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Waterline
In this deeply moving debut, a close-knit Armenian-American family grapples with the aftermath of losing one of their own.
Outside Detroit on the island of Gross Ile, the Kurkjians receive news that Mari, the eldest of their youngest generation, has swum into the middle of Lake Michigan with no intent of returning to shore—the consequences of which drag out a deeply rooted pain passed down from generations before.
More than a century earlier, Gregor, the great-grandfather and patriarch of the Kurkjian family, survived the Armenian Genocide after fighting for his freedom atop Musa Dagh. In the present day, his epic mythos is inherited by his family as they navigate living in its shadow, decades later and miles away. As the Kurkjians struggle with their new, devastating loss, secrets and shortcomings rise to the surface, until each relative must Where does their own story fit in the narrative of their family’s fraught history?
For fans of Tommy Orange’s There, There and Thao Thai’s Banyan Moon, Waterline explores the complex beauty of diaspora, the weight of inherited trauma, and the echoes of the Genocide on contemporary Armenian life. This is a searing portrait of a family afloat in grief and the perseverance needed to rise above.
Outside Detroit on the island of Gross Ile, the Kurkjians receive news that Mari, the eldest of their youngest generation, has swum into the middle of Lake Michigan with no intent of returning to shore—the consequences of which drag out a deeply rooted pain passed down from generations before.
More than a century earlier, Gregor, the great-grandfather and patriarch of the Kurkjian family, survived the Armenian Genocide after fighting for his freedom atop Musa Dagh. In the present day, his epic mythos is inherited by his family as they navigate living in its shadow, decades later and miles away. As the Kurkjians struggle with their new, devastating loss, secrets and shortcomings rise to the surface, until each relative must Where does their own story fit in the narrative of their family’s fraught history?
For fans of Tommy Orange’s There, There and Thao Thai’s Banyan Moon, Waterline explores the complex beauty of diaspora, the weight of inherited trauma, and the echoes of the Genocide on contemporary Armenian life. This is a searing portrait of a family afloat in grief and the perseverance needed to rise above.
288 pages, Hardcover
Published June 3, 2025
33 people are currently reading
5402 people want to read
About the author
Aram Mrjoian
5 books48 followersAram Mrjoian is the managing editor of Michigan Quarterly Review, an editor-at-large at The Rumpus, and a 2022 Creative Armenia-AGBU Fellow. Aram has previously worked as an editor at the Chicago Review of Books, the Southeast Review, and TriQuarterly. He is also the editor of the anthology We Are All Armenian: Voices from the Diaspora. His writing has appeared in the Guardian, Runner’s World, Literary Hub, Catapult, West Branch, Electric Literature, Gulf Coast, Boulevard, Joyland, Longreads, and many other publications. He holds an MFA in creative writing from Northwestern University and a PhD in creative writing from Florida State University. He lives in Michigan
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
April 4, 2025
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Historical Fiction + Literary Fiction
This debut novel is set on the island of Grosse Ile near Detroit and follows the Kurkijan family, an Armenian American family. The family is devastated when they receive the tragic news of their daughter Mari's suicide. The event causes lots of pain and trauma to a family whose ancestors have already suffered a lot in the past.
As the story unfolds, the ties of this family with the Armenian Genocide, specifically their great-grandfather, Gregor, open up. Gregor is one of the survivors of the genocide, and his voice is felt throughout the novel, showing the importance of staying true to your roots and all the hardships that the ancestors went through.
For a debut novel, the author has done an impressive job with the story. His lyrical prose is beautiful and engaging. The way he blends our contemporary time with the historical context is truly admirable. The deep generational trauma can be felt by all the characters. Reading about the Armenian culture was really good, and all the hardships detailed made the novel a thought-provoking experience.
Usually, I’m not a fan of multiple character perspectives, but in this book, it worked for me. Maybe because more than the plot itself, the book is a character-driven story, so these characters were fleshed out and well written.
The book has a non-linear storytelling approach, so the shifting in timelines and perspectives might feel a bit excessive for such a short novel. While for me, the open ending was quite suitable and realistic for the story’s theme, some readers might feel it is ambiguous and doesn’t provide closure. Regardless of the drawbacks, I think this debut novel has all it takes to be a wonderful reading experience.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC of this book.
Genre: Historical Fiction + Literary Fiction
This debut novel is set on the island of Grosse Ile near Detroit and follows the Kurkijan family, an Armenian American family. The family is devastated when they receive the tragic news of their daughter Mari's suicide. The event causes lots of pain and trauma to a family whose ancestors have already suffered a lot in the past.
As the story unfolds, the ties of this family with the Armenian Genocide, specifically their great-grandfather, Gregor, open up. Gregor is one of the survivors of the genocide, and his voice is felt throughout the novel, showing the importance of staying true to your roots and all the hardships that the ancestors went through.
For a debut novel, the author has done an impressive job with the story. His lyrical prose is beautiful and engaging. The way he blends our contemporary time with the historical context is truly admirable. The deep generational trauma can be felt by all the characters. Reading about the Armenian culture was really good, and all the hardships detailed made the novel a thought-provoking experience.
Usually, I’m not a fan of multiple character perspectives, but in this book, it worked for me. Maybe because more than the plot itself, the book is a character-driven story, so these characters were fleshed out and well written.
The book has a non-linear storytelling approach, so the shifting in timelines and perspectives might feel a bit excessive for such a short novel. While for me, the open ending was quite suitable and realistic for the story’s theme, some readers might feel it is ambiguous and doesn’t provide closure. Regardless of the drawbacks, I think this debut novel has all it takes to be a wonderful reading experience.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC of this book.
January 1, 2025
"Waterline" is smart and beautiful and breathtaking in its Rashomon-like chronicle of the ripple effect of a young woman's suicide. The depth of Aram Mrjoian's exploration of an extended family in crisis is stunning, and his insights into grief and loss are profound. I was awed by this first novel.
August 24, 2025
Waterline moves through generations of the Kurkjian family like a current alternating between the brackish waters of grief and the clear pull of ancestral memory.
Gregor, in old age, recounts his youth at Musa Dagh, where at sixteen he shouldered a Mauser and a hunger that could hollow a village. He held the Ottoman genocidal forces at bay until the French appeared on the horizon “like a prophetic miracle.” His recollection brims with the grit of cold sand under blistered feet, the taste of chocolate slipped into his pack by a father who knew both the weight of war and the value of sweetness.
The siege glows with urgency. Each step in the climb toward Musa Dagh carries the rhythm of survival. The dwindling rations, the white flag toward the sea, the swim toward the French warship, the last stand on the mountain – these are moments carved into the reader’s memory.
Decades later, the focus drifts to the loss of Mari, Edgar’s niece, pulled from a lake in Milwaukee. The modern plotline circles Easter egg fights, a Fourth of July storm, a morgue visit, and conversations in basements. The emotional register thins, the stakes drop, and the energy seeps away.
Artifacts try to span the gap. The Mauser buried in the basement. Werfel’s The Forty Days of Musa Dagh, annotated by Karo. These objects hold a weight that the surrounding contemporary scenes cannot match.
The larger arc runs through Gregor’s apricot marksmanship, Edgar broiling lamb under stormlight, Karo’s arrival soaked and broken, the drive through Indiana’s industrial desolation, Mari’s identification, a faltering eulogy under fluorescent glare, Joseph’s welt from a paintball dare, Ani’s plan for Mari’s dream road trip, the Coney Island dinner in Karo’s basement, the debate over donating the Mauser, and logistical lists for a journey altered before it began.
The musk of wet wool in 1915 finds its echo in the damp carpet of a suburban basement a century later.
I was amazed by Werfel’s magnum opus and the history of the Armenian genocide by Muslims in Turkey and Syria, so when this book came about I had to read it. Gregor’s recollections of Musa Dagh contain moments that catch the breath.
Boys stealing bullets from sleeping soldiers as if plucking grapes. A woman hurling a pot of yogurt at an advancing line when nothing else could be found. A goat chewing calmly beside the sandbag wall during a firefight. A man grumbling that the battle had interrupted his card game.
A child uses a captured soldier’s helmet as a soup bowl. An elder laughs while showing the Mauser’s stock scarred from doubling as a cricket bat when the siege dragged into dull afternoons. These intrusions sharpen the violence and give the history an almost unbearable immediacy.
Waterline braids the salt of the Mediterranean into Midwestern rain, then leaves one considering the burdens descendants might inherit, wrapped in stories and stored in a basement, waiting for their turn to listen. Amazing writing, important themes, very interesting. However, I wasn't sold about the connection of both timelines in the novel. It felt too loose and artificial.
Gregor, in old age, recounts his youth at Musa Dagh, where at sixteen he shouldered a Mauser and a hunger that could hollow a village. He held the Ottoman genocidal forces at bay until the French appeared on the horizon “like a prophetic miracle.” His recollection brims with the grit of cold sand under blistered feet, the taste of chocolate slipped into his pack by a father who knew both the weight of war and the value of sweetness.
The siege glows with urgency. Each step in the climb toward Musa Dagh carries the rhythm of survival. The dwindling rations, the white flag toward the sea, the swim toward the French warship, the last stand on the mountain – these are moments carved into the reader’s memory.
Decades later, the focus drifts to the loss of Mari, Edgar’s niece, pulled from a lake in Milwaukee. The modern plotline circles Easter egg fights, a Fourth of July storm, a morgue visit, and conversations in basements. The emotional register thins, the stakes drop, and the energy seeps away.
Artifacts try to span the gap. The Mauser buried in the basement. Werfel’s The Forty Days of Musa Dagh, annotated by Karo. These objects hold a weight that the surrounding contemporary scenes cannot match.
The larger arc runs through Gregor’s apricot marksmanship, Edgar broiling lamb under stormlight, Karo’s arrival soaked and broken, the drive through Indiana’s industrial desolation, Mari’s identification, a faltering eulogy under fluorescent glare, Joseph’s welt from a paintball dare, Ani’s plan for Mari’s dream road trip, the Coney Island dinner in Karo’s basement, the debate over donating the Mauser, and logistical lists for a journey altered before it began.
The musk of wet wool in 1915 finds its echo in the damp carpet of a suburban basement a century later.
I was amazed by Werfel’s magnum opus and the history of the Armenian genocide by Muslims in Turkey and Syria, so when this book came about I had to read it. Gregor’s recollections of Musa Dagh contain moments that catch the breath.
Boys stealing bullets from sleeping soldiers as if plucking grapes. A woman hurling a pot of yogurt at an advancing line when nothing else could be found. A goat chewing calmly beside the sandbag wall during a firefight. A man grumbling that the battle had interrupted his card game.
A child uses a captured soldier’s helmet as a soup bowl. An elder laughs while showing the Mauser’s stock scarred from doubling as a cricket bat when the siege dragged into dull afternoons. These intrusions sharpen the violence and give the history an almost unbearable immediacy.
Waterline braids the salt of the Mediterranean into Midwestern rain, then leaves one considering the burdens descendants might inherit, wrapped in stories and stored in a basement, waiting for their turn to listen. Amazing writing, important themes, very interesting. However, I wasn't sold about the connection of both timelines in the novel. It felt too loose and artificial.
June 4, 2025
[ 3.5/5 stars ]
Gregor Kurkjian tells his story to his grandkids. Mari, the eldest of the youngest generation, swum into the depths of Lake Michigan.
WATERLINE revolves around generations of this Armenian family as they experience grief - through each purposeful word that doesn't feel overly dramatic, Mrjoian renders an Armenian story in which the people suffer the effects of inherited trauma; the price of displacement that transmutes into brokenness and desperate pleas.
Told in dual timeline, I found brilliant the symbolism of water that also bounces back and forth, working like a flood and bringing attached relentless memories that echo back from younger to older generations; painful tears; acts of protest... the water keeps going until it embarks in its final destination. Water that floods the characters with dual choices of generational trauma and new beginnings.
The exploration of mountains that cultivate the heritage while carrying Armenian stories against a world that seeks to erase them highlights the importance of perpetuating a story, even if the story isn't told in its whole. "There was so much pain she could not bear to pass on."
It doesn't mean that one will drown entirely in sorrow, rather, the story offers glimpses of hope and comfort. The several perspectives add layers to the characters/plot, yet I yearned for more chapters for each character in an attempt to dive deeper into their conscience. Lastly, if you're looking for a climactic read, this book might not be for you.
With confident prose, WATERLINE is a tale of (Armenian) survival; both beautiful and heart-wrenching. I was overall impressed by this debut novel and I am eager to see what Mrjoian writes next.
[ I received a complimentary copy from the publisher - Harpervia books . All opinions are my own ]
Gregor Kurkjian tells his story to his grandkids. Mari, the eldest of the youngest generation, swum into the depths of Lake Michigan.
WATERLINE revolves around generations of this Armenian family as they experience grief - through each purposeful word that doesn't feel overly dramatic, Mrjoian renders an Armenian story in which the people suffer the effects of inherited trauma; the price of displacement that transmutes into brokenness and desperate pleas.
Told in dual timeline, I found brilliant the symbolism of water that also bounces back and forth, working like a flood and bringing attached relentless memories that echo back from younger to older generations; painful tears; acts of protest... the water keeps going until it embarks in its final destination. Water that floods the characters with dual choices of generational trauma and new beginnings.
The exploration of mountains that cultivate the heritage while carrying Armenian stories against a world that seeks to erase them highlights the importance of perpetuating a story, even if the story isn't told in its whole. "There was so much pain she could not bear to pass on."
It doesn't mean that one will drown entirely in sorrow, rather, the story offers glimpses of hope and comfort. The several perspectives add layers to the characters/plot, yet I yearned for more chapters for each character in an attempt to dive deeper into their conscience. Lastly, if you're looking for a climactic read, this book might not be for you.
With confident prose, WATERLINE is a tale of (Armenian) survival; both beautiful and heart-wrenching. I was overall impressed by this debut novel and I am eager to see what Mrjoian writes next.
[ I received a complimentary copy from the publisher - Harpervia books . All opinions are my own ]
August 27, 2025
4.75 on Storygraph
I’m really gravitating toward multi- generational family sagas lately. This one shifts perspectives deftly and shows us how destructively trauma can be passed between generations.
I’m really gravitating toward multi- generational family sagas lately. This one shifts perspectives deftly and shows us how destructively trauma can be passed between generations.
June 3, 2025
Huge thanks to @harpervia they are one of my favorite publishers. If you’re unfamiliar with HarperVia they publish international literature, to offer readers access to diverse voices and perspectives. I was very excited to receive a copy of Aram Mrjoian debut Waterline…
Set in Detroit following the Kurkijan’s, an Armenian American family and their devastating loss of one of their own. Waterline spans generations looking at inherited trauma, and the complexity of families.
Aram’s story telling is captivating. Alternating between perspectives and timelines. An immersive and compelling novel begging the reader to ponder how one moves forward in the wake of a tragedy.
Thank you @harpervia
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...
Set in Detroit following the Kurkijan’s, an Armenian American family and their devastating loss of one of their own. Waterline spans generations looking at inherited trauma, and the complexity of families.
Aram’s story telling is captivating. Alternating between perspectives and timelines. An immersive and compelling novel begging the reader to ponder how one moves forward in the wake of a tragedy.
Thank you @harpervia
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...
May 30, 2025
A debut historical novel that takes us back briefly and rather tangentially to the Armenian genocide through Gregor Kurkjian, the patriarch of an Armenian-American family on the island of Gross Ile, Michigan. For the most part, the story is set in current day America. Gregor’s great-grand daughter Mari has committed suicide and the family has just received the devastating news. As the family comes together, we come to know each member of the family intimately - who they are, their emotions and thoughts, how they live their lives, and how each one is handling the trauma of Mari’s against the backdrop of the family’s ancestrial traumatic past during the Armenian genocide in 1915. The book is character driven rather than plot driven, which I did enjoy. The book was held together with the strand of family trauma hovering in the background, which for me, presented the contrast between the trauma of yesteryear that Gregor and his immediate family experienced in the early 20th century with the trauma that Mari experienced (apparently, I won’t say more here) in current day America and the way her immediate family handles the consequences. I liked the writing style and the book kept me engaged. It would have been great though if the historical part had been incorporated more in the more. Overall, a 3.5 star read , rounded up to 4 and I’m looking forward to the author’s next book. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
July 31, 2025
I loved this book and all of the ways the characters stories were woven together with echos of their ancestry. Difficult topics addressed with an honesty and ease that the reader can feel/experience and relate to in so many ways. Congrats, Aram!
May 30, 2025
The Kurkjians lot in life seems to be misery. The Kurkjians who survived the Armenian Genocide were haunted by their many losses. Their grandchildren struggle with alcohol abuse, infidelity, and loneliness. Their great-grandchildren also deal with substance abuse. Shortly before Aram Mrjoian’s diffuse novel, Waterline, opens, the family receive news that a beloved daughter and cousin has completed suicide. The news shatters the family, sending its members into a tailspin of grief, anger, and confusion...
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, for review consideration.
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, for review consideration.
December 8, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Waterline intricately weaves together the threads of generational trauma, the power of family, and the devastating legacy of the Armenian Genocide. A haunting and beautifully written exploration of the past's continuing influence on the present. This novel is an emotional and thought-provoking journey. Aram’s writing is nothing short of extraordinary.
Waterline intricately weaves together the threads of generational trauma, the power of family, and the devastating legacy of the Armenian Genocide. A haunting and beautifully written exploration of the past's continuing influence on the present. This novel is an emotional and thought-provoking journey. Aram’s writing is nothing short of extraordinary.
August 9, 2025
A gorgeous novel about grief, generational trauma, and the messy space between belonging and not-belonging. I loved Ani's chapter most of all. Aram Mrjoian is so talented and it continues to fill me with admiring jealousy.
October 7, 2025
This was a good family drama with a historical fiction bit. I didn’t know much about the Armenian genocide and I had the chance to learn a little about it through this story but wished I had learned more. The family story was very interesting and held my interest. I really liked and felt for these characters - especially the teenagers and what they go through as a result of their cousin’s choices early on in the story. This close knit family goes through some really tough stuff but watching how they get through it together and alone was really interesting to me.
August 16, 2025
A sad book about a family enveloped in the trauma handed down from the Armenian Genocide. The characters are well written, and the story painful.
June 27, 2025
It was amazing to read a story so close to my own background. My paternal grandparents are from Musa Dagh also. I don't understand why Mari ended her life. I wish there was more clarity on that. It was a sad book, but I'm glad I read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2025
“And like clockwork, we again allowed our voices to echo. We are still the mountain”
November 18, 2024
Synopsis: On a small island just south of Detroit, the Kurkjian family faces the tragic death of Mari while also confronting the loss and legacy of the family patriarch, Gregor, a survivor of the Armenian Genocide. Waterline spans generations, examining the effects of inherited trauma, the unspoken weight of diaspora and the difficulties of family dynamics.
I was first drawn to this book because it takes place near where I grew up, so I enjoyed the mentions of familiar places as well as nods to Midwestern foods (Faygo, Vernors, coneys). What kept my attention, though, was Aram Mrjoian’s prose and deep themes of family, trauma and cultural identity. I can’t wait to read more from this author, and I just know this book will be on lots of TBRs for 2025.
Thank you to #NetGalley and HarperVia for this advanced reader copy of #Waterline. To be published June 3, 2025.
I was first drawn to this book because it takes place near where I grew up, so I enjoyed the mentions of familiar places as well as nods to Midwestern foods (Faygo, Vernors, coneys). What kept my attention, though, was Aram Mrjoian’s prose and deep themes of family, trauma and cultural identity. I can’t wait to read more from this author, and I just know this book will be on lots of TBRs for 2025.
Thank you to #NetGalley and HarperVia for this advanced reader copy of #Waterline. To be published June 3, 2025.
September 29, 2025
This started out promising but nothing seemed to happen. 2/5 stars
May 23, 2025
True rating: 4.5
The Kurkjians have always been close. Their affection binds them as much as ancestry. The current two generations find their lives disrupted when the eldest of the brothers' children takes their life. Always vibrant and go-getting, a big sister to her cousins, the loss comes with no warning signs. This familial quake tips the unsteady balance each character had already been holding onto in their own personal lives. “Waterline” follows each family member on a new phase of self discovery as individuals, as a family, and for finding their place within their shared immigrant history.
It isn't often when I read a book that I am gripped by a writing style. To be certain there are many books, usually of other genres, that have very luscious and flowery descriptions that can draw me in. There are turns of phrases that will snatch my attention. This was a different experience. “Waterline” is written in a very succinct manner that also flows, drawing the reader on, while selecting very poignant moments to hit. I was so caught up in the rhythm that it took half the novel to realize it was actually rather reflective and slow. I didn't experience a drain or the sensation of slogging through. The pacing added to the weight of the characters' concerns while reflecting how intense moments can feel intense and rushed while also unending. It made me aware that this might be a book for those who do not enjoy more causal, less action based, stories.
Luckily for me, I frequently at least respect those quieter works. This I was actively enjoying. I felt deeply for each character. I felt sympathy for even those caught in anger, aggression, or committing an act of wrong doing. The gate into each mind and heart imprints on you.
The path that this book leads to could have completely missed the mark. "Waterline" hit a bullseye for this reader. It examines not only grief but that life itself is constantly editing, changing, adding. One is never really 'done' growing until the very end. To see where each character was at the story's end, even if there were still much they had to settle internally, felt completely appropriate. It wedged itself into that space that is somewhere between heartwarming and wrenching.
I will say that I expected the Armenian history to be more of a subject rather than a connecting thread. What and how we see elements of history and culture work wonderfully. It had inferred something different from the summary. As someone who is horribly negligent to that era and place I really appreciated the glimpse my education glazed over at best.
It would be criminal not to give a slow clap to Vikas Adam, the narrator, who was superb in his inflections with each character, attitude, and moment. My savoring of the words could very well been accredited to his performance as it was to the text.
From start to finish I found this to be a stunning work. To think that it is a debut is mind blowing. Aram Mrjoian could very well be a voice many will soon know and remember.
The Kurkjians have always been close. Their affection binds them as much as ancestry. The current two generations find their lives disrupted when the eldest of the brothers' children takes their life. Always vibrant and go-getting, a big sister to her cousins, the loss comes with no warning signs. This familial quake tips the unsteady balance each character had already been holding onto in their own personal lives. “Waterline” follows each family member on a new phase of self discovery as individuals, as a family, and for finding their place within their shared immigrant history.
It isn't often when I read a book that I am gripped by a writing style. To be certain there are many books, usually of other genres, that have very luscious and flowery descriptions that can draw me in. There are turns of phrases that will snatch my attention. This was a different experience. “Waterline” is written in a very succinct manner that also flows, drawing the reader on, while selecting very poignant moments to hit. I was so caught up in the rhythm that it took half the novel to realize it was actually rather reflective and slow. I didn't experience a drain or the sensation of slogging through. The pacing added to the weight of the characters' concerns while reflecting how intense moments can feel intense and rushed while also unending. It made me aware that this might be a book for those who do not enjoy more causal, less action based, stories.
Luckily for me, I frequently at least respect those quieter works. This I was actively enjoying. I felt deeply for each character. I felt sympathy for even those caught in anger, aggression, or committing an act of wrong doing. The gate into each mind and heart imprints on you.
The path that this book leads to could have completely missed the mark. "Waterline" hit a bullseye for this reader. It examines not only grief but that life itself is constantly editing, changing, adding. One is never really 'done' growing until the very end. To see where each character was at the story's end, even if there were still much they had to settle internally, felt completely appropriate. It wedged itself into that space that is somewhere between heartwarming and wrenching.
I will say that I expected the Armenian history to be more of a subject rather than a connecting thread. What and how we see elements of history and culture work wonderfully. It had inferred something different from the summary. As someone who is horribly negligent to that era and place I really appreciated the glimpse my education glazed over at best.
It would be criminal not to give a slow clap to Vikas Adam, the narrator, who was superb in his inflections with each character, attitude, and moment. My savoring of the words could very well been accredited to his performance as it was to the text.
From start to finish I found this to be a stunning work. To think that it is a debut is mind blowing. Aram Mrjoian could very well be a voice many will soon know and remember.
August 3, 2025
Obviously, it is still 2025 and I am still reading on the theme of Water. I'm not sure where this is getting me, the theme, that is, but I am definitely picking up books I might have otherwise ignored. This one was difficult to ignore because of the bright colors used on the cover.
For me this is an astounding work of fiction, that I think, is advertised as something that is maybe isn't.
What I thought I was going to get- a deep look at the generational trauma of the Armenian genocide and how it affects persons today.
What I feel I got?- A deep look at grief and the effects of suicide within a close knit family, with a nod to generational trauma related in this case to the Armenian genocide.
Both of these are things worth writing about, but as I read through this book, I definitely felt that they were two different things and that reviewers were leaning into the historical aspect very heavily, when the book just touches on it as part of the family lore. Mrjoian says that he intended that less than 10% of the novel be focused on the genocide - which I believe he achieved. The genocide itself was like a ghostly spectre sort of hovering about throughout all of the characters we are introduced to- in one way or another. Reviewers, however, really pushed the genocide connection which lead me to think that I would be getting chunks and chunks of history.
For me, this was a novel of a portrait of deep grief and the way a family processed this grief in the modern era. The author explores different ways to process (or not process) grief and loss and leaves space for readers to recognize themselves in characters and processes. Some characters drink, others find release in movement (hiking, swimming, sex, exercise classes) while others power forward and only melt down when it all becomes too much. The knowledge of the genocide seeps in at the corners of their minds, and affects the choices they make in grief, but a glaring direct connection isn't present- which is likely the point. Perhaps, generational trauma isn't a sledgehammer exactly, but more of an insidious process that finds us and creates core expectations and beliefs that we'd be hard pressed to explain.
This is a worthy read, but I can't say it would be one if you wanted to learn exact details of the Armenian Genocide. The writing is gorgeous and to the point and I'd gladly read another work by Mrjoian any time- but I might check into the topic a wee bit more deeply before diving in! This will not be in my top ten because the topic was, kind of a distressing topic, BUT, I think it's a good read- well written, thought provoking and extremely well put together.
For me this is an astounding work of fiction, that I think, is advertised as something that is maybe isn't.
What I thought I was going to get- a deep look at the generational trauma of the Armenian genocide and how it affects persons today.
What I feel I got?- A deep look at grief and the effects of suicide within a close knit family, with a nod to generational trauma related in this case to the Armenian genocide.
Both of these are things worth writing about, but as I read through this book, I definitely felt that they were two different things and that reviewers were leaning into the historical aspect very heavily, when the book just touches on it as part of the family lore. Mrjoian says that he intended that less than 10% of the novel be focused on the genocide - which I believe he achieved. The genocide itself was like a ghostly spectre sort of hovering about throughout all of the characters we are introduced to- in one way or another. Reviewers, however, really pushed the genocide connection which lead me to think that I would be getting chunks and chunks of history.
For me, this was a novel of a portrait of deep grief and the way a family processed this grief in the modern era. The author explores different ways to process (or not process) grief and loss and leaves space for readers to recognize themselves in characters and processes. Some characters drink, others find release in movement (hiking, swimming, sex, exercise classes) while others power forward and only melt down when it all becomes too much. The knowledge of the genocide seeps in at the corners of their minds, and affects the choices they make in grief, but a glaring direct connection isn't present- which is likely the point. Perhaps, generational trauma isn't a sledgehammer exactly, but more of an insidious process that finds us and creates core expectations and beliefs that we'd be hard pressed to explain.
This is a worthy read, but I can't say it would be one if you wanted to learn exact details of the Armenian Genocide. The writing is gorgeous and to the point and I'd gladly read another work by Mrjoian any time- but I might check into the topic a wee bit more deeply before diving in! This will not be in my top ten because the topic was, kind of a distressing topic, BUT, I think it's a good read- well written, thought provoking and extremely well put together.
June 5, 2025
After having read Aline Ohanesian’s Orhan’s Inheritance about a decade ago when first published, I requested Aram Mrjoian’s Waterline as another novelist’s look at the Armenian genocide and its lasting impact on survivors and descendants.
Mrjoian opens his story with Gregor Kurkjian’s escape from Armenia, which functions as a prologue preceding Part One set in 2018. As Edgar, Gregor’s son, prepares food in the kitchen for a Fourth of July barbecue, his older brother/next-door neighbor Karo pounds on the door, delivering the devastating news that Karo and Hova’s daughter has drowned in the lake. Daughter Mari has been teaching in Chicago, her body found in lake Michigan, the exact cause of her drowning unknown. An only child, Mari Kurkjian
leaves behind devastated immediate and extended family: parents Karo and Hova, aunt and uncle Edgar and Hannah, and cousins Ani, Talin, and Joseph, all living on Michigan’s Grosse Ile. Having grown up with each other, Edgar’s older daughter Ani has always considered Mari more an older sister than a cousin and determines to go forward with a cross- country trip she and Mari had been planning for years although with a somewhat different purpose now in mind. As a new school year soon begins, Edgar’s high school-age twins Talin and Joseph fear classmates’ reactions to the many online rumors circulating about Mari’s death.
Mrjoian tells the family story through the viewpoint of each family member, also including Karo and Edgar’s Armenian grandmother, Mara Bedrossian, as well as Mari Kurkjian, herself, on the day of her death.
Although most of the novel is set in present-day Michigan with Ani’s narrative set during her cross-country trip, one of Gregor’s three chapters and his wife Mara’s chapter are part of an Interlude between the novel’s Part One and Part Two.
Mrjoian provided some new insights into the Armenian genocide, which continues to influence each of the characters’ lives. However, Talin’s chapter and most of Joseph’s two chapters focus more on teen life of parties, drugs, sex, and fighting which had this senior citizen thinking that enough is enough. The storyline’s eventual return to family heritage and family strength enabled me to forgive the somewhat too stereotyped portrayal of all teenagers.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperVia for an advance reader egalley of this recommended new look at the Armenian genocide and Armenian American family ties.
Mrjoian opens his story with Gregor Kurkjian’s escape from Armenia, which functions as a prologue preceding Part One set in 2018. As Edgar, Gregor’s son, prepares food in the kitchen for a Fourth of July barbecue, his older brother/next-door neighbor Karo pounds on the door, delivering the devastating news that Karo and Hova’s daughter has drowned in the lake. Daughter Mari has been teaching in Chicago, her body found in lake Michigan, the exact cause of her drowning unknown. An only child, Mari Kurkjian
leaves behind devastated immediate and extended family: parents Karo and Hova, aunt and uncle Edgar and Hannah, and cousins Ani, Talin, and Joseph, all living on Michigan’s Grosse Ile. Having grown up with each other, Edgar’s older daughter Ani has always considered Mari more an older sister than a cousin and determines to go forward with a cross- country trip she and Mari had been planning for years although with a somewhat different purpose now in mind. As a new school year soon begins, Edgar’s high school-age twins Talin and Joseph fear classmates’ reactions to the many online rumors circulating about Mari’s death.
Mrjoian tells the family story through the viewpoint of each family member, also including Karo and Edgar’s Armenian grandmother, Mara Bedrossian, as well as Mari Kurkjian, herself, on the day of her death.
Although most of the novel is set in present-day Michigan with Ani’s narrative set during her cross-country trip, one of Gregor’s three chapters and his wife Mara’s chapter are part of an Interlude between the novel’s Part One and Part Two.
Mrjoian provided some new insights into the Armenian genocide, which continues to influence each of the characters’ lives. However, Talin’s chapter and most of Joseph’s two chapters focus more on teen life of parties, drugs, sex, and fighting which had this senior citizen thinking that enough is enough. The storyline’s eventual return to family heritage and family strength enabled me to forgive the somewhat too stereotyped portrayal of all teenagers.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperVia for an advance reader egalley of this recommended new look at the Armenian genocide and Armenian American family ties.
May 31, 2025
4.5 stars.
Waterline is a multi-generational family story filled with grief and secrets. It’s a quiet novel beautifully written and amazingly narrated. It asks that the reader to consider if we can ever truly escape the trauma of our history.
This story unfolds slowly as a tight knit family learns of an unfathomable death. It quickly takes off following members within three generations of an Armenian family living in a small island suburb on Lake Michigan. Each family member has a host of personal problems exacerbated by grief. They had individual and devastating means of coping alone.
The writing held the line between concise and elaborate almost perfectly. I loved knowing small details about their clothes or hair in quick spurts that painted a picture without belaboring the story. I loved that this is as much a story about their lives as Armenian-Americans as it was about being Michiganders with relevant and well-placed references to things specific to the state.
The symbolism of water and the mountains was well-executed and thoroughly explored how each person managed or mismanaged their grief and despair.
The narrator was superb. He did a great job of creating distinction between the characters, maintaining a great pace and adding emphasis where needed. The dad sounded a bit like Bob from Bob’s Burgers which was funny. I was engaged the entire time by the combination of a great story and wonderful narration.
I wish we had heard more from the great grand parents and their experiences in Armenia and after arriving in the US. We get just enough details to fill in necessary information in the story (and to be heartbroken!) but I would have loved more to deepen the historical fiction aspect. I can appreciate the intentionality of the reader only knowing as much as the characters know.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book and I would definitely recommend it to others.
Thanks for NetGalley and HarperAudio for an advanced reader copy.
Waterline is a multi-generational family story filled with grief and secrets. It’s a quiet novel beautifully written and amazingly narrated. It asks that the reader to consider if we can ever truly escape the trauma of our history.
This story unfolds slowly as a tight knit family learns of an unfathomable death. It quickly takes off following members within three generations of an Armenian family living in a small island suburb on Lake Michigan. Each family member has a host of personal problems exacerbated by grief. They had individual and devastating means of coping alone.
The writing held the line between concise and elaborate almost perfectly. I loved knowing small details about their clothes or hair in quick spurts that painted a picture without belaboring the story. I loved that this is as much a story about their lives as Armenian-Americans as it was about being Michiganders with relevant and well-placed references to things specific to the state.
The symbolism of water and the mountains was well-executed and thoroughly explored how each person managed or mismanaged their grief and despair.
The narrator was superb. He did a great job of creating distinction between the characters, maintaining a great pace and adding emphasis where needed. The dad sounded a bit like Bob from Bob’s Burgers which was funny. I was engaged the entire time by the combination of a great story and wonderful narration.
I wish we had heard more from the great grand parents and their experiences in Armenia and after arriving in the US. We get just enough details to fill in necessary information in the story (and to be heartbroken!) but I would have loved more to deepen the historical fiction aspect. I can appreciate the intentionality of the reader only knowing as much as the characters know.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book and I would definitely recommend it to others.
Thanks for NetGalley and HarperAudio for an advanced reader copy.
June 3, 2025
4 stars – Waterline, the debut novel for Aram Mrjoian, is a study of an Armenian American family reeling from the suicide of a young woman distraught by a scandal that has cost her job, her dignity, and her identity. Coping with her death are her parents, plus her uncle, aunt, and three cousins who live next door.
Throughout the novel, we learn about the family’s history. We admire Gregor Kurkjian’s valor at the defiant last stand on Musa Dagh during the Armenian genocide of 1915 at the hands of the Ottoman government. We see the sibling rivalry of Gregor’s grandsons, Karo and Edgar, who have continued to battle the demons of the family’s history and the expectations thrust upon them from preceding generations.
We ache for their children - Mari, Ani, Talin and Joseph - who are fighting their own battles of young adulthood in a modern, and often vicious, online society. All of the characters carry the weight of the past while facing the challenges of the present. And in doing so, the two families appear so close yet also seem so distant throughout Waterline.
Written with shifting character perspectives and timelines, the characters are distinctly and memorably presented and the ever-present themes of water and mountains are carried throughout. Not only is Musa Dagh always at top of mind, but the lakes take on their own personas. Without spoilers, suffice it to say I was slightly let down by the conclusion of the novel and its lack of commitment to closure on a few fronts. Regardless, this is a wonderful debut that is worthy of a read.
Thank you to HarperCollins for the ARC of this book through NetGalley and Edelweiss, which I received for my honest review. This book is available to the public on June 3, 2025.
#waterlinenovel #arammrjoian #netgalley #edelwiess #books #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookstagram #nerdventureswithbooks
Throughout the novel, we learn about the family’s history. We admire Gregor Kurkjian’s valor at the defiant last stand on Musa Dagh during the Armenian genocide of 1915 at the hands of the Ottoman government. We see the sibling rivalry of Gregor’s grandsons, Karo and Edgar, who have continued to battle the demons of the family’s history and the expectations thrust upon them from preceding generations.
We ache for their children - Mari, Ani, Talin and Joseph - who are fighting their own battles of young adulthood in a modern, and often vicious, online society. All of the characters carry the weight of the past while facing the challenges of the present. And in doing so, the two families appear so close yet also seem so distant throughout Waterline.
Written with shifting character perspectives and timelines, the characters are distinctly and memorably presented and the ever-present themes of water and mountains are carried throughout. Not only is Musa Dagh always at top of mind, but the lakes take on their own personas. Without spoilers, suffice it to say I was slightly let down by the conclusion of the novel and its lack of commitment to closure on a few fronts. Regardless, this is a wonderful debut that is worthy of a read.
Thank you to HarperCollins for the ARC of this book through NetGalley and Edelweiss, which I received for my honest review. This book is available to the public on June 3, 2025.
#waterlinenovel #arammrjoian #netgalley #edelwiess #books #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookstagram #nerdventureswithbooks
July 16, 2025
Tolstoy famously wrote "Happy families are all alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." This is, of course, bullshit. Well, the second part is probably right, but the first part makes no sense. What even is a "happy family"? Does a "happy family" require that every member of the family is happy 24/7? What happens when a happy family suffers a tragedy? Do they immediately become in irredeemably unhappy family?
Aram Mrjoian's debut novel Waterline is a beautifully rendered portrait of a previously happy family, the Kurkjians, who become an unhappy family when tragedy strikes.
Brothers Edgar and Karo, live next door to each other with their wives and families in Grosse Ile, Michigan, a small community south of Detroit. When Karo's daughter Mari commits suicide, both families are jolted from their quiet, middle-class lives.
Mrjoian's portrays each family member's attempt to come to terms with the trauma over the course of a couple months in the immediate aftermath of Mari's death. One goes on a cross-country roadtrip. One finds relief in pot and booze. One, has an affair.
All the while, the legend of their patriarch Gregor, who escaped the Armenian Genocide and heroically helped save members of his village, casts a contextual shadow over the family's post traumatic resilience. In fact, I'd argue that family legends -- not how families are unhappy -- are what make even happy families unique.
I loved this book -- read it in two days. (I can't help but think I when I read a book so quickly that at some level it must be frustrating to the writer to spend so long writing, polishing, and publishing a novel, only to have it whisked through like a dinner buffet. Sorry, Aram!) Mrjoian writes with subtle humor, deep insight, and sharp wisdom. He's a joy to read, and I can't wait to see what he does next!
Aram Mrjoian's debut novel Waterline is a beautifully rendered portrait of a previously happy family, the Kurkjians, who become an unhappy family when tragedy strikes.
Brothers Edgar and Karo, live next door to each other with their wives and families in Grosse Ile, Michigan, a small community south of Detroit. When Karo's daughter Mari commits suicide, both families are jolted from their quiet, middle-class lives.
Mrjoian's portrays each family member's attempt to come to terms with the trauma over the course of a couple months in the immediate aftermath of Mari's death. One goes on a cross-country roadtrip. One finds relief in pot and booze. One, has an affair.
All the while, the legend of their patriarch Gregor, who escaped the Armenian Genocide and heroically helped save members of his village, casts a contextual shadow over the family's post traumatic resilience. In fact, I'd argue that family legends -- not how families are unhappy -- are what make even happy families unique.
I loved this book -- read it in two days. (I can't help but think I when I read a book so quickly that at some level it must be frustrating to the writer to spend so long writing, polishing, and publishing a novel, only to have it whisked through like a dinner buffet. Sorry, Aram!) Mrjoian writes with subtle humor, deep insight, and sharp wisdom. He's a joy to read, and I can't wait to see what he does next!
April 8, 2025
Waterline by is a first novel by Aram Mrjoian. We follow the individual stories of loss as each member of an Armenian family struggles with the death of the oldest daughter. Overlaying that is the story of her great-grandfather who came to the United States as a refugee after the Armenian genocide in Turkey. Although he has already passed away when the current tragedy occurs, the reader learns about his journey through flashbacks of him telling his story to the younger generations.
The grief of these losses is explored in detail and is deeply felt. Each family member is well characterized, and it is easy to imagine a very similar story unfolding in many families. Since they are particularly close, the roles of mother/aunt, father/uncle, and sibling/cousin all seem to blend and overlap allowing us to see the effects of trauma and cultural identity from several perspectives.
What didn’t work quite as well for me is that there is clearly an intended connection between the great grandfather’s experience and the current day’s events. Of course, children grow up exposed to their parent’s influence, and often that results in cultural, historical and intergenerational trauma. I didn’t see as much of that connection here which gave the grandfather’s story less weight.
Overall, this is an intriguing snapshot of a family who are trying, and sometimes failing, to cope effectively with their grief, but do so with great love and perseverance.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperVia for the eARC.
The grief of these losses is explored in detail and is deeply felt. Each family member is well characterized, and it is easy to imagine a very similar story unfolding in many families. Since they are particularly close, the roles of mother/aunt, father/uncle, and sibling/cousin all seem to blend and overlap allowing us to see the effects of trauma and cultural identity from several perspectives.
What didn’t work quite as well for me is that there is clearly an intended connection between the great grandfather’s experience and the current day’s events. Of course, children grow up exposed to their parent’s influence, and often that results in cultural, historical and intergenerational trauma. I didn’t see as much of that connection here which gave the grandfather’s story less weight.
Overall, this is an intriguing snapshot of a family who are trying, and sometimes failing, to cope effectively with their grief, but do so with great love and perseverance.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperVia for the eARC.
June 30, 2025
✨ Review ✨ Waterline by Aram Mrjoian; Narrated by Vikas Adam
Thanks to HarperVia, Harper Audio, and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!
One of my favorite books of the year so far!
This frames the book with the stories of Gregor, family patriarch, and his experience defending Musa Dagh and living through the Armenian genocide, anchoring the book in resistance and resilience.
The rest of the story moves between POVs of Gregor’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren, set in recent times in Grosse Ile, Michigan. The family discovers Mari, one of the great-grandchildren drowned in Lake Michigan, and her parents, aunt & uncle, and cousins must grapple with her death, their generational trauma, and what's happening in the world around them. I love these kind of overlapping, intersecting, fragmented stories told through multiple POVs.
This is filled with family drama, great writing, & themes of nature/water as the characters work through issues of grief and identity. I loved this book, and I thought it was so fantastically crafted. Even down to the symbolism of the cover, this was excellent all around!
🎧 I loved the narration of this book - I listened to the whole thing, and could barely put it down. I cruised through this in a day easily because the storytelling was so compelling.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: literary fiction,
Setting: former Ottoman Empire, contemporary Grosse Ile, Michigan + Chicago, Milwaukee, Yellowstone, etc.
Length: 8 hours 18 minutes
Reminds me of: Middlesex
Pub Date: Jun 03 2025
Read this if you like:
⭕️ literary fiction
⭕️ books reflection on generational trauma
⭕️ Two Hearted beer
⭕️ stories of resistance and resilience
Thanks to HarperVia, Harper Audio, and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!
One of my favorite books of the year so far!
This frames the book with the stories of Gregor, family patriarch, and his experience defending Musa Dagh and living through the Armenian genocide, anchoring the book in resistance and resilience.
The rest of the story moves between POVs of Gregor’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren, set in recent times in Grosse Ile, Michigan. The family discovers Mari, one of the great-grandchildren drowned in Lake Michigan, and her parents, aunt & uncle, and cousins must grapple with her death, their generational trauma, and what's happening in the world around them. I love these kind of overlapping, intersecting, fragmented stories told through multiple POVs.
This is filled with family drama, great writing, & themes of nature/water as the characters work through issues of grief and identity. I loved this book, and I thought it was so fantastically crafted. Even down to the symbolism of the cover, this was excellent all around!
🎧 I loved the narration of this book - I listened to the whole thing, and could barely put it down. I cruised through this in a day easily because the storytelling was so compelling.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: literary fiction,
Setting: former Ottoman Empire, contemporary Grosse Ile, Michigan + Chicago, Milwaukee, Yellowstone, etc.
Length: 8 hours 18 minutes
Reminds me of: Middlesex
Pub Date: Jun 03 2025
Read this if you like:
⭕️ literary fiction
⭕️ books reflection on generational trauma
⭕️ Two Hearted beer
⭕️ stories of resistance and resilience
May 28, 2025
(3.5) This is a book dripping with the drama of a family being eaten from the inside. Waterline dives deep into grief, family trauma, and the damage that comes from stories we bury too deep. It follows the ripple effects of one woman’s death as her Armenian American family struggles to stay afloat. Woven throughout are flashbacks of the great-grandfather’s journey to the U.S. after surviving the Armenian genocide, which is a legacy that looms over the present day story.
The prose is strong, the themes are heavy, and the emotional resonance is there, especially in the quieter moments of memory and mourning. But as someone from Michigan, I have to say… some of the Michigan references felt like they were ripped straight from a "Midwest starter pack" There was a whole scene involving Faygo and Vernors that had me raising an eyebrow like, okay, we get it.
What didn’t land for me was the thread between past and present. The connection between the grandfather’s refugee trauma and the family’s current unraveling felt implied but underdeveloped. I wanted to feel the weight of generational inheritance, but it never quite stitched itself into the emotional spine of the book.
Still, Waterline is a thoughtful meditation on loss and the quiet disintegration of a family, and there’s a lot to admire in its ambition. If you're drawn to literary fiction with layered grief and cultural memory, this one might be worth checking out. Just don’t expect it to crack open every thread it weaves.
Thanks to the author, HarperAudio, and NetGalley for early access to the audiobook, which is publishing June 3, 2025!
The prose is strong, the themes are heavy, and the emotional resonance is there, especially in the quieter moments of memory and mourning. But as someone from Michigan, I have to say… some of the Michigan references felt like they were ripped straight from a "Midwest starter pack" There was a whole scene involving Faygo and Vernors that had me raising an eyebrow like, okay, we get it.
What didn’t land for me was the thread between past and present. The connection between the grandfather’s refugee trauma and the family’s current unraveling felt implied but underdeveloped. I wanted to feel the weight of generational inheritance, but it never quite stitched itself into the emotional spine of the book.
Still, Waterline is a thoughtful meditation on loss and the quiet disintegration of a family, and there’s a lot to admire in its ambition. If you're drawn to literary fiction with layered grief and cultural memory, this one might be worth checking out. Just don’t expect it to crack open every thread it weaves.
Thanks to the author, HarperAudio, and NetGalley for early access to the audiobook, which is publishing June 3, 2025!
June 3, 2025
*I received this book (via eARC from NetGalley) for free from the publisher (HarperVia) in exchange for an honest review*
As an Armenian-American myself, Waterline really struck a chord with me. The way Aram Mrjoian wove in themes of identity, inherited memory, and the long shadow of the Armenian Genocide was incredibly moving. The mention of The Forty Days of Musa Dagh caught me by surprise in the best way— its the small references which makes it more introspective and see things in a more deeper level. There’s something powerful about seeing the quiet details of your culture and history reflected on the page, and Mrjoian does it with so much care. Even something as small as a Detroit Red Wings poster or the hockey references made the characters feel real and familiar. Those little moments grounded the stories and made them even more compelling to read. The writing is soft and poetic, and the stories flow gently, sometimes blurring together but always carrying a quiet emotional weight. I gave it 4 stars because a few of the pieces felt a little too subtle for me to fully connect with, but overall this is a thoughtful and beautifully written collection. If you’re drawn to short fiction that explores cultural identity, grief, and family with quiet grace, this one is well worth picking up.
As an Armenian-American myself, Waterline really struck a chord with me. The way Aram Mrjoian wove in themes of identity, inherited memory, and the long shadow of the Armenian Genocide was incredibly moving. The mention of The Forty Days of Musa Dagh caught me by surprise in the best way— its the small references which makes it more introspective and see things in a more deeper level. There’s something powerful about seeing the quiet details of your culture and history reflected on the page, and Mrjoian does it with so much care. Even something as small as a Detroit Red Wings poster or the hockey references made the characters feel real and familiar. Those little moments grounded the stories and made them even more compelling to read. The writing is soft and poetic, and the stories flow gently, sometimes blurring together but always carrying a quiet emotional weight. I gave it 4 stars because a few of the pieces felt a little too subtle for me to fully connect with, but overall this is a thoughtful and beautifully written collection. If you’re drawn to short fiction that explores cultural identity, grief, and family with quiet grace, this one is well worth picking up.
December 21, 2025
A character-driven and slow-paced story dealing with the topics of suicide, revenge porn, masculinity, substance abuse, grief, family, generational trauma, and the Armenian Genocide. I enjoyed the MI references at first but toward the end they felt corny and clumsy because there were too many. There was an unsatisfying disconnect between the story of Gregor and the story of his great granddaughter, Mari, as I think the book could have benefitted from the inclusion of more information about the Armenian Genocide as well as more background info about Mari. I’m looking forward to reading The Forty Days of Musa Dagh, which I had never heard of prior to reading this, and I also want to re-read The Awakening since it was heavily referenced throughout this story, however I felt like the references to Quentin Tarantino (Zionist extraordinaire) and Eminem were out of place. Also there were several points while listening to the audiobook where I vowed never to listen to a male narrator attempt to narrate female characters ever again lol. Recommend pairing with the Empire podcast episodes about the Armenian Genocide.
May 22, 2025
Waterline is an incredible debut about a family navigating grief and figuring out how to move forward in the wake of tragedy. As the Kurkjians mourn the loss of young Mari, they are also haunted by family legacy—Gregor Kurkjian's survival of the Armenian Genocide over 100 years ago.
Mrjoian deftly alternates between perspectives and timelines, exploring each character's journey with grief and their retreat into isolation, while also asking whether or not one can honor the past without allowing it to define and constrain the future. His attention to detail brings Grosse Ile, Michigan, to life and makes Waterline an immersive and emotionally compelling experience.
Waterline would be an excellent book club pick. Mrjoian's character development, themes, and symbolism provide much to discuss and analyze. I spent days reflecting on this novel and cannot wait for more readers to get their hands on it.
Highly recommend!
I am grateful to HarperVia and Edelweiss for the advance copy. This review is my honest opinion.
Mrjoian deftly alternates between perspectives and timelines, exploring each character's journey with grief and their retreat into isolation, while also asking whether or not one can honor the past without allowing it to define and constrain the future. His attention to detail brings Grosse Ile, Michigan, to life and makes Waterline an immersive and emotionally compelling experience.
Waterline would be an excellent book club pick. Mrjoian's character development, themes, and symbolism provide much to discuss and analyze. I spent days reflecting on this novel and cannot wait for more readers to get their hands on it.
Highly recommend!
I am grateful to HarperVia and Edelweiss for the advance copy. This review is my honest opinion.
June 11, 2025
4.5
This was so good. I really don’t know much about the Armenian genocide, but this made me want to read more about it (do I pick up the Forty Days of Musa Dagh??). I love a family epic and this was so good, multiple generations and different perspectives. Really demonstrates the wide reaching effect of generational trauma. I loved that each character had such a distinct voice and felt engaged in each and every perspective. The narration was excellent, I found myself wanting to keep listening. I think the author does such a good job of expressing the pain of your family lineage coming from horrible and unspeakable violence and then having to continue to witness horrible and unspeakable violence in your own lifetime. I liked the ambiguity of the ending and how it shows that grief shatters family systems. Really loved this one, would definitely recommend the audiobook.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for an advanced listener copy in exchange for an honest review
This was so good. I really don’t know much about the Armenian genocide, but this made me want to read more about it (do I pick up the Forty Days of Musa Dagh??). I love a family epic and this was so good, multiple generations and different perspectives. Really demonstrates the wide reaching effect of generational trauma. I loved that each character had such a distinct voice and felt engaged in each and every perspective. The narration was excellent, I found myself wanting to keep listening. I think the author does such a good job of expressing the pain of your family lineage coming from horrible and unspeakable violence and then having to continue to witness horrible and unspeakable violence in your own lifetime. I liked the ambiguity of the ending and how it shows that grief shatters family systems. Really loved this one, would definitely recommend the audiobook.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for an advanced listener copy in exchange for an honest review
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