  Armenian writer’s fiction book wins ForeWord Reviews’ Book of the Year AwardJuly 6, 2011 - 12:41 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - ForeWord Reviews journal announced the winners of the 2010 Book of the Year Awards. At a ceremony during the American Library Association Conference in New Orleans, the 215 Book of the Year Award winners in 60 categories were honored. These books, representing the best independently published books from 2010 were selected by a panel of librarian and bookseller judges. Armenian-born writer Armen Melikian’s Journey to Virginland: Epistle I became one of the 4 winners in Fiction - Literary category. According to ForeWord Reviews, “Melikian serves up a searing commentary on the earth and its inhabitants through the canine eyes of "Dog," a self-proclaimed canine, and an ethnic Armenian. Dog offers a controversial, Kafkaesque, and somehow matter-of-fact narrative of life as he knows it within the various cultures that he lives during his life. Those who like mind-bending literature and farce, coupled with social commentary and a frankness about the role of sexuality in human relationships, will find this an engrossing, brilliantly crafted read. It's immediately evident that Dog's world is slightly askew in relation to the reader's: Dog's world calls the countries we know as Italy, Russia and Afghanistan Alpacinoland, Natashaland, and Binladenland. The US is referred to as Satanland, Pornistan, or Gehenna. Most notably, Dog refers to the region known today as Turkey as Pashaland, Caliphland, and Paradise, which reside within a larger entity, Virginland. The region with which Dog concerns himself most is this very area of Paradise–which the reader will recognize as the Fertile Crescent. It seems that throughout his travels Dog has been unable to find a place where he (or anyone else) feels he belongs. And perhaps it's not surprising: After all, he is not human. He is part of a dispossessed, maligned people. He identifies the vicissitudes of society with candor unwelcome to those around him. He questions god, and leadership, and religion.”   Top stories Ara Aivazian said Azerbaijan continues the traditions of Turkey after seizing territories and forced Armenians out. The creative crew of the Public TV had chosen 13-year-old Malena as a participant of this year's contest. She called on others to also suspend their accounts over the companies’ failure to tackle hate speech. Penderecki was known for his film scores, including for William Friedkin’s “The Exorcist”, Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining”.   Partner news |  Latest news International cybercrime ringleaders arrested in Armenia, Ukraine  Europol, Europe's crime agency, has arrested four ringleaders of several cybercrime networks that used botnets.Armenia skips CSTO Defense Ministers meeting A meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization countries began in Almaty.Armenian, Iranian foreigh policy chief talk over the phone The Foreign Minister of Armenia once again expressed condolences to his counterpart on the death of the President of Iran.Armenia, U.S. customs authorities to boost assistance with new deal The government has approved an agreement with the U.S. government on mutual assistance between the customs authorities. |
