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Summary: An Excellent description of Armenian history and culture.
Review: 'Passage To Ararat' is about the author's reflections on Armenians and his attempt to find out what Armenians are all about. His writing is excellent in this book, as he describes all his observations in a very interesting, yet simple manner. The book covers a great deal of accurate Armenian history, where both Turkish and Armenian views are considered. This is a great book to learn about Armenian history, culture, mentality and the Armenian Genocide.
Rating: 
Summary: A moving story
Review: Considered a classic among Armenian-Americans. There are some touching moments in this story of connecting with one's father,ethnic heritage, and ultimately oneself. It is a universal story and definitely worthwhile. Admittedly it sometimes moves slowly and is somewhat disjointed. I didn't have a good sense of how long the author and his wife were actually visiting Armenia. Still highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: a must read
Review: I found this a very moving portrait of the author's search to understand his heritage. I also found this book helpful in providing an overview (obviously not detailed given the length of this book) of some of Armenian history.
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Summary: DISREGARD THE REVIEW ENTITLED: A PEICE OF HATE LITERATURE
Review: I have read this book when it was first published and I still have it. It shows the search for an american's family and ethnic roots. A very common theme for Americans. But the historical perspective and background that the author gives in the book is misleading and false. It gives only the Armenian interpretation of the story. It does not tell us the plots hatched by the awakening Armenian nationalism within the Ottoman Empire, that is the stabbing in the back of the Ottoman Empire which permitted religous freedom to its subjects in the first place, it does not tell us the attempt on the life of Sultan among others, it does not speak about the numerous uprisings carried out by Armenians beginning in 19th century, it does not tell us about the European countries provoking the Armenians to rebellion so as to share in the spoils of Ottoman Empire, it does not tell us the Armenian rebellions during the first years of 1st WW which aimed to destabilize the front and aid Czarist Russia and which resulted in Armenian deportation in the eastern provinces of Ottoman Empire. And it does not tell us the disappearence in Eastern Anatolia of millions of Turks during the 1st WW in the areas captured by the Russian troops and their auxillaries the Armenian troops, ethnic cleansing of "infidel" Moslems.
In short this book is about the psychology of an armenian american taking a look at his ethnic groups's past only and it has value as such. It is a polemical book , therefore if any person is looking for the causes of the Armenian deportation or Armenian problem he or she should look elsewhere.
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Summary: Review
Review: I really enjoyed the book. It gave great insight into a culture which many have never heard about, let alone had any real knowledge of. I think it's fascinating to read about other Armenians, because until a few years ago I had no idea what it meant to be one.
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Summary: Coming of (middle) age
Review: Michael Arlen takes a very novel approach to discovering his roots. He freely admits early on that he doesn't even like Armenians, although he himself is of Armenian descent. Arlen's father shielded him from the burdens that virtually all Armenians bare: that of the genocide/massacres of 1915. It is not until his father's death that Arlen begins to interact with the Armenian community and ultimately takes a trip to Soviet Armenia. He describes the country and the people in a detached manner and with a dry sense of humor. His research of Armenian history is rather academic at first. Ultimately he is affected by the great suffering of his people.
Arlen asks many questions that he cannot and does not answer. His references to certain Armenian qualities as "childlike" was offensive, and his attempt to examine the Armenian race using traditional psychological analysis, determining finally that Armenians are burdened with self-hate, had its limitations. But I do not view Passage to Ararat as a scholarly treatise. It is instead one man's journey to the land of his ancestors in order to come to grips with who he is and whether he should be proud of that.
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Summary: Absolutely brilliant!
Review: Passage to Ararat is an emotionally powerful and gripping novel. This book is all about rediscovering who you really are and seeking your true identity. Michael J. Arlen depicts through his life story, the shame and the misery of his people and their horrific fate. However, he does not dare accept it, and tries to understand how and why his people had gone through what they had. Accurate and precise, the historical information helps one better comprehend the miraculous survival of one ethnic group doomed by genocide. I gave this book five stars not only because it is well written but also because it is so remarkably emotive.
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Summary: Great book-Don't listen to "Piece of Hate Literature"
Review: This is a great book about the search for one's Armenian identity. Don't listen to the close-minded turkish ladies' review about this book. The GENOCIDE was real, and the Turks did it. Don't listen to her, we all know the truth.
Rating:
Summary: Great book-Don't listen to "Piece of Hate Literature"
Review: This is a great book about the search for one's Armenian identity. Don't listen to the close-minded turkish ladies' review about this book. The GENOCIDE was real, and the Turks did it. Don't listen to her, we all know the truth.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: This was such a great book, it had a little bit of everything, history, mike's biography and some little stories, it was so great I found it SO intersting. I'm not a huge history person but the way he put it in there it was interesting and I WANTED to read it... some of it was a little confusing the way he had it in there and parts were eh... but over all this book was great and i loved it!
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