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My Grandmother: A Memoir
When Fethiye Cetin was growing up in the small Turkish town of Maden, she knew her grandmother as a happy and universally respected Muslim housewife. It would be decades before her grandmother told her the truth: that she was by birth a Christian and an Armenian, that her name was not Seher but Heranush, that most of the men in her village had been slaughtered in 1915, that she, along with most of the women and children, had been sent on a death march. She had been saved (and torn from her mother’s arms) by the Turkish gendarme captain who went on to adopt her. But she knew she still had family in America. Could Fethiye help her find her lost relations before she died? There are an estimated two million Turks whose grandparents could tell them similar stories. But in a country that maintains the Armenian genocide never happened, such talk can be dangerous. In her heartwrenching memoir, Fethiye Cetin breaks the silence.
114 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2004
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About the author
Fethiye Çetin
8 books24 followersFethiye Çetin is a Turkish lawyer, writer and human rights activist.
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August 29, 2025
مادربزرگ من نوشته فتیحه چتین را شاید بتوان از دو جنبه نگاه کرد ، داستانی برآمده از تاریخ پنهان ترکیه ، سندی از یک نسلکشی فراموششده و پردهبرداری از هویتی که سالها در سکوت و ترس دفن شده بود و نگاه دوم ، فرم ضعیف داستان که کتاب را تبدیل به یک گزارش یا یک خاطره نگاری کرده
داستان کتاب از یک اعتراف خانوادگی آغاز میشود ، اعترافی که هم زندگی یک خانواده را دگرگون میکند، و هم یکی از تاریکترین فصلهای تاریخ ترکیه یعنی نسل کشی ارامنه را فاش می کند . فتحیه چتین ، نویسنده داستان که وکیل و فعال حقوق بشر هم هست ، سالها مادربزرگش را زنی ترک و مسلمان به نام سحر میشناخت ، اما در سالهای پایانی عمر، مادربزرگ اعتراف میکند که نام واقعی او هِرانوش بوده، و در کودکی، در جریان نسلکشی ارامنه ، از خانوادهی ارمنیاش جدا شده، و با هویتی جعلی و به عنوان یک مسلمان بزرگ شده است. چتین این گونه به فرار و قتل و عام دیگر اعضای خانواده هم پرداخته و تلاش کرده تا در نمایی بزرگتر فاجعه نسل کشی ارامنه را هم شرح دهد .
چتین ، با وجود نزدیکی عاطفی ، نتوانسته از ظرفیتهای ادبی برای عمقبخشی به روایت استفاده کند. شخصیت مادربزرگ، با آنکه حامل تاریخیست پر از درد و سکوت، بیشتر بهعنوان منبع اطلاعات ظاهر شده تا یک شخصیت ملموس با پیچیدگیهای روانی. روایت، سطحی و بیتعلیق است؛ و نثر، چنان ساده و بیفراز و فرود است که خواننده را بیشتر به یاد گزارش روزنامه میاندازد تا رمان یا خاطرهنگاری ادبی.
داستان کتاب از یک اعتراف خانوادگی آغاز میشود ، اعترافی که هم زندگی یک خانواده را دگرگون میکند، و هم یکی از تاریکترین فصلهای تاریخ ترکیه یعنی نسل کشی ارامنه را فاش می کند . فتحیه چتین ، نویسنده داستان که وکیل و فعال حقوق بشر هم هست ، سالها مادربزرگش را زنی ترک و مسلمان به نام سحر میشناخت ، اما در سالهای پایانی عمر، مادربزرگ اعتراف میکند که نام واقعی او هِرانوش بوده، و در کودکی، در جریان نسلکشی ارامنه ، از خانوادهی ارمنیاش جدا شده، و با هویتی جعلی و به عنوان یک مسلمان بزرگ شده است. چتین این گونه به فرار و قتل و عام دیگر اعضای خانواده هم پرداخته و تلاش کرده تا در نمایی بزرگتر فاجعه نسل کشی ارامنه را هم شرح دهد .
چتین ، با وجود نزدیکی عاطفی ، نتوانسته از ظرفیتهای ادبی برای عمقبخشی به روایت استفاده کند. شخصیت مادربزرگ، با آنکه حامل تاریخیست پر از درد و سکوت، بیشتر بهعنوان منبع اطلاعات ظاهر شده تا یک شخصیت ملموس با پیچیدگیهای روانی. روایت، سطحی و بیتعلیق است؛ و نثر، چنان ساده و بیفراز و فرود است که خواننده را بیشتر به یاد گزارش روزنامه میاندازد تا رمان یا خاطرهنگاری ادبی.
August 28, 2025
مادربزرگ نویسنده کتاب، در اواخر عمر تصمیم میگیره راز دلش رو به نوهاش بگه و اطلاعاتی از زندگیاش بگه که تا به حال به کسی نگفته.البته مادر و خاله های نویسنده از این اطلاعات هولناک خبر داشتند، اما نویسنده معتقده با این همه جزئیات فقط و فقط برای او تعریف شده. آنچه در سرگذشت تلخ و سخت مادربزرگ آمده کشتار وحشیانه ارمنیان توسط عثمانیهاست. روایتی از یک ظلم و جنایت بزرگ. و حالا نویسنده در کتاب به صورت غیر خطی اما روان و ساده به بیان زندگی مادربزرگش میپردازه. اما روان بودن و سادگی تنها ویژگی کتاب نیست و به نظرم به طرز غیر جذابی این واقعه به نگارش درآمده.
قطع به یقین اگر نویسنده از فرم بهتری در روایت خودش استفاده میکرد، اثر بهتر و خواندنی تری حاصل میشد.سادگی کار بیش از حد بود که به نظرم باعث کاستن از جذابیت مطالعه شده بود.
قطع به یقین اگر نویسنده از فرم بهتری در روایت خودش استفاده میکرد، اثر بهتر و خواندنی تری حاصل میشد.سادگی کار بیش از حد بود که به نظرم باعث کاستن از جذابیت مطالعه شده بود.
December 21, 2025
میخوایم راجع به «مادربزرگ من» از «فتحیه چتین» صحبت کنیم. اثری که اگر به خاطره خوانی علاقه داشته باشین ، اصلا بد نیست.
داستان (که شاید 15% از کل اثر حساب میشه) خیلی دیر شروع میشه ولی مسئله داره. خیلی هم مسئله کوچولوعه و اذیت کننده نیست. ماجرای یکی از چندصد خانواده آواره از منطقهای نزدیک ارمنستان هست که به علت حملات نظامی و سیاسی مجبور ترک کشور و تغییر هویت برای همنشینی در منطقهای در آناتولی هستن. اینکه نویسنده دوران کودکی خودش رو بنویسه اصلا بد نیست اتفاقا خوب هم هست ؛ چیز عجیب و تازهای هم نیست. «همینگوی» هم از اینکار ها کرده.
مشکل اصلی داستان اینه خیلی دیر شروع میشه و مسئله مهم تر اینکه دغدغه نویسنده عمومی نیست و برای افشاگری از یک ظلم پنهان هم نوشته نشده. یه خاطره بازی کوچولو با دوران کودکی خودشه و برای عدهای خوشاینده و برای عدهای اصلا خوشایند نیست.
شخصیت ها خوبن. با وجود اینکه عملکردهاشون در گذشته گیر کرده و کنش تازهای ندارن همچنان خوبن.
فضای اثر یک فضای خاص نیست. اتفاقا غرق در نوستالژی های نویسندهست و نویسنده هم از اینکار پشیمون نیست
اتفاقا خوشحال هم هست.
در مجموع «مادربزرگ من» از «فتحیه چتین» اثر بدی نیست ولی خوشایند عام هم نخواهد بود. برای منی که با نوستالژی مخالفم ، اثر خوب و قانع کنندهای نبود.
داستان (که شاید 15% از کل اثر حساب میشه) خیلی دیر شروع میشه ولی مسئله داره. خیلی هم مسئله کوچولوعه و اذیت کننده نیست. ماجرای یکی از چندصد خانواده آواره از منطقهای نزدیک ارمنستان هست که به علت حملات نظامی و سیاسی مجبور ترک کشور و تغییر هویت برای همنشینی در منطقهای در آناتولی هستن. اینکه نویسنده دوران کودکی خودش رو بنویسه اصلا بد نیست اتفاقا خوب هم هست ؛ چیز عجیب و تازهای هم نیست. «همینگوی» هم از اینکار ها کرده.
مشکل اصلی داستان اینه خیلی دیر شروع میشه و مسئله مهم تر اینکه دغدغه نویسنده عمومی نیست و برای افشاگری از یک ظلم پنهان هم نوشته نشده. یه خاطره بازی کوچولو با دوران کودکی خودشه و برای عدهای خوشاینده و برای عدهای اصلا خوشایند نیست.
شخصیت ها خوبن. با وجود اینکه عملکردهاشون در گذشته گیر کرده و کنش تازهای ندارن همچنان خوبن.
فضای اثر یک فضای خاص نیست. اتفاقا غرق در نوستالژی های نویسندهست و نویسنده هم از اینکار پشیمون نیست
اتفاقا خوشحال هم هست.
در مجموع «مادربزرگ من» از «فتحیه چتین» اثر بدی نیست ولی خوشایند عام هم نخواهد بود. برای منی که با نوستالژی مخالفم ، اثر خوب و قانع کنندهای نبود.
October 2, 2020
Yine ağlayarak bitirdiğim bir kitap. Filler tepişirken olan otlara oluyor. Bir dağ başında, bir köyde siyasetten uzak çocuklar ölüyor, nehirler kana bulanıyor.
Bebek yaşında der zor’da tüm ailesini kaybeden, yeni ailesinde, yeni bir dil, isim, din ve hayat ile hayata başlayan bir kadın. Ama yaşadıkları öyle ağır ki ihtiyarlığında, sonunda torununa ( yazarımız) anlattığın da sanki her şey dün olup bitmiş gibi net zihninde. Acılar unutulmuyor elbet. Çocukları ve torunları için herkesin karşısına dikelen kadın, konu kendi hayatı olunca susup pusuyor. Kendin olabilmek gerçekten dünyanın en zor şeyi. 'İçimizdeki Ermeni' kitabında da benzer hikayeler okumuştum. İhtiyarlıkta söyleyebildikleri kökenleri ile ilgili hikayeleri. Yıllarca kendini en yakınından saklamak zorunda kalan yaşamları ve bu durum beni çok üzmüştü. Hayattaki tek amacı kendi olabilmek olan ben, kendini saklamış hayatları okurken çok yaralanıyorum. Çünkü gizlenmek açık olmaktan daha zor. Sonra merak ettim, acaba kaç hayat vardı böylesi, tek söz edemeden sönüp gitti? Kaç insanı bağnazlığımız ve sadece taraf olmak uğruna öldürdük sessizliğe mahkum ederek? Ana dilinden utanmayı yıllarca öğretiyoruz da kaç kişiye daha anasından-babasından utanmayı ve dahi nefret etmeyi öğrettik? Bizim sessizliğimiz de bu ateşe atılan odun aslında. Savaş ve ölüm çığırtkanlığına sessiz kaldıkça, Milliyetçilik - her türlüsü zehir- adı altında ırkçılığı körükleyenleri ‘ama’lı cümlelerle aklamaya çalıştıkça, kaybolan hayatların biri bizim hayatımız olacak. Çünkü nefret, sürekli yeni bir hedef bulur. Kimsenin ölmediği, çizilen fiziki sınırların, insan ruhundan daha önemli olmadığı bir dünya isteyelim. Anneanneler, dedeler, anneler.. herkes istediği kişi olabilisin, ay işalla.
“ Aptallara göre insanlar; ırk, cinsiyet, milliyet, yaş, statü, renk, din ve dil gibi kategorilere ayrılırlar. Halbuki bu kadar karmaşık değildir. İnsanlar sadece ikiye ayrılırlar: İyi insanlar ve kötü insanlar.” Der Albert Einstein.
Bebek yaşında der zor’da tüm ailesini kaybeden, yeni ailesinde, yeni bir dil, isim, din ve hayat ile hayata başlayan bir kadın. Ama yaşadıkları öyle ağır ki ihtiyarlığında, sonunda torununa ( yazarımız) anlattığın da sanki her şey dün olup bitmiş gibi net zihninde. Acılar unutulmuyor elbet. Çocukları ve torunları için herkesin karşısına dikelen kadın, konu kendi hayatı olunca susup pusuyor. Kendin olabilmek gerçekten dünyanın en zor şeyi. 'İçimizdeki Ermeni' kitabında da benzer hikayeler okumuştum. İhtiyarlıkta söyleyebildikleri kökenleri ile ilgili hikayeleri. Yıllarca kendini en yakınından saklamak zorunda kalan yaşamları ve bu durum beni çok üzmüştü. Hayattaki tek amacı kendi olabilmek olan ben, kendini saklamış hayatları okurken çok yaralanıyorum. Çünkü gizlenmek açık olmaktan daha zor. Sonra merak ettim, acaba kaç hayat vardı böylesi, tek söz edemeden sönüp gitti? Kaç insanı bağnazlığımız ve sadece taraf olmak uğruna öldürdük sessizliğe mahkum ederek? Ana dilinden utanmayı yıllarca öğretiyoruz da kaç kişiye daha anasından-babasından utanmayı ve dahi nefret etmeyi öğrettik? Bizim sessizliğimiz de bu ateşe atılan odun aslında. Savaş ve ölüm çığırtkanlığına sessiz kaldıkça, Milliyetçilik - her türlüsü zehir- adı altında ırkçılığı körükleyenleri ‘ama’lı cümlelerle aklamaya çalıştıkça, kaybolan hayatların biri bizim hayatımız olacak. Çünkü nefret, sürekli yeni bir hedef bulur. Kimsenin ölmediği, çizilen fiziki sınırların, insan ruhundan daha önemli olmadığı bir dünya isteyelim. Anneanneler, dedeler, anneler.. herkes istediği kişi olabilisin, ay işalla.
“ Aptallara göre insanlar; ırk, cinsiyet, milliyet, yaş, statü, renk, din ve dil gibi kategorilere ayrılırlar. Halbuki bu kadar karmaşık değildir. İnsanlar sadece ikiye ayrılırlar: İyi insanlar ve kötü insanlar.” Der Albert Einstein.
October 2, 2015
"Dersim dört dağ içinde Dersimi hak saklasın bir yarim var içinde.." bu türküler yıllar boyu başka başka insanlar, başka başka hayatlarca söylendi durdu...ama maalesef en mutlu dediğimiz anda bile hiçbir zaman acıdan bağımsız olamadı halaylarımız bile. Türküler şarkılar olmasa da olurdu keşke bunca acı olmayaydı...
October 17, 2021
Fethiye Çetin is a Turkish woman who grew up in Turkey in a happy Muslim family. She knew her grandmother as a devout and happy Muslim, but as she grew up, she discovered layers to her family history that she had no idea existed. Politics and personal intermixed to give Çetin an unique perspective of the Armenian genocide by Turkey in the early 1900s. This book is a memoir about her family and her grandmother's experiences.
Çetin's grandmother confided to her about her origins, bit by bit. The author discovered that she was an Armenian Christian, kidnapped from her mother during the Death March by the Turkish gendarme captain. Her name and religion was changed and she grew up to be a dutiful Turkish citizen and a devout Muslim wife. However, beneath the exterior, Heranus had her story, and the only person she was willing to share it with was Çetin.
This should have been a good and interesting memoir, but Çetin lacks the ability to write a coherent book. The perspectives change at a dizzying pace, and I was confused half the time whom she was talking about. I could not really keep up with the grandmother's story and I lost interest halfway through the book, because it was so badly written. This story deserves to be told but perhaps someone other than the granddaughter can be a better narrator with better perspective.
The Armenian genocide saw the murder of about one million Armenians during WWI. But thousands were also kidnapped, especially women, and made to live as Turkish and Muslim women, a role alien to their culture. It is estimated that today at least 2 million Turkish people may have at least one Armenian grandparent. So yes, important story but not for Çetin to tell. It needs a better writer.
Çetin's grandmother confided to her about her origins, bit by bit. The author discovered that she was an Armenian Christian, kidnapped from her mother during the Death March by the Turkish gendarme captain. Her name and religion was changed and she grew up to be a dutiful Turkish citizen and a devout Muslim wife. However, beneath the exterior, Heranus had her story, and the only person she was willing to share it with was Çetin.
This should have been a good and interesting memoir, but Çetin lacks the ability to write a coherent book. The perspectives change at a dizzying pace, and I was confused half the time whom she was talking about. I could not really keep up with the grandmother's story and I lost interest halfway through the book, because it was so badly written. This story deserves to be told but perhaps someone other than the granddaughter can be a better narrator with better perspective.
The Armenian genocide saw the murder of about one million Armenians during WWI. But thousands were also kidnapped, especially women, and made to live as Turkish and Muslim women, a role alien to their culture. It is estimated that today at least 2 million Turkish people may have at least one Armenian grandparent. So yes, important story but not for Çetin to tell. It needs a better writer.
October 18, 2015
Resmi tarihin ısrarla inkar ettiği, görmezden geldiği 1915 ermeni soykırımının dram dolu öyküsüdür. Hrıstiyan Ermeni Heranuş'un Türk-müslüman Seher olduğu gerçek bir hikaye. Kitabı yıllar önce hediye almıştım, hediye eden hikayesini anlatınca okuyamadım. Kaç kere elime aldım, kaç kere okumaya çalıştım hatırlamıyorum, hep yarım kaldı. Geçmişte yarım kalmış kitap kalmasın diye herhalde bitirdim. Kitapta anlatılanları okudukça "bir insan bir insana bu kadar zulmü nasıl reva görür, geride kalanlar nasıl dayanabilir" diye sorgulamadan edilemiyor.
"...Maden köprüsünü geçtikten sonra Havler'de, babaannem, iki torununu suya attı. Bu çocuklar, amcalarımın kızlarıydı. Anneleri de babaları da öldürülmüştü, yürüyemiyorlardı. Çocuklardan biri hemen sulara gömüldü ama öbürü başını sudan çıkardı. Babaannem, çocuğun kafasını suyun içine itti. Çocuk kafasını bir daha çıkardı ve bu, onun dünyayı son görüşü oldu, babaannem onu tekrar itti. Sonra, kendisi de deli deli akan suya atladı ve gözden kayboldu." (kitaptan bir bölüm)
Keşke insanlar, yazıdan ateşten önce insanlığı bulsaydı. Umarım bizi affetmişsindir Heranuş nine.
"...Maden köprüsünü geçtikten sonra Havler'de, babaannem, iki torununu suya attı. Bu çocuklar, amcalarımın kızlarıydı. Anneleri de babaları da öldürülmüştü, yürüyemiyorlardı. Çocuklardan biri hemen sulara gömüldü ama öbürü başını sudan çıkardı. Babaannem, çocuğun kafasını suyun içine itti. Çocuk kafasını bir daha çıkardı ve bu, onun dünyayı son görüşü oldu, babaannem onu tekrar itti. Sonra, kendisi de deli deli akan suya atladı ve gözden kayboldu." (kitaptan bir bölüm)
Keşke insanlar, yazıdan ateşten önce insanlığı bulsaydı. Umarım bizi affetmişsindir Heranuş nine.
April 20, 2015
very touching
April 24, 2022
Excellent memoir.
Fethiye Cetin wrote the story of her grandmother who was born in an Armenian family living in Eastern Turkey. In the early 20th century, the Armenian minority suffered a genocide. They were driven away from their homes, killed or forced to march towards the Syrian Desert. It was an attempt to rid the country of non-Muslims. During the march to Syria, the author's grandmother was just around eight years old. A Turkish gendarme took her away from her mother and she grew up in a completely different household. She became Muslim and Turkish. Yet, she never forgot her parents and her culture. In the second part of the book, the author recalls how her grandmother revealed to her the truth, which turned her world upside down. The author then describes how she tried to establish contact with the long-lost Armenian family that has moved to America in the meantime.
I thought this was a very well written and emotional novel. The author obviously has a lot of love for her grandmother and I can only imagine what it is like to suddenly hear that your ancestors are actually completely different from what you were taught to believe. I have heard about the Armenian genocide in Turkey, but have never read a first-hand account of it. What I liked the best about this novel is that the author doesn't focus on the hate and the blaming. Her main focus is acknowledging the truth and what happened, instead of looking away from history and not recognizing the victims who suffered tremendously. In the end, she shows that the world truly can't be divided into good and bad - instead we should all strive to be kinder and more honest to each other.
"Do someone a kindness, then throw it in the sea. If God doesn't appreciate it, the fish will."
"Don't fear the dead, children, no one can hurt them anymore. Evil comes from the living, not the dead."
Fethiye Cetin wrote the story of her grandmother who was born in an Armenian family living in Eastern Turkey. In the early 20th century, the Armenian minority suffered a genocide. They were driven away from their homes, killed or forced to march towards the Syrian Desert. It was an attempt to rid the country of non-Muslims. During the march to Syria, the author's grandmother was just around eight years old. A Turkish gendarme took her away from her mother and she grew up in a completely different household. She became Muslim and Turkish. Yet, she never forgot her parents and her culture. In the second part of the book, the author recalls how her grandmother revealed to her the truth, which turned her world upside down. The author then describes how she tried to establish contact with the long-lost Armenian family that has moved to America in the meantime.
I thought this was a very well written and emotional novel. The author obviously has a lot of love for her grandmother and I can only imagine what it is like to suddenly hear that your ancestors are actually completely different from what you were taught to believe. I have heard about the Armenian genocide in Turkey, but have never read a first-hand account of it. What I liked the best about this novel is that the author doesn't focus on the hate and the blaming. Her main focus is acknowledging the truth and what happened, instead of looking away from history and not recognizing the victims who suffered tremendously. In the end, she shows that the world truly can't be divided into good and bad - instead we should all strive to be kinder and more honest to each other.
"Do someone a kindness, then throw it in the sea. If God doesn't appreciate it, the fish will."
"Don't fear the dead, children, no one can hurt them anymore. Evil comes from the living, not the dead."
February 22, 2013
Գիրքը կարդացի, երբ պիտի պատրաստեի էլեկտրոնային հրատարակությունը։ Էջադրման, սրբագրման պարտադրած դանդաղ տեմպը մտորելու ու մտածելու ժամանակ էր տալիս։ Հակառակ դեպքում՝ մի շնչով էի կարդալու։
Ինչի՞ մասին էի մտորում։ Չգիտեմ։ Այն օդում էր, շրջապատում, ու, իհարկե, գրքի մեջ։ Այդպես էլ չկարողացա ձևակերպել, թեև փորձեցի (http://yavrumyan.blogspot.com/2013/01...)։ Հիմա էլ դժվար կարողանամ։
Բայց փոխվեց, ինչ որ մի բան փոխվեց, փոխվեց անցյալը հասկանալու ու գնահատելու ինչ-որ մի պահ։ Անորոշ զգացում, օդի մեջ կախված, որը ոչ մի կերպ հոդաբաշխ չի դառնում։
Գրքի բանալին, կարծում եմ, Չեթինի այս պարբերության մեջ է.
«Մեսրոպ Աշչյանը «Հառաջ» թերթում տպագրված հոդվածում, որի մի օրինակն էլ ուղարկել է Մարգարետին, այսպես է ասում. «... Մենք այստեղ դարձել ենք Ռիչարդ, Դեբրա, Նանսի, Սիլվիա, Վիրջինիա, նա էլ այնտեղ մնացել, Ֆեթհիյե է դարձել, Մահմութ է դարձել, և 1915 թվականը մեկ անգամ ևս իր ողջ սարսափով մեր ընտանիքի գլխին է չոքել...»։
Ինչի՞ մասին էի մտորում։ Չգիտեմ։ Այն օդում էր, շրջապատում, ու, իհարկե, գրքի մեջ։ Այդպես էլ չկարողացա ձևակերպել, թեև փորձեցի (http://yavrumyan.blogspot.com/2013/01...)։ Հիմա էլ դժվար կարողանամ։
Բայց փոխվեց, ինչ որ մի բան փոխվեց, փոխվեց անցյալը հասկանալու ու գնահատելու ինչ-որ մի պահ։ Անորոշ զգացում, օդի մեջ կախված, որը ոչ մի կերպ հոդաբաշխ չի դառնում։
Գրքի բանալին, կարծում եմ, Չեթինի այս պարբերության մեջ է.
«Մեսրոպ Աշչյանը «Հառաջ» թերթում տպագրված հոդվածում, որի մի օրինակն էլ ուղարկել է Մարգարետին, այսպես է ասում. «... Մենք այստեղ դարձել ենք Ռիչարդ, Դեբրա, Նանսի, Սիլվիա, Վիրջինիա, նա էլ այնտեղ մնացել, Ֆեթհիյե է դարձել, Մահմութ է դարձել, և 1915 թվականը մեկ անգամ ևս իր ողջ սարսափով մեր ընտանիքի գլխին է չոքել...»։
October 7, 2016
I enjoyed this book very much. But all I could think of while I reading it is how many THOUSANDS more like the author's grandmother there must have been...and that truly angers me. It's quite possible that my great-grandmother and/or her 3 children were among them - either that or they were killed in the desert.
So not only did 1.5 million of my ancestors get butchered, but thousands more were force-converted and lost as Armenians. The full scope of the Medz Yeghern is truly immeasurable.
Thank you, Ms Cetin, for not being brainwashed by Turkish government propaganda and for having the courage to write the truth about your family and for sharing it with others. .
So not only did 1.5 million of my ancestors get butchered, but thousands more were force-converted and lost as Armenians. The full scope of the Medz Yeghern is truly immeasurable.
Thank you, Ms Cetin, for not being brainwashed by Turkish government propaganda and for having the courage to write the truth about your family and for sharing it with others. .
November 21, 2014
This is a very short book just 114 pages, but it is a very moving story. A brave tale that breaks the silence of the Armenian genocide to a Turkish audience (originally written in Turkish, I read the translation by Maureen Freely (who also translates Orhan Pamuk)).
Fethiye thought her grandmother was a happy, well respected Turkish Muslim grandmother, who kept her house spotlessly clean and doted on her children and grandchildren. One day her grandmother revealed the truth about her past, which would turn Fethiye’s world upside-down. Her grandmother, had not been born Seher but Heranuş to an Armenian Christian family. In 1915 Heranuş’ village was visited by the Turkish Gendarmes and the men had their throats slit and their bodies thrown into the River Tigris, which ran red with their blood for several days. The women and children were forced on a death march, those who couldn’t keep up were killed by the gendarmes bayonets. Heranuş was saved by a Turkish Gendarme who had no children of his own. Heranuş and others like her were referred to as “leftovers of the sword“, they were adopted by Turkish families, converted to Islam and kept their secret for many years often to the grave.
Heranuş didn’t blame Islam for what happened to her and the other Armenians “What they did doesn’t square with Islam or any other religion.” Heranuş told her grandaughter because she wanted to get back in contact with any of her family who may have survived, some had gone to America before the genocide. Heranuş lived to be 95 and a toruntaht(a grandmother who held the grandchild of her grandchild) but she didn’t see any of her birth family again. Her mother was one of the few who survived the death march arriving in Aleppo (today sadly a place of fresh killing in Syria) and from there later emigrating to America. Fethiye made an emotional trip to America after the death of her grandmother to meet her grandmother’s younger sister Margaret and visit the grave of her grandmother’s mother. Meeting the family…Our emotional reunion (at JFK airport) seemed to have made an impression on the people nearby; when we looked around we saw we had attracted a crowd of onlookers.“
Richard, one of Fethiye’s American cousins remarked “I must have been four or five years old when I first heard what the Turks had done to the Armenians. All my life, I’ve been afraid of Turks. I nurtured a deep hatred of them. The denial made things even worse. Then I found out that you (Fethiye) were part of our family and Turkish at the same time. Now I’m desperate to meet my other cousins and even make music with them. But I still hate all those who deny what happened; these people I shall never forgive.”
Fethiye thought her grandmother was a happy, well respected Turkish Muslim grandmother, who kept her house spotlessly clean and doted on her children and grandchildren. One day her grandmother revealed the truth about her past, which would turn Fethiye’s world upside-down. Her grandmother, had not been born Seher but Heranuş to an Armenian Christian family. In 1915 Heranuş’ village was visited by the Turkish Gendarmes and the men had their throats slit and their bodies thrown into the River Tigris, which ran red with their blood for several days. The women and children were forced on a death march, those who couldn’t keep up were killed by the gendarmes bayonets. Heranuş was saved by a Turkish Gendarme who had no children of his own. Heranuş and others like her were referred to as “leftovers of the sword“, they were adopted by Turkish families, converted to Islam and kept their secret for many years often to the grave.
Heranuş didn’t blame Islam for what happened to her and the other Armenians “What they did doesn’t square with Islam or any other religion.” Heranuş told her grandaughter because she wanted to get back in contact with any of her family who may have survived, some had gone to America before the genocide. Heranuş lived to be 95 and a toruntaht(a grandmother who held the grandchild of her grandchild) but she didn’t see any of her birth family again. Her mother was one of the few who survived the death march arriving in Aleppo (today sadly a place of fresh killing in Syria) and from there later emigrating to America. Fethiye made an emotional trip to America after the death of her grandmother to meet her grandmother’s younger sister Margaret and visit the grave of her grandmother’s mother. Meeting the family…Our emotional reunion (at JFK airport) seemed to have made an impression on the people nearby; when we looked around we saw we had attracted a crowd of onlookers.“
Richard, one of Fethiye’s American cousins remarked “I must have been four or five years old when I first heard what the Turks had done to the Armenians. All my life, I’ve been afraid of Turks. I nurtured a deep hatred of them. The denial made things even worse. Then I found out that you (Fethiye) were part of our family and Turkish at the same time. Now I’m desperate to meet my other cousins and even make music with them. But I still hate all those who deny what happened; these people I shall never forgive.”
September 26, 2024
«مادربزرگ من» یک ناداستان است، یک ناداستانِ عمیق، تاثیرگذار و بُهتآور. تصور اینکه در روزگاری نهچندان دور، در همسایگیمان چنین جنایتهایی رخ داده است، دور از ذهن است! نقل است که نویسندهی شهیر کشورمان محمدعلی جمال زاده در سفرش از بغداد و حلب به سمت استانبول شاهد عینی بخشی از این ماجرا بوده است، چنانکه نوشته است:
«صدها زن و مرد ارمنی را با کودکانشان به حال زاری به ضرب شلاق و اسلحه پیاده و ناتوان به جلو میراندند. دختران ارمنی موهای خود را از ته تراشیده بودند و کاملا کچل بودند و علت آن بود که مبادا مردان ترک و عرب به جان آنها بیفتند.»
بلی! «مادربزرگ من» روایتگر نسلکشی ارامنه در ترکیه است. در انقلاب ترکان جوان در سال ۱۹۰۸ حزب اتحاد و ترقی به قدرت میرسد و خیلی زود چهرهی واقعی خود را نشان میدهند و دست به فاجعهای میزنند که خیلی از ما از آن بیخبریم.
«فتحیه چتین» در این اثر به سرگذشت مادربزرگاش «هرانوش» میپردازد که هویت واقعیاش را تا سالهای منتهی به مرگاش پنهان کرده و در قامت «سحر خانم»، زنی مسلمان به ادامهی حیات پرداخته بود.
در جریان نسلکشی ارامنه «هرانوش» از خانوادهاش جدا میافتد و توسط خانوادهای ترک به فرزندخواندگی گرفته میشود، هر چند که پدرخواندهاش سعی میکرده او را مثل دختری که هیچگاه نداشته، دوست بدارد اما مادرخواندهاش همواره او را به چشم کلفتی میدیده و همین موضوع تاثیر بسیاری در روان «هرانوش» داشته است.
باری «هرانوش» با هویتی دروغین بزرگ میشود، تشکیل خانواده میدهد و پس از دههها زندگی در جامعهای با فرهنگ و مناسبات اسلامی، در سالهای پایانی عمرش تصمیم میگیرد که زبان به روایت گشوده و با نوهاش درد دل کند؛ از تمام آنچه که بر او در این سالها رفته است.
آنچه «هرانوش» و کودکانی مانند او در طی آن دوران از سر گذراندهاند، حقیقتا هولناک است و شاید ادامهی زیستن با هویتی دروغین از آن هولناکتر.
«صدها زن و مرد ارمنی را با کودکانشان به حال زاری به ضرب شلاق و اسلحه پیاده و ناتوان به جلو میراندند. دختران ارمنی موهای خود را از ته تراشیده بودند و کاملا کچل بودند و علت آن بود که مبادا مردان ترک و عرب به جان آنها بیفتند.»
بلی! «مادربزرگ من» روایتگر نسلکشی ارامنه در ترکیه است. در انقلاب ترکان جوان در سال ۱۹۰۸ حزب اتحاد و ترقی به قدرت میرسد و خیلی زود چهرهی واقعی خود را نشان میدهند و دست به فاجعهای میزنند که خیلی از ما از آن بیخبریم.
«فتحیه چتین» در این اثر به سرگذشت مادربزرگاش «هرانوش» میپردازد که هویت واقعیاش را تا سالهای منتهی به مرگاش پنهان کرده و در قامت «سحر خانم»، زنی مسلمان به ادامهی حیات پرداخته بود.
در جریان نسلکشی ارامنه «هرانوش» از خانوادهاش جدا میافتد و توسط خانوادهای ترک به فرزندخواندگی گرفته میشود، هر چند که پدرخواندهاش سعی میکرده او را مثل دختری که هیچگاه نداشته، دوست بدارد اما مادرخواندهاش همواره او را به چشم کلفتی میدیده و همین موضوع تاثیر بسیاری در روان «هرانوش» داشته است.
باری «هرانوش» با هویتی دروغین بزرگ میشود، تشکیل خانواده میدهد و پس از دههها زندگی در جامعهای با فرهنگ و مناسبات اسلامی، در سالهای پایانی عمرش تصمیم میگیرد که زبان به روایت گشوده و با نوهاش درد دل کند؛ از تمام آنچه که بر او در این سالها رفته است.
آنچه «هرانوش» و کودکانی مانند او در طی آن دوران از سر گذراندهاند، حقیقتا هولناک است و شاید ادامهی زیستن با هویتی دروغین از آن هولناکتر.
May 6, 2022
Türkiye'de 1492'lerden beri yaşayan bir azınlık mensubu olarak aile bağları, hatıraları ve yaşanan zulümler olarak çok aşina olduğumuz bir konu. Sadece kitabın anlatış şeklinden hoşlanmadım. Bakış açıları çok hızlı değişti ve kimin hakkında konuşulduğu konusunda zaman zaman kafa karışıklığı yaşadım.
Sonuçta bu kişiler sizin akrabalarınız, benim değil. Geniş bir aileden olmamama rağmen kimi zaman kimin kim olduğunu hatırlamakta bile zorlanırken açıkçası onun beş çocuğu vardı, A, B, C, D, E ve 4 torunu vardı F, G, H. Onların eltisi de I ve J idi. Birlikte kaldıkları evde K diye biri vardı. O K'nin de 3 çocuğu oldu: L, M, N bana hiçbir şey ifade etmiyor. Açıkçası onun yerine daha derli toplu yazılmış, aynı şeyi anlatan ama hikayeleştirilmiş bir kitap daha çok hoşuma giderdi.
Bu hikaye anlatılmayı hak ediyor ama belki torundan başka biri, hatta isim de vereyim Ruta Sepetys anlatsaydı olağanüstü bir kitap olurdu.
Herkese keyifli okumalar!
Sonuçta bu kişiler sizin akrabalarınız, benim değil. Geniş bir aileden olmamama rağmen kimi zaman kimin kim olduğunu hatırlamakta bile zorlanırken açıkçası onun beş çocuğu vardı, A, B, C, D, E ve 4 torunu vardı F, G, H. Onların eltisi de I ve J idi. Birlikte kaldıkları evde K diye biri vardı. O K'nin de 3 çocuğu oldu: L, M, N bana hiçbir şey ifade etmiyor. Açıkçası onun yerine daha derli toplu yazılmış, aynı şeyi anlatan ama hikayeleştirilmiş bir kitap daha çok hoşuma giderdi.
Bu hikaye anlatılmayı hak ediyor ama belki torundan başka biri, hatta isim de vereyim Ruta Sepetys anlatsaydı olağanüstü bir kitap olurdu.
Herkese keyifli okumalar!
February 20, 2023
Avukat Fethiye Çetin bu kitapta anneannesi Seher’i, doğduğu adıyla Heranuş’u, anlatıyor. Anlatırken de söylenmemiş, gizlenmiş olan toplumsal bir gerçeğimizi tüm çıplaklığıyla gösteriyor. “Kılıç artığı” diye adlandırılan Ermeni kızı Heranuş üzerinden bir Ermeni Soykırım’ı hikayesi. Kendi gerçeklerimizle yüzleşmek için okunması gereken bir kitap.
Ne yazık ki tarih tekerrürden ibaret!
Ne yazık ki tarih tekerrürden ibaret!
May 10, 2012
A very touching story. Sadly so many stories like this exist. Being a descendant of an Armenian Genocide survivor myself, I felt the author's Grandmother's need to reconnect with her biological family.
Truly a wonderful story.
Truly a wonderful story.
September 15, 2023
Zeer bewogen geschreven, dit boek vertelt het verhaal vanuit het geheugen van de grootmoeder van de schrijfster. Bij mij heeft het wel iets losgemaakt.
Het vertelde verhaal is er een van duizenden van de Armeense genocide die vergeten zijn of simpelweg nooit zijn opgeschreven. De tweeledige vertelwijze vanuit de herinneringen van de grootmoeder en de herinneringen vanuit de auteur werkte goed, ik vond het zeer indrukwekkend om te lezen hoe een pijnlijk verhaal als deze toch is verteld in het boek.
De traditie van Oral History is interessant om op voort te bouwen, verhalen die anders zouden zijn vergeten kunnen op deze manier toch weer samenkomen voor een coherent familieverhaal. Een aanrader, het boek leest snel weg.
Het vertelde verhaal is er een van duizenden van de Armeense genocide die vergeten zijn of simpelweg nooit zijn opgeschreven. De tweeledige vertelwijze vanuit de herinneringen van de grootmoeder en de herinneringen vanuit de auteur werkte goed, ik vond het zeer indrukwekkend om te lezen hoe een pijnlijk verhaal als deze toch is verteld in het boek.
De traditie van Oral History is interessant om op voort te bouwen, verhalen die anders zouden zijn vergeten kunnen op deze manier toch weer samenkomen voor een coherent familieverhaal. Een aanrader, het boek leest snel weg.
November 10, 2019
Fethiye Cetin's "My Grandmother" is mostly the story of her grandmother who survived the Armenian genocide in 1915 because a Turk gendarme stole her from her mother and gave her to a Turkish couple. She converted to Islam and grew up as a Turk with a new name.
This memoir is a powerful story of the Armenian genocide and the consequences of it: dead and displaced family members, people hiding their identity and living in disguise and the term "leftovers of the sword".
The book has details that are depicting disguised Armenians in such an excellent way. I really loved the part about corek - convert Armenian women would bake corek for Easter and this was their secret way of keeping their identity and traditions.
"My grandmother" had little bit of everything. Despite the topic being heavy, there were moments I laughed (especially the parts that described the grandfather's eating habits), there were moments I choked and there were moments I connected.
It is always striking how different and yet similar all the stories about the genocide are. I could see parallels to my own family history. The book left me with a desire to dig deeper and to find my distant relatives who are somewhere in the world.
This memoir is a powerful story of the Armenian genocide and the consequences of it: dead and displaced family members, people hiding their identity and living in disguise and the term "leftovers of the sword".
The book has details that are depicting disguised Armenians in such an excellent way. I really loved the part about corek - convert Armenian women would bake corek for Easter and this was their secret way of keeping their identity and traditions.
"My grandmother" had little bit of everything. Despite the topic being heavy, there were moments I laughed (especially the parts that described the grandfather's eating habits), there were moments I choked and there were moments I connected.
It is always striking how different and yet similar all the stories about the genocide are. I could see parallels to my own family history. The book left me with a desire to dig deeper and to find my distant relatives who are somewhere in the world.
August 11, 2012
An excellent book on the Armenian genocide. It focuses on the human pain of an Armenian little girl kidnapped and raised as Turkish Muslim. It is not aimed to the Armenians or Greeks who know the history but to reveal it to those who chose to ignore it, first the Turks descendants of Armenians (or Greeks) without sometimes to know it. Very touching and courageous book that everyone should read.
October 23, 2015
"o günler gitsin, bir daha geri gelmesin.."
heranuş ninenin en sevdiği şarkıymış; burada çaladursun bari..
hingalla - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPDwj...
heranuş ninenin en sevdiği şarkıymış; burada çaladursun bari..
hingalla - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPDwj...
August 14, 2022
Hiç bir özürün, hiç bir affedişin yeterli gelmeyeceği bir acı bu. Hepsini bir kenara bırakıp, din zırvalarından uzaklaşıp, bir zamanlar -az biraz da olsa- bazı insanların yaptığı gibi kardeşçe sarılıp, en azından paylaşmak lazım. Çünkü bu yaşananlar ne nefretle ne intikamla ne de gözardı etmekle geçmez. Karşılıklı sevgiyle, hoşgörüyle ve merhametle.
Kitabı bitirdiğimde aklımdan geçen satırlar bunlar. Peki bizim ülkemizde bu mümkün mü? 2022 yılının Türkiye toplumu bu mertebede mi? Cehalet içinde karanlığın en derinlerinde sürünen bir halk mı var yoksa? Bu soruların cevabı yüzünden, sanmıyorum. Ama bir gün olur belki. Umudu yitirmemek gerek. Belki bir gün olur.
Bu ve bunun gibi gerçek hayat hikayelerini bizlerle buluşturan torunlara, yazarlara, çizerlere ve yayınevlerine teşekkürler.
Kitabı bitirdiğimde aklımdan geçen satırlar bunlar. Peki bizim ülkemizde bu mümkün mü? 2022 yılının Türkiye toplumu bu mertebede mi? Cehalet içinde karanlığın en derinlerinde sürünen bir halk mı var yoksa? Bu soruların cevabı yüzünden, sanmıyorum. Ama bir gün olur belki. Umudu yitirmemek gerek. Belki bir gün olur.
Bu ve bunun gibi gerçek hayat hikayelerini bizlerle buluşturan torunlara, yazarlara, çizerlere ve yayınevlerine teşekkürler.
August 9, 2019
Beautiful memoir by the Turkish human rights lawyer Fethiye Cetin centered on a startling revelation about the life of her beloved grandmother. She discovers her grandmother suffered and lived with heart breaking loss as she was born an Armenian but forcibly removed from her family during the Armenian genocide, and then raised a Turkish Muslim. She makes a life never fully knowing what happened to her birth family. While she grows up a Turkish Muslim, marries and raises a family in her new community she never forgets who and what she lost and keeps hope alive for some day making contact. A heart wrenching, terribly sad account that gave me the shudders. The cruelty we humans are able to visit on one another is unspeakably horrifying.
Of course couldn’t help being reminded of what we Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs did to each other during the 1947 Partition of India. I wonder how many women suffered similar fates, and continued to live in silence, burying their heartbreak and memories; surviving assuming new identities finding new ways to love and live.
Unfortunately the world these days looks pretty bleak on that front ...who knows how much more blood it will take to assuage our anger at the “other” whose blood is indistinguishable from our own...
Of course couldn’t help being reminded of what we Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs did to each other during the 1947 Partition of India. I wonder how many women suffered similar fates, and continued to live in silence, burying their heartbreak and memories; surviving assuming new identities finding new ways to love and live.
Unfortunately the world these days looks pretty bleak on that front ...who knows how much more blood it will take to assuage our anger at the “other” whose blood is indistinguishable from our own...
April 2, 2015
This is a short book that is full of emotions - so much sadness, so much love. While I did not know much about the Armenian genocide before reading this book, this book presents a personal side to a terrible tragedy which resulted in a sense of understanding for me that I don't think I could have gotten from a historical telling of the events.
April 10, 2015
Heartbreaking read, but an absolute must for those wishing to learn more about the devastating effects of the Armenian genocide. The author details her grandmother's life with such precision that you immediately fall in love with the family. Truly a must read.
September 26, 2016
"o günler gitsin bir daha gelmesin"
January 23, 2018
Best book I ever read
September 10, 2023
"O günler gitsin, bir daha geri gelmesin.."
August 30, 2016
Άναρχη διήγηση σε γενικές γραμμές, ίσως και λόγω της συγκινησιακής φόρτισης της συγγραφέως. Σίγουρα το βιβλιο δεν ήταν αυτό που περίμενα, αλλά οι διηγήσεις της γιαγιάς είναι πολύ ζωντανές και παραστατικές!
Κρατώ ένα απόσπασμα στο τέλος όπου μιλά η θεία Μάργκε (που ζει στην Αμερική), -αδερφή της γιαγιάς που δεν γνώρισε ποτέ-, που θα λεγα πως το νόημά του χαρακτηρίζει όλο το βιβλίο:
"Τις πρώτες διηγήσεις σχετικά με το μακελειό τις άκουσα όταν ήμουν τεσσάρων πέντε χρονών. Σ' όλη μου τη ζωή φοβόμουνα τους Τούρκους. Έτρεφα μίσος εναντίον τους. Η άρνηση της σφαγής έκανε τα πράγματα χειρότερα. Ύστερα, έμαθα ότι εσείς είστε Τούρκοι, αλλά κομμάτι της οικογένειάς μας. *
Αγαπώ αυτήν την οικογένεια με όλα της τα κομμάτια και δε βλέπω την ώρα να γνωριστώ και με τ' άλλα μου ξαδέρφια, να παίξουμε μουσική μαζί.
Όμως, εξακολουθώ να μισώ εκείνους που αρνούνται τις σφαγές και δε θα τους συγχωρήσω ποτέ....."
*η γιαγιά της ιστορίας μας, μετά τους διωγμούς και τις σφαγες αναγκάστηκε να αλλάξει όνομα και θρησκεία, κρατώντας βαθειά πάντα μέσα στην καρδιά της τις αρμένικες παραδόσεις και την χαμένη της οικογένεια!
Κρατώ ένα απόσπασμα στο τέλος όπου μιλά η θεία Μάργκε (που ζει στην Αμερική), -αδερφή της γιαγιάς που δεν γνώρισε ποτέ-, που θα λεγα πως το νόημά του χαρακτηρίζει όλο το βιβλίο:
"Τις πρώτες διηγήσεις σχετικά με το μακελειό τις άκουσα όταν ήμουν τεσσάρων πέντε χρονών. Σ' όλη μου τη ζωή φοβόμουνα τους Τούρκους. Έτρεφα μίσος εναντίον τους. Η άρνηση της σφαγής έκανε τα πράγματα χειρότερα. Ύστερα, έμαθα ότι εσείς είστε Τούρκοι, αλλά κομμάτι της οικογένειάς μας. *
Αγαπώ αυτήν την οικογένεια με όλα της τα κομμάτια και δε βλέπω την ώρα να γνωριστώ και με τ' άλλα μου ξαδέρφια, να παίξουμε μουσική μαζί.
Όμως, εξακολουθώ να μισώ εκείνους που αρνούνται τις σφαγές και δε θα τους συγχωρήσω ποτέ....."
*η γιαγιά της ιστορίας μας, μετά τους διωγμούς και τις σφαγες αναγκάστηκε να αλλάξει όνομα και θρησκεία, κρατώντας βαθειά πάντα μέσα στην καρδιά της τις αρμένικες παραδόσεις και την χαμένη της οικογένεια!
March 20, 2016
boğazım düğüm düğüm oldu...sade...samimi...acı ve gerçek... İyi ki anlattın Heranuş nine!
December 11, 2017
Yarım kalmış bir hikaye olmasına rağmen okurken çok etkilendim, yer yer gözlerim doldu, içim çekildi. Anlatılanların diğer yüzünü Horen’in ailesinden geriye kalanlardan dinleyebilmeyi çok isterdim...
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