
Throughout the fall of 2009, author Michael Bobelian travelled around
cities in the US and Canada for a series of book readings hosted by
various AGBU chapters. He was on tour promoting his new book, "Children
of Armenia: A Forgotten Genocide and the Century-Long Struggle for
Justice." The book explores the events of 1915 and the social and
political issues that followed. The author discusses the struggles for
justice and what he believes has caused the Armenian Genocide to fade
from public consciousness and often go unrecognized. Michael Bobelian is
a lawyer and journalist by training, and is the grandson of genocide
survivors.
Bobelian toured around California, visiting chapters in
Glendale-Pasadena, Fresno and San Francisco. He also gave book readings
in Chicago and Toronto. Each of the informative readings and lectures
was followed by a question-and-answer session, book signing, and a
reception for the author and attendees. The crowds at most of the
readings were made up of a mixed but mostly older audience, while the
San Francisco reading attracted a significantly younger and more diverse
group of attendees.
The author has been emphasizing the importance his younger audience has
on the Genocide’s acknowledgement and the future of Armenia. "For
Armenian readers, I want them to learn about a history that we’re
largely ignorant about. Young Armenians, born after the 1960’s, don’t
really know how the recognition movement began and how this campaign for
justice began. We have inherited not only the scars of the genocide but
a campaign for justice from previous generations. We deserve to know the
origins and evolution of this campaign," he said in an October
interview. Bobelian also talked about the importance of non-Armenians
starting to take an interest in this issue. "A lot of people I ran into
while writing this book would ask me why Armenians still persist since
it’s been almost one hundred years since the genocide took place. I want
them [non-Armenians] to understand and appreciate that it still matters.
Even today, these issues of denial and impunity resonate not only for
Armenians but for genocides across the world."
The book had already generated positive reviews on its own since its
release in September, though the book readings at the various chapters
greatly helped in getting more people interested. The author was humbled
by not only the successful turnouts at each book reading but also by the
overall enthusiasm for the book. He thanked AGBU and its chapters for
working so hard to put these events together. "I am extremely grateful
that the AGBU chapters were willing to host me. People made a big effort
to get the word out and to give me a platform to speak and share my
work. It’s very challenging to reach a broad audience, and AGBU did an
excellent job of bringing people in, particularly with the younger
generation." He added, "It’s very difficult for a young author to get
the word out about a new book, and publishers don’t really help with
marketing. AGBU and the local organizations really did a superb job with
that."
Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU
preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through
educational, cultural and humanitarian program, annually touching the
lives of some 400,000 Armenians around the world.
For more information about AGBU and its worldwide programs, please visit