Chris Bohjalian Visits AGBU Central Office in NY

Best-Selling Author Presents Latest Novel, ‘Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands’

NEW YORK—Critically acclaimed author Chris Bohjalian is traveling across the U.S. on his “Rock and Roll Book Tour” to launch his latest novel, Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands (Doubleday Canada), and the AGBU Central Office in New York was one of his first stops. More than 115 guests gathered for Bohjalian’s presentation, which was co-hosted by AGBU Ararat, the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society of New York, and the Armenian Network of America–Greater New York Region.

New York Times bestselling author Chris Bohjalian reads excerpts from his latest novel, ‘Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands,’ at the AGBU Central Office in New York. (Photo by Mariana Mekbekian)

It wasn’t the first time Bohjalian brought his work to the AGBU community. He visited the office following the release of Midwives (1997) and The Light in the Ruins (2013). In 2012, the AGBU co-hosted his New York presentation of The Sandcastle Girls (Doubleday), a love story that begins during the Armenian Genocide and unfolds over generations. During that event, Bohjalian recounted his own family’s plight; his grandparents—genocide survivors—had fled present-day Istanbul before finding refuge in the United States.

Bohjalian, who traveled to Armenia to research The Sandcastle Girls, lives in Vermont, the setting for Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands. Sure to be another one of Bohjalian’s best-sellers, the novel is described by The Associated Press as “a thoroughly engrossing and poignant coming-of-age story,” and has drawn praise from The Boston Globe, The Washington Post, The Armenian Weekly, and Library Journal, among others. Narrated by a teenage protagonist, it’s on the summer reading lists of young adults as well as their parents.

Chris Bohjalian joins with organizers of his book presentation event. (L-R) Talene Kachadourian, Ani Tchaghlasian, Sharis Boghossian, and Elizabeth Akian. (Photo by Mariana Mekbekian)

Sharis Boghossian, the AGBU’s event coordinator, provided an overview of the book before introducing Bohjalian to the crowd. “Released just a few days ago, ‘Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands’ tells the story of Emily Shepard, a homeless teen whose parents were killed in a cataclysmic nuclear plant meltdown,” she said. “Emily takes off on her own…but she can’t outrun her past, can’t escape her grief, can’t hide forever—and so she comes up with the only plan that she can.”

Bohjalian hinted at Emily’s plan while reading excerpts, leading a Q&A session, and signing copies of the hardcover for guests. The line to meet him wrapped around the AGBU office. Among those waiting to speak with him were students of the AGBU New York Summer Internship Program (NYSIP), who have attended several enriching events throughout their eight weeks in the city. The NYSIP interns and all the Chris Bohjalian fans left with autographed books, t-shirts, and words of praise for their favorite author.

To watch the trailer for Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands, and to purchase your copy, visit www.chrisbohjalian.com/close-your-eyes-hold-hands.

For more information about the AGBU and its worldwide programs, visit www.agbu.org.