To honor all those who survived and memorialize those who perished, there arises an inspiring historical fiction, based on true events. Set in Kharpert, one is exposed to the daily lives of two brothers, Armen and Vartan, beginning in the year 1913. As they recall their youth during those years, the reader is absorbed into the lives of these two young men. They clearly display the courage, determination and strength to never succumb to the inhumanity inflicted upon them. On the contrary, they make a conscious decision to empower their instinct of survival, and to persist, live and expose the magnitude of the Armenian Genocide.
Sometimes with or without our knowledge, we are blind-sided and confronted with seemingly impossible adversity. However, whether or not we believe, there exists a power within every one of us to display a resilience not only to persevere, but to thrive. This supreme strength is unleashed and exposed so beautifully in Choose to Rise: The Victory Within. Once read, you will recall the phrase, “choose to rise,” when you yourself are challenged and must recognize this innermost power. With this book, there remains an assurance you have a choice not to tolerate anything contrary to your conscience. It is an inspiration which will never leave you and confirms the impermeable Grace which gave rise to a nation from the ashes of genocide.
M.N. Mekaelian began this project to understand what life was like for Armenians prior to the genocide and how such a crime was concealed while it was being planned. This insatiable curiosity led to reading and researching numerous volumes from all over the world over a four year period. This research, coupled with literary ambition, served to be the foundation and inspiration for the writing of the extraordinary book, Choose to Rise: The Victory Within. It is historically grounded with great attention to the everyday details of Armenian life before and during the genocide. This work will give an understanding of how a government can determine the course of life for all succeeding generations and how in spite of all, the triumph belongs to the Armenian human spirit. Choose to Rise: The Victory Within is an experience of resilience. It is an experience of strength and unrelenting determination. The history of a nation is completely unveiled through the eyes of two brothers. Choose to Rise: The Victory Within will embrace you, and you will embrace it.
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This is a gripping read.
M. N. Mekaelian has written a gripping historical novel. Armen Hagopian, a young Armenian man and his brother Vartan come of age during World War I in a predominantly Armenian enclave of the Ottoman Empire. Largely hidden from the west which is preoccupied with its own life and death struggle, the Turkish government resolves to ethnically cleanse the Christian populations of their eastern provinces. The most numerous of these populations is that of the Armenians. The result is the attempted genocide of the ancient and indigenous people of eastern Anatolia. The story springs from the brothers, their family and friends, their passions, and their endurance. It is a good thing that our English vocabulary is flexible because Mr. Mekaelian stretches it always – sometimes past the breaking point. But the mark of all good authors is the ability to tell a story. This story pulls the reader along like a whitewater flood. Armen seeks to find meaning in the inhuman cataclysm all around him. Along the way, we learn a near forgotten history based on experiences passed down by the author’s family members and friends – from a time not very long ago.
Bravo M. N. Mekaelian for your perseverance to document events that formed the foundation of strength for a nation, its people and its life and death struggle. Through it all, they ‘Chose to Rise’ with gripping details.
Tonight I read ‘Choose to Rise’, an historical fiction seen through the eyes of an innocent teenage lad named Armen. Raised in a rural Christian family of faith, he is forced to witness ever increasing acts of intimidation, of forced surrender of home defense weapons, then terrorism, and eventually, the destruction and murder of his neighbors, his friends, of his family, and finally of his people. Even as he struggles to survive and help the few he can, he has an inner war of his faith, trying to grasp how demons are allowed to walk here and win. He quests for understanding as fiercely as he does for survival of those he loves. This is a timeless struggle of a people, that should serve as a true reminder of what could again happen in many countries, to many peoples.