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The Seamstress of Ourfa
It is 1895, Ourfa, a thriving, cosmopolitan city in the Ottoman Empire. Khatoun Khouri, a girl of thirteen, meets her future husband, Iskender Agha Boghos. Twice her age, a poet, philosopher and dreamer, he adores her but cannot express it in words. Around them, the Ottoman Empire is crumbling, the world heading towards war and the Armenian minority subjected to increasing repression, culminating in the genocide of 1915.
As Iskender retreats into his books and alcohol, losing land, money and business, Khatoun holds their family together by sewing for the wives of the men who persecute them; her creations inciting love, lust and fertility. The family joins the resistance and evades the death marches to the Syrian Desert only to lose everything when exiled by Mustafa Kemal and the birth of the Turkish Republic in 1923.
What follows is a tale of love, loss and redemption in the diaspora told by four generations of women, each becoming the guardian angel of the next.
As Iskender retreats into his books and alcohol, losing land, money and business, Khatoun holds their family together by sewing for the wives of the men who persecute them; her creations inciting love, lust and fertility. The family joins the resistance and evades the death marches to the Syrian Desert only to lose everything when exiled by Mustafa Kemal and the birth of the Turkish Republic in 1923.
What follows is a tale of love, loss and redemption in the diaspora told by four generations of women, each becoming the guardian angel of the next.
298 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2018
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192 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
August 11, 2023
Actually 4.5★ for this wonderful debut; part 1 of an anticipated trilogy.
This book chronicles the lives and experiences of the Armenian Agha Boghos family, living in Ourfa in the southern reaches of the Ottoman Empire, from 1895 until 1922.
In 1895, Iskender Agha Boghos meets his much younger wife-to-be, Khatoun Khouri, for the first time. He is smitten, but although a poet at heart, he doesn't have the voice to tell Khatoun how he feels about her. But she knows; in many ways they are cut from the same cloth. They marry and live in Ourfa with Iskender's family, including his sister Ferida the spinster. Finding herself under Ferida's feet in the kitchen, Khatoun is encouraged to learn the skill of dressmaking, and she's a natural.
Over the following years the family moves around a bit, tries a few different businesses, loses a few older members and eventually welcomes the arrival of children for Khatoun and Iskender. All the while, the persecution of various different minorities - the Armenians, the Assyrians, the Kurds, the Greeks, the Jews - is well underway in the empire. Although the immediate family is safe, they certainly don't take any risks, and they lose many relatives and friends. Khatoun's dressmaking business thrives during these dark years, and it's clear that the patronage of her Turkish/Muslim clients affords her family a degree of protection.
The author handles the atrocities of the time with restraint, with events often taking place between chapters, so the characters refer to them in hindsight rather than in real time. There are a few notable exceptions where it is necessary to show the reader what is happening, and with these the author brings it to an individual/immediate level, for example , so we are spared the grand scale of unrelenting violence.
Having survived the Armenian genocide of 1915, this book ends with the Agha Boghos family fleeing to exile in Syria in 1922, just before the birth of the Turkish Republic under Mustafa Kemal.
Although not a particularly long book, it is epic in scope and it is easy to see how this is going to flow into books 2 and 3. I can barely wait to pick up this story again. I love the quiet strength of Khatoun and the ferocious loyalty of Ferida, and want to see how they continue to work together to steer their family through these dangerous times.
I would have given this book 5★ but for the fact that I still don't know how to categorise it. How much is fact and how much fiction? Either way I'm happy, but I want to know just to settle my own mind. I suspect it's the author's meticulously researched family history, dressed up as fiction, but haven't found anything to 100% support that contention. The collection of photos on the book's website is probably a strong clue though. http://www.planetvix.com/seamstress-o...
Recommended for readers of historical fiction and family sagas, or anyone interested in the Armenian genocide.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy to read and review.
This book chronicles the lives and experiences of the Armenian Agha Boghos family, living in Ourfa in the southern reaches of the Ottoman Empire, from 1895 until 1922.
In 1895, Iskender Agha Boghos meets his much younger wife-to-be, Khatoun Khouri, for the first time. He is smitten, but although a poet at heart, he doesn't have the voice to tell Khatoun how he feels about her. But she knows; in many ways they are cut from the same cloth. They marry and live in Ourfa with Iskender's family, including his sister Ferida the spinster. Finding herself under Ferida's feet in the kitchen, Khatoun is encouraged to learn the skill of dressmaking, and she's a natural.
Over the following years the family moves around a bit, tries a few different businesses, loses a few older members and eventually welcomes the arrival of children for Khatoun and Iskender. All the while, the persecution of various different minorities - the Armenians, the Assyrians, the Kurds, the Greeks, the Jews - is well underway in the empire. Although the immediate family is safe, they certainly don't take any risks, and they lose many relatives and friends. Khatoun's dressmaking business thrives during these dark years, and it's clear that the patronage of her Turkish/Muslim clients affords her family a degree of protection.
The author handles the atrocities of the time with restraint, with events often taking place between chapters, so the characters refer to them in hindsight rather than in real time. There are a few notable exceptions where it is necessary to show the reader what is happening, and with these the author brings it to an individual/immediate level, for example , so we are spared the grand scale of unrelenting violence.
Having survived the Armenian genocide of 1915, this book ends with the Agha Boghos family fleeing to exile in Syria in 1922, just before the birth of the Turkish Republic under Mustafa Kemal.
Although not a particularly long book, it is epic in scope and it is easy to see how this is going to flow into books 2 and 3. I can barely wait to pick up this story again. I love the quiet strength of Khatoun and the ferocious loyalty of Ferida, and want to see how they continue to work together to steer their family through these dangerous times.
I would have given this book 5★ but for the fact that I still don't know how to categorise it. How much is fact and how much fiction? Either way I'm happy, but I want to know just to settle my own mind. I suspect it's the author's meticulously researched family history, dressed up as fiction, but haven't found anything to 100% support that contention. The collection of photos on the book's website is probably a strong clue though. http://www.planetvix.com/seamstress-o...
Recommended for readers of historical fiction and family sagas, or anyone interested in the Armenian genocide.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy to read and review.
Read
August 2, 2019At the beginning of April I was contacted by Armida Books, an independent publishing house in Cyprus, publishing books both in English and in Greek.
They were aware of my enthusiasm in reading and reviewing books as well as having published a few books; so they wanted my honest review for a historical fiction novel, and I accepted.
This is the first time I read a work of fiction before its official publication.
This was my first ARC (Advance Reader's Copy) of a book set to be published in June 27, 2018.
Its name is The Seamstress of Ourfa, and it is the first installment in a historical/family saga trilogy about Armenians in the Ottoman Empire.
It is written by English/Armenian author Victoria Harwood Butler-Sloss who spend her childhood and early teens in Cyprus.
The book begins with a brief chapter in Nicosia, Cyprus, in the 60's when all the family members are reunited under the same roof in a house in Nicosia, some coming for holidays from England some are living in Cyprus since the 1920's (?)
The narrator in this first brief chapter is Vicky (the seven year old fictional self of the author), and she encounters a short wrinkled scary looking hag (the way she is perceived by the young girl).
She is her great-grandmother.
She is the Seamstress of Ourfa and she has many stories to tell p. 19
Then we are taken back in time in 1895 in Ourfa a city now part of Turkey called Şanlıurfa, less than 60km from the border with Syria, and 4 hours by car from Aleppo, Syria.
In 1895 Khatoun (the seamstress of Ourfa), at the age of thirteen is getting married to a dreamy poet twice her age; well read, but shy to express himself in spoken words.
And so we begin a journey of 20 years (1895-1915) and 161 pages.
In this journey we see the life of Khatoun with her husband her spinster sister-in-law and her growing family, making a living from creating beautiful dresses for her customers.
Many of her customers are powerful Turks and that was what saved her immediate family from the atrocities that were fast approaching, and were set to happen in 1915, the horrendous events that are described with one phrase: The Armenian Genocide.
Then we are transferred once more in the future (1969) Cyprus to see the last moments of Ferida's life, the spinster sister-in-law.
We get inside her mind and even though she is a tough, arrogant woman we tend to appreciate her motives a bit more after we read this chapter.
Then once more we are taking back in time and in Ourfa, in 1915, and now the time slows down and we see in more detail, in the remaining 103 pages, and 8 years (1915-1922) the difficult and risky life of the family when the Ottoman Empire was a dangerous place to live if you weren't a 'true' Turk.
Of course the horrific events (with a few exceptions) are not narrated in real time but just like in Ancient Greek Tragedy, they are narrated to us from characters that were witnesses of these events earlier on.
I don't want to say much more about the book.
So, if you are interested in historical fiction, and / or family sagas, or more precisely stories set in the Ottoman empire of the early 20th century, an era that many Greek authors wrote about, such as Ilias Venezis, Stratis Doukas, Dido Sotiriou and more, this is a book for you.
It blends reality with fiction, biography with history, comedy with tragedy, love with hate, red tasty sauces with scarlet thick blood.
A journey in the traditions of Armenians, their culture, their cuisine, and their language (many footnoted Armenian phrases exist throughout the text).
In other words The Seamstress of Ourfa is a seamless family saga that takes place before, during, and after the Armenian Genocide of 1915.
Rating:8/10
They were aware of my enthusiasm in reading and reviewing books as well as having published a few books; so they wanted my honest review for a historical fiction novel, and I accepted.
This is the first time I read a work of fiction before its official publication.
This was my first ARC (Advance Reader's Copy) of a book set to be published in June 27, 2018.
Its name is The Seamstress of Ourfa, and it is the first installment in a historical/family saga trilogy about Armenians in the Ottoman Empire.
It is written by English/Armenian author Victoria Harwood Butler-Sloss who spend her childhood and early teens in Cyprus.
The book begins with a brief chapter in Nicosia, Cyprus, in the 60's when all the family members are reunited under the same roof in a house in Nicosia, some coming for holidays from England some are living in Cyprus since the 1920's (?)
The narrator in this first brief chapter is Vicky (the seven year old fictional self of the author), and she encounters a short wrinkled scary looking hag (the way she is perceived by the young girl).
She is her great-grandmother.
She is the Seamstress of Ourfa and she has many stories to tell p. 19
Then we are taken back in time in 1895 in Ourfa a city now part of Turkey called Şanlıurfa, less than 60km from the border with Syria, and 4 hours by car from Aleppo, Syria.
In 1895 Khatoun (the seamstress of Ourfa), at the age of thirteen is getting married to a dreamy poet twice her age; well read, but shy to express himself in spoken words.
And so we begin a journey of 20 years (1895-1915) and 161 pages.
In this journey we see the life of Khatoun with her husband her spinster sister-in-law and her growing family, making a living from creating beautiful dresses for her customers.
Many of her customers are powerful Turks and that was what saved her immediate family from the atrocities that were fast approaching, and were set to happen in 1915, the horrendous events that are described with one phrase: The Armenian Genocide.
Then we are transferred once more in the future (1969) Cyprus to see the last moments of Ferida's life, the spinster sister-in-law.
We get inside her mind and even though she is a tough, arrogant woman we tend to appreciate her motives a bit more after we read this chapter.
Then once more we are taking back in time and in Ourfa, in 1915, and now the time slows down and we see in more detail, in the remaining 103 pages, and 8 years (1915-1922) the difficult and risky life of the family when the Ottoman Empire was a dangerous place to live if you weren't a 'true' Turk.
Of course the horrific events (with a few exceptions) are not narrated in real time but just like in Ancient Greek Tragedy, they are narrated to us from characters that were witnesses of these events earlier on.
I don't want to say much more about the book.
So, if you are interested in historical fiction, and / or family sagas, or more precisely stories set in the Ottoman empire of the early 20th century, an era that many Greek authors wrote about, such as Ilias Venezis, Stratis Doukas, Dido Sotiriou and more, this is a book for you.
It blends reality with fiction, biography with history, comedy with tragedy, love with hate, red tasty sauces with scarlet thick blood.
A journey in the traditions of Armenians, their culture, their cuisine, and their language (many footnoted Armenian phrases exist throughout the text).
In other words The Seamstress of Ourfa is a seamless family saga that takes place before, during, and after the Armenian Genocide of 1915.
Rating:8/10
May 3, 2018
A poignant historical fiction set between 1895 and 1922 centered around the lives of an Armenian family - Khatoun and her husband Iskender - and their extended family and community during some of Turkey's darkest days of Armenian genocide. An absorbing read with great character development and historical perspective. Khatoun is the anchor and together with her spinster sister-in-law Ferida are the strength of the family finding creative ways to keep food on the table, dodge atrocities as well as help others. Interestingly, the author’s technique is quite intriguing - painting quite a vivid picture of the plight of the Armenians and the intense hardship they faced but, for the most part, that’s all happening in the background. We experience the ramifications of the torture and slaughter - we hear about them, individuals narrate what occurred but actual incidents in real time are few. While the book is set against the backdrop of a harsh era, there are lighthearted moments where the simple joys of food, camaraderie and community infuse those occasions. There’s an array of characters including that of Begum Senay (she made me chuckle) who create the environment to showcase the traditions, culture and beliefs of a people, which I find integral to contextualize place and time. Overall an absorbing, well done and recommended read! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity for the early preview.
May 22, 2018
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I totally enjoyed this book. First and foremost it is beautifully written, there were so many passages that I had to read over a second and third time because they were profound and touching. The author did such a wonderful job of telling the history of this horrific period. She had me in tears while I was reading about the resistance led by Mgrdich, had me laughing at some of the actions of Ferida, and marveling at the wisdom and gentleness of Khatoun. The Seamstress of Ourfa is the story of one Armenian family trying to survive during an extremely dangerous time. It’s a story of their hardships, sacrifices, losses and their love. I hope we don’t have to wait too long for book two! Thank you Armida Publications and Netgalley for the ARC.
July 28, 2018
This incredible story is full of history, love, and pain. A life of chasing content in a world full of war. So many moments took my breath away, both lovely sentiments and harsh realities.
The weight of this story made me take my time with it, but it is one I would recommend to any historical fiction lover.
The weight of this story made me take my time with it, but it is one I would recommend to any historical fiction lover.
June 23, 2018
A magnificent novel! We need more contemporary authors like Victoria!
In 1968 Nicosia, just before the Invasion, the young Vicky meets her great grandmother Khathoun; an elderly, strong woman whose voice rings in her great granddaughter's head: “There is only one story and it is always the same”.
How do you tell a story of human cruelty, constant destruction and yet also of a consistent hope and creation? Victoria Harwood Butler-Sloss' first novel of the trilogy travels back in time where Khathoun's growth into a wise woman is being portrayed in a thorough and absorbing way. While atrocities of the Armenian Genocide in 1915 take over, we get a peek behind closed doors of Khatoun's family house. A narrative woven with a variety of threads, giving voice to the betrayed minority of the Ottoman Empire and most importantly to the women who were going through their own, subtle fight for their rights of independence. The protagonist Khatoun is a seamstress who keeps everyone close together through thick and thin. In times of uncertainty, the effects of her strength, which is being carried across generations, teach her family to face the challenges of life and death, the inconsistency of material things and the importance of finding home in peace and human connection rather than in a mere, rigid set of walls.
Khatoun's story is being told through different perspectives while maintaining its sense of extreme honesty and authenticity. An important memoir with elements of historical fiction which honours the art of storytelling and its ways of travelling through multiple generations.
Incredibly relevant in today's times of global uncertainty and constant turmoil, Victoria's narrative reminds us to reconnect with our state of humanity while also taking us on a historical journey through forgotten stories of a cultural destruction.
In 1968 Nicosia, just before the Invasion, the young Vicky meets her great grandmother Khathoun; an elderly, strong woman whose voice rings in her great granddaughter's head: “There is only one story and it is always the same”.
How do you tell a story of human cruelty, constant destruction and yet also of a consistent hope and creation? Victoria Harwood Butler-Sloss' first novel of the trilogy travels back in time where Khathoun's growth into a wise woman is being portrayed in a thorough and absorbing way. While atrocities of the Armenian Genocide in 1915 take over, we get a peek behind closed doors of Khatoun's family house. A narrative woven with a variety of threads, giving voice to the betrayed minority of the Ottoman Empire and most importantly to the women who were going through their own, subtle fight for their rights of independence. The protagonist Khatoun is a seamstress who keeps everyone close together through thick and thin. In times of uncertainty, the effects of her strength, which is being carried across generations, teach her family to face the challenges of life and death, the inconsistency of material things and the importance of finding home in peace and human connection rather than in a mere, rigid set of walls.
Khatoun's story is being told through different perspectives while maintaining its sense of extreme honesty and authenticity. An important memoir with elements of historical fiction which honours the art of storytelling and its ways of travelling through multiple generations.
Incredibly relevant in today's times of global uncertainty and constant turmoil, Victoria's narrative reminds us to reconnect with our state of humanity while also taking us on a historical journey through forgotten stories of a cultural destruction.
June 18, 2018
I loved this book. As I read the words they floated off the pages and transported me back in time to eras filled with sadness poignancy, love laughter happiness and shared moments. It’s difficult to put into words how moved I was by the delicate prose that Victoria has used to to bring the characters and their stories to life.
I had viewed this book initially with a degree of detachment as I had labeled it mentally as a book for women. How unreservedly wrong a person is to assume anything in life. Each sentence took me into my own life and the stories resonanted so deeply with my own personal experiences that there was no room left for false assumptions and I simply let myself be immersed and became a silent onlooker privileged to be allowed into this family.
There were moments when I felt that Iskender was a mirror into my own father’s personality. He was similarly detached from reality. It was difficult at times to hide my emotions and tears in public as I read this and so I didn’t bother.
I was deeply touched and moved while reading this book and would recommend it to anyone who loves to encounter humanity with all our best and worst traits exposed in the written word.
Well done Victoria on such a wonderful book.
I had viewed this book initially with a degree of detachment as I had labeled it mentally as a book for women. How unreservedly wrong a person is to assume anything in life. Each sentence took me into my own life and the stories resonanted so deeply with my own personal experiences that there was no room left for false assumptions and I simply let myself be immersed and became a silent onlooker privileged to be allowed into this family.
There were moments when I felt that Iskender was a mirror into my own father’s personality. He was similarly detached from reality. It was difficult at times to hide my emotions and tears in public as I read this and so I didn’t bother.
I was deeply touched and moved while reading this book and would recommend it to anyone who loves to encounter humanity with all our best and worst traits exposed in the written word.
Well done Victoria on such a wonderful book.
June 29, 2018
Different type of WWI memoir. The first half of the book leaves you wondering when something substantial is going to happen. The main characters are well-developed. The author's style in parts throughout the story seem to reflect the traits of Iskander and Khatoun. I felt them woven into the story. Expect to shed a heartfelt tear or two. You should know something about WWI and the Armenian genocide before reading this book. Although I enjoy learning foreign words and phrases, it would help if the glossary was in the beginning of the ebook.
June 28, 2018
I've never come across a book that so richly captures the Armenian culture as much as this book does, it's a thrill and a pleasure to read this book. I'm glad I received an eARC from NetGalley for I would never have enjoyed such a read.
June 7, 2020
One of those books that made me want to slow down and savor the authors choice of words and details. The people and places they brought to life and the images they conjure.
The Seamstress is based on stories passed on to Victoria by her grandmother who grew up in Ourfa and was a survivor and witness to the genocide. The books explores the lives, experiences, emotions, and relationships of the seamstress Khatoun, her husband Iskender, and their extended family. I felt like I had a special window into their lives and learned more about Armenian culture. If you want a book that will transport you to another time and to other places, I recommend this book. This book has made me want to listen to the regions music, find recipes for Armenian food, and read more about the culture.
The book doesn't shy away from the pain of the genocide and some of the violence committed during the Armenian Genocide. It is a period that needs to be recognized and remembered. I think it has largely been overshadowed by the two World Wars, The Holocaust, and more recent violence. I don't remember it from the history in school at all. It was something that I had heard mentioned somewhere, but knew nothing about.
The Seamstress is based on stories passed on to Victoria by her grandmother who grew up in Ourfa and was a survivor and witness to the genocide. The books explores the lives, experiences, emotions, and relationships of the seamstress Khatoun, her husband Iskender, and their extended family. I felt like I had a special window into their lives and learned more about Armenian culture. If you want a book that will transport you to another time and to other places, I recommend this book. This book has made me want to listen to the regions music, find recipes for Armenian food, and read more about the culture.
The book doesn't shy away from the pain of the genocide and some of the violence committed during the Armenian Genocide. It is a period that needs to be recognized and remembered. I think it has largely been overshadowed by the two World Wars, The Holocaust, and more recent violence. I don't remember it from the history in school at all. It was something that I had heard mentioned somewhere, but knew nothing about.
April 15, 2018
Such a beautiful book. I just put it down and immediately want more. The characters are so vividly drawn, with all their wonderful foibles and characteristics I feel I could walk into the next room and find them sitting there. Gorgeous prose that immerses you immediately into the last days of the Ottoman Empire. The sights, sounds and smells are transportive. I felt I was there. I wanted that food!
The story begins with a love story- an awkward pairing that works. The poetic Iskender is wonderful. One of the last great romantics, he loves language and words, poetry and his wife. His reaction to unfolding events that affect their community is to become more isolated, to start drinking and retreat behind a curtain of smoke. Khatoun blossoms and becomes an entrepreneur, her sewing continually resurrecting them from disaster.
Around them a rich cast of characters spin their own stories of love, death and birth. The sewing girls and their stories, the whorish Begum Senay who becomes a savior, Aram Bohjalian, who puts down his books and... too many spoiler alerts.
And then there are hidden gems. I loved Ferida's deathbed story- a confession wonderfully placed next to a chapter where nothing is mentioned which immediately makes one question everything that went before. I reread those chapters to pick up the clues.Wonderful!
It is well researched; the politics and history are all there as a backdrop, but it is the human story that moves us. The Armenian genocide shadows them, envelops them but leaves them standing. And it is through friendship that they survive. I have read several books on this subject and this is the first in which a family who survive continue to live among their persecutors. I found that fascinating. There were others too. People who returned or were assimilated. Emerged from the shadows. It was like being a fly on the wall in the aftermath.
At the end of this book I felt I had been transported in time and place. I became part of the family. As in another review, I wondered how much was fiction and how much was memoir. On researching the author's webpage I see she describes it as "Part memoir, part fiction, full of lies, misquotes and dead people but all historically correct. Fictoir."
That's another thing I like about this author. She has a dry sense of humor and a great sense of timing. She can take you on an emotional journey and bring you back without a bump. Definitely will be waiting for next installments. Lovely, lovely book. Including the cover.
The story begins with a love story- an awkward pairing that works. The poetic Iskender is wonderful. One of the last great romantics, he loves language and words, poetry and his wife. His reaction to unfolding events that affect their community is to become more isolated, to start drinking and retreat behind a curtain of smoke. Khatoun blossoms and becomes an entrepreneur, her sewing continually resurrecting them from disaster.
Around them a rich cast of characters spin their own stories of love, death and birth. The sewing girls and their stories, the whorish Begum Senay who becomes a savior, Aram Bohjalian, who puts down his books and... too many spoiler alerts.
And then there are hidden gems. I loved Ferida's deathbed story- a confession wonderfully placed next to a chapter where nothing is mentioned which immediately makes one question everything that went before. I reread those chapters to pick up the clues.Wonderful!
It is well researched; the politics and history are all there as a backdrop, but it is the human story that moves us. The Armenian genocide shadows them, envelops them but leaves them standing. And it is through friendship that they survive. I have read several books on this subject and this is the first in which a family who survive continue to live among their persecutors. I found that fascinating. There were others too. People who returned or were assimilated. Emerged from the shadows. It was like being a fly on the wall in the aftermath.
At the end of this book I felt I had been transported in time and place. I became part of the family. As in another review, I wondered how much was fiction and how much was memoir. On researching the author's webpage I see she describes it as "Part memoir, part fiction, full of lies, misquotes and dead people but all historically correct. Fictoir."
That's another thing I like about this author. She has a dry sense of humor and a great sense of timing. She can take you on an emotional journey and bring you back without a bump. Definitely will be waiting for next installments. Lovely, lovely book. Including the cover.
June 18, 2019
I was given this as a gift by a friend and LOVED it. The language is so beautiful. It follows a family living in the Ottoman empire and immediately (after the cinematic first chapter which is when we meet all the characters) I was immersed in their world. I could smell, taste and see everything. It has great female characters- the two leading ladies, Khatoun and Ferida being totally opposite to each other but complementing each other's moves. It is heartbreaking, funny, lyrical. If you like Gabriel Garcia Marquez, you will love this writer. There is magical reality, poetry, wonderful characters with all their eccentricities, great humanity. I wanted to jump into the book and live with them. So excited to hear there is more to come. Wonderful. I'm sad it ended. Definitely recommend.
April 23, 2018
Loved this book and will definitely read those that follow. I lived in Turkey some years ago, and became aware that the Armenian Genocide is still a sensitive subject and something not to be discussed there. This only made me want to find out more about it -we owe it to all those victims to know what happened. This book does not depict in great detail the horrors of that time, but certainly enough to inform the reader (I was reading with a sense of dread at times), and it forms the backbone of the story. The main characters are very finely drawn and very likable, particularly Khatoun, who is the seamstress of the title. The detail of their home life in Ourfa, (now) a city in southeast Turkey, is marvellously described, as are their customs, food and traditions.
Many thanks to the publisher for a review copy.
Many thanks to the publisher for a review copy.
June 27, 2018
What a read! I've been completely immersed in this novel for two whole days and it has been a wonderful experience.
A story told by the women of the family; the ones who, ultimately, care for the generations and make sure everyone is safe. The family dynamics are an eye-opener. Whilst women are uneducated, without even the basic literary skills, they cope with everything which comes their way, keeping a roof over everyone's heads, food on the table, money coming into the family pot and still have the ability to swell the numbers by looking after those in need. On a personal level, it is an awesome tale - and beautifully told.
The wider picture immerses us in the history of the Ottoman Empire, and with that becomes the reality of how the inhabitants of the region have suffered over the centuries. With modern times showing that not much has changed, this is a compelling read and one which really helps with the understanding of current affairs today. Rich in detail and intricately woven, this is a story like no other and I have been entranced and enchanted by this novel; I'm actually quite sad to have reached the end! It is, in my opinion, quite a masterpiece and one I'm so glad to have chosen to read. Not my usual type of read, but one I wholeheartedly recommend. Certainly not a book I shall forget in a hurry, that's for sure.
My thanks to Armida Publications for approving my request via NetGalley. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.
A story told by the women of the family; the ones who, ultimately, care for the generations and make sure everyone is safe. The family dynamics are an eye-opener. Whilst women are uneducated, without even the basic literary skills, they cope with everything which comes their way, keeping a roof over everyone's heads, food on the table, money coming into the family pot and still have the ability to swell the numbers by looking after those in need. On a personal level, it is an awesome tale - and beautifully told.
The wider picture immerses us in the history of the Ottoman Empire, and with that becomes the reality of how the inhabitants of the region have suffered over the centuries. With modern times showing that not much has changed, this is a compelling read and one which really helps with the understanding of current affairs today. Rich in detail and intricately woven, this is a story like no other and I have been entranced and enchanted by this novel; I'm actually quite sad to have reached the end! It is, in my opinion, quite a masterpiece and one I'm so glad to have chosen to read. Not my usual type of read, but one I wholeheartedly recommend. Certainly not a book I shall forget in a hurry, that's for sure.
My thanks to Armida Publications for approving my request via NetGalley. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.
May 24, 2018
'The Seamstress of Ourfa' is a heart-rending account of the displacement and genocide of Armenians as they leave their homes and loved ones in an effort to find somewhere safe to re-establish their way of life. Ironic that Khatoun, and those left of her family, find sanctuary in Aleppo where, in today’s news, there’s virtually nothing left to support residents and refugees alike.
This work of historical fiction brings to life shameful and tragic events that most of us have never heard of. It’s a novel that leaves us gasping at the cruelty, repression and struggle for survival of the Armenian people. It’s not unlike events that occurred in the Baltic States during successive wars where mass murder and deportations of citizens and Jews took place. Do any of us in 2018 know about these atrocities? My guess is not many, and that’s why this is such an important book.
It’s an accessible read filled with colourful characters who talk us through this history as events unfold. The reader shares their pain, their sorrow, their everyday lives in their landscapes and homes that feel real to us because of the author’s skilful description. The smells, the textures, the sounds, the laughter, the love – all fill our senses on this heart-warming, passionate odyssey through time and terror.
Yes – I loved this book. Read it. You’ll see why.
PS: I wish I’d known there was a glossary (Index of foreign words) at the end. That would have been a great help. Perhaps, for the e-book, put it at the beginning?
This work of historical fiction brings to life shameful and tragic events that most of us have never heard of. It’s a novel that leaves us gasping at the cruelty, repression and struggle for survival of the Armenian people. It’s not unlike events that occurred in the Baltic States during successive wars where mass murder and deportations of citizens and Jews took place. Do any of us in 2018 know about these atrocities? My guess is not many, and that’s why this is such an important book.
It’s an accessible read filled with colourful characters who talk us through this history as events unfold. The reader shares their pain, their sorrow, their everyday lives in their landscapes and homes that feel real to us because of the author’s skilful description. The smells, the textures, the sounds, the laughter, the love – all fill our senses on this heart-warming, passionate odyssey through time and terror.
Yes – I loved this book. Read it. You’ll see why.
PS: I wish I’d known there was a glossary (Index of foreign words) at the end. That would have been a great help. Perhaps, for the e-book, put it at the beginning?
April 28, 2019
A delightful look at four women in the Ottoman Empire and how their sewing essentially holds generations together. Struggling with spouses who die early, who are impacted by alcoholism, whose lack of financial acumen forces them into hardship, this is a tale of four women over several generations who bring comfort to each other in times of love and loss and for whom their sewing becomes their story.
November 7, 2018
A beautifully woven story of an Armenian family and how they survive war, famine, lost love, death and displacement. It's a poignant reminder of the importance of home for those who have been dispossesed.
I didn't know much about Armenian history before I started reading this book. In history class we covered World War I, more concerned with what was happening in Europe than the Middle East.
But what happened there shaped our present and will shape our future as citizens of this world.
The story of Khatuon and Iskender, their sister Ferida and all those they tried to help during times of war is told by the author with such humour and humanity that it is impossible not to be affected by their story.
The Armenian people of this novel bring Armenian culture with all its passion and colour, to life.
I didn't know much about Armenian history before I started reading this book. In history class we covered World War I, more concerned with what was happening in Europe than the Middle East.
But what happened there shaped our present and will shape our future as citizens of this world.
The story of Khatuon and Iskender, their sister Ferida and all those they tried to help during times of war is told by the author with such humour and humanity that it is impossible not to be affected by their story.
The Armenian people of this novel bring Armenian culture with all its passion and colour, to life.
November 3, 2018
A strong woman, who manages to survive and continue her family's Armenian traditions and cultures despite living in a political climate of terrible bigotry and a nation that fosters genocide. I'll never think of Turkey or the Ottoman Empire in any benign way again. How did this happen and why is it still happening?
May 10, 2025
A beautifully written fictionalised memoir based on the story of the Armenian side of the author’s family. Victoria Harwood Butler-Sloss is the product of a Cyprus-born Armenian mother and an English father. We are introduced to the characters of the story by little Vickie on her first visit to Cyprus, a perspective so charmingly captured that ensures we continue to turn the pages. And it only gets better…
From there we go back in time to pick up the thread from the beginning, in the town of Ourfa in the Ottoman Empire, east of the Euphrates, where in the late 1800s a thriving Armenian community is about to have its life upended just as a new young couple begins its married life. We know what’s coming, history itself provides the spoilers. This is another story of the Armenian genocide, but not from the more usual perspective of those who were expelled and endured (or perished during) the long marches through the desert, although the plot allows us glimpses of that, too. This family managed to stay put thanks to the unlikely matriarch, Khatoun, a talented seamstress with skills sought after by the ruling class whose desire for well-sewn garments overpowered the politics of prejudice and hate.
The characters jump off the page, principal among them two strong women who navigate life in very different ways. Ferida, crabby (and a spinster) on the surface but with a heart of gold (and harbouring a secret), is hard-working and devoted to the well-being of her family and protective of her diminutive sister-in-law, Khatoun. We watch the latter blossom from a timid young bride of a loving albeit reserved but idealistic husband (with a weakness for literature and the bottle) to head of household and a business that secures the survival not only of her family but also that of several young women who as a result of their employment are spared the fate of the Armenian masses.
Each chapter is told from the perspective of a different character - but not in the voice of that character (with one exception) - and moves the story forward sometimes by a few months sometimes by a few years, leaps that are handled deftly by the author so that this atmospheric epic manages to fit comfortably in under 300 pages.
This is intended to be the first of a trilogy. I’m eager to continue following this family saga through the next two instalments, not only because I know that they’ll end up in my home town of Nicosia, but because of the sheer pleasure of reading this lyrical, even poetic, tale.
Disclaimer: I was given a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
From there we go back in time to pick up the thread from the beginning, in the town of Ourfa in the Ottoman Empire, east of the Euphrates, where in the late 1800s a thriving Armenian community is about to have its life upended just as a new young couple begins its married life. We know what’s coming, history itself provides the spoilers. This is another story of the Armenian genocide, but not from the more usual perspective of those who were expelled and endured (or perished during) the long marches through the desert, although the plot allows us glimpses of that, too. This family managed to stay put thanks to the unlikely matriarch, Khatoun, a talented seamstress with skills sought after by the ruling class whose desire for well-sewn garments overpowered the politics of prejudice and hate.
The characters jump off the page, principal among them two strong women who navigate life in very different ways. Ferida, crabby (and a spinster) on the surface but with a heart of gold (and harbouring a secret), is hard-working and devoted to the well-being of her family and protective of her diminutive sister-in-law, Khatoun. We watch the latter blossom from a timid young bride of a loving albeit reserved but idealistic husband (with a weakness for literature and the bottle) to head of household and a business that secures the survival not only of her family but also that of several young women who as a result of their employment are spared the fate of the Armenian masses.
Each chapter is told from the perspective of a different character - but not in the voice of that character (with one exception) - and moves the story forward sometimes by a few months sometimes by a few years, leaps that are handled deftly by the author so that this atmospheric epic manages to fit comfortably in under 300 pages.
This is intended to be the first of a trilogy. I’m eager to continue following this family saga through the next two instalments, not only because I know that they’ll end up in my home town of Nicosia, but because of the sheer pleasure of reading this lyrical, even poetic, tale.
Disclaimer: I was given a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
August 26, 2018
3.5 stars - This is historical fiction about a family living through the Armenian genocide. The characters are interesting and suck you in and you get an idea of what it was like for Armenians at the time. I enjoyed it but you are essentially following a family through the ups and downs in their lives and there is no traditional story structure. I also thought the ending was a bit weak.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me a copy in return for an unbiased review.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me a copy in return for an unbiased review.
July 26, 2018
I was given this book to read by the publisher, based on similar books I had read and reviewed well.
Historical fiction is my favorite genre so I had high expectations. I was left with a slightly bitter taste in my mouth.
The story stars and jumps around between a family saga in Turkey and Syria - but it is shifting constantly to different points in time which I found a bit disjointed.
In the background is always the Armenian Genocide, which hovers like a dark rain cloud above every page. although Khatoun, our main character was okay - she wasn't especially engaging. Her husband, seemed to be an alcoholic that never had a job, but yet it was never an issue and I couldn't understand why this was so widely accepted and never discussed. Her sister in law, was a spinster who was amazing, but wasn't the focus.
Although wartime (for lack of a better word) sagas are always interesting - regardless of which war and what time period - I had a hard time following where we were - before, during, or after, and found it distracting from the story. I would have enjoyed it more if was written chronologically, or even just more organized. When I had to stop to try and put the pieces together, it distracts me from actually reading the book. Additionally the horrors they witnessed or were plauged by were sort of hinted about but weren't really in the forefront, so I kept waiting for a climax that never came.
It was okay.
3 out of 5 stars
Historical fiction is my favorite genre so I had high expectations. I was left with a slightly bitter taste in my mouth.
The story stars and jumps around between a family saga in Turkey and Syria - but it is shifting constantly to different points in time which I found a bit disjointed.
In the background is always the Armenian Genocide, which hovers like a dark rain cloud above every page. although Khatoun, our main character was okay - she wasn't especially engaging. Her husband, seemed to be an alcoholic that never had a job, but yet it was never an issue and I couldn't understand why this was so widely accepted and never discussed. Her sister in law, was a spinster who was amazing, but wasn't the focus.
Although wartime (for lack of a better word) sagas are always interesting - regardless of which war and what time period - I had a hard time following where we were - before, during, or after, and found it distracting from the story. I would have enjoyed it more if was written chronologically, or even just more organized. When I had to stop to try and put the pieces together, it distracts me from actually reading the book. Additionally the horrors they witnessed or were plauged by were sort of hinted about but weren't really in the forefront, so I kept waiting for a climax that never came.
It was okay.
3 out of 5 stars
August 27, 2018
I received The Seamstress of Ourfa in exchange for an honest review. I have given this book one out of five stars ⭐️
I found it quite difficult to follow this story and all of the characters involved. The different times that this historical fiction memoir jumps between made it quite disjointed and so I was left confused. I think I would have enjoyed this book a lot more if it had been written in a timeline sequence between the family.
Unfortunately I didn't feel a connection with any of the characters I came across which I feel is always a big part of a story from most genres to be able to have.
I wish I had known that there was a glossary of all the words used within the book which I didn't know just by reading them at first. This should have been placed at the beginning of the book or at least said beforehand something along the lines of "you can find all of the index for foreign words at the back of this book" as I had no idea at times what they were talking about and do not want to go back through and make sense of it all again.
It did however make me think and realise how difficult the times must have been during the Armenian genocide, very sad and ever so tragic.
Unfortunately I didn't feel a connection with any of the characters I came across which I feel is always a big part of a story from most genres to be able to have.
I wish I had known that there was a glossary of all the words used within the book which I didn't know just by reading them at first. This should have been placed at the beginning of the book or at least said beforehand something along the lines of "you can find all of the index for foreign words at the back of this book" as I had no idea at times what they were talking about and do not want to go back through and make sense of it all again.
It did however make me think and realise how difficult the times must have been during the Armenian genocide, very sad and ever so tragic.
January 17, 2020
The writing in this book was milky and almost like a big comfy blanket being dragged around you to read. The narrative drew such lovely and sometimes haunting pictures of a family in Ourfa during the Armenian genocide, from family members points of view. Although the chapters do jump around in time order, the date of them is listed in the chapter title, and I loved flipping back to a chapter after reading more context on in to see who the characters were talking about, or to remind myself of what they were dreaming/living. The book also reminds you that even in war, life has to continue, and you find a new norm.
July 17, 2020
I have read other books that take place in the Middle East, but this was the first book I've read about Armenians. I had heard about the genocide, of course, but this book was very eye-opening and somewhat sad, although the brutality seems to be on the periphery of the main characters, who are intriguing and endearing. I especially like Ferida and Khatoun. I'd recommend this book!
March 3, 2019
Beautifully written, a real pleasure to read and I look forward to more.
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February 2, 2019I really tried with this, as it was given to me by a client and the author is her friend. I had a very difficult time with the cultural differences, and all of the foreign (to me) language that peppered the story. I quit at page 114 of 290. Just now, looking to see how many pages the book has, I discovered an appendix with translations of the most frequently used words. There isn't a table of contents that mentions this, which might have been helpful.
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