What Amy Tan did for Chinese daughters in The Joy Luck Club, Carol Edgarian does here for Armenian daughters. Starting with the Casard's guilt ridden escape from the Turk massacre of Armenians in 1915 called the Indignities which left her the only survivor of her family, to her granddaughter, Seta, we follow the trail of pain and tears that affect a family for generations.

Gar oo chugar. There was and there was not. This is the Armenian "once upon a time." When Casard managed to eventually make her way to the U.S., met an Armenian from Russia and settled down in Memorial, Connecticut. She had a daughter named Araxie who shamefully married an orad, an outsider, an Episcopalian. They had three children, one of which is our story teller, Seta. Through her eyes we see the drama and scars felt by Casard and passed on through the girls of her family.

The strength and stubbornness of Casard is matched by her son-in-law, George, who quietly accepted her disdain but still adored and supported his family. Not one of the primary characters, I still had to admire his commitment to his family.

This was an interesting story which introduced me to a group of people I am woefully ignorant - the Armenians. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy stories of families and unusual culture. ( )