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Masks
Masks is a dark fictional tale, based on true-life events. It narrates the adventures of a young Armenian girl born in Lebanon in the seventies. She dreams of fame and power in Lebanon and the Arab world and shows resilience and motivation beyond her years. The novel delves into the world of the protagonist, Anna, who is surrounded by social, religious, and sexual taboos. She fiercely breaks the chains to enter the world she has strived to reach, in a seemingly conservative society barely emerging from a civil war. She builds her success on her remaining values, challenging her fate and sparing no way means to attain her goals.
As a disappointment to her parents, she walks the challenging paths alone, making her way toward fame and fortune despite lacking the support system to do so. Doors begin to open for her, and she enters the world of Arab celebrities. She is now a public figure in the Middle East, living an immoral married life in a materialistic world surrounded by influential business people and royal family members. She tries, in vain, to fill the void in her soul with sexual adventures and controversy by taking a wide variety of lovers. Her adventures invariably end in misery, doing nothing to awaken her from her numbness. Still, her vivid, out-of-control personality helps her move forward while simultaneously getting her in trouble. In the early stages of her life, she has suffered the unthinkable, being bullied and raped, with the civil war a constant backdrop throughout most of her childhood. The novel delves deep into Anna's mind as she has flashbacks of the trauma she has suffered, offering the reader a hint of an explanation for her behavior.
In a society in which men dominate women, she is one of the few who realize that fashion, social status, plastic surgeries, and bright smiles are not the answer to happiness. She lives in a world where a girl is only worth as much as her virginity, where women do not dare to ask for a divorce, where the fear of retribution keeps them locked in a cage that is very rarely gilded.
As fame, money, and power slowly eat at her soul, the arrogant Anna falls in love with a total stranger—a young, single bachelor from Canada—after a night of secret passion. That is where the story begins to unravel as she returns home with a scandal in her back pocket, her eyes and ears and heart tuned to this man instead of her husband. Anna realizes that neither her marriage nor her achievements have ever made her happy, so she decides to throw it all away. The lies and deceit that fill the so-called glamorous life she has been leading are floating up to the surface, including her husband's infidelity and the critical steps she has taken to reach the top.
Marriage, family, career—all destroyed to be united with the stranger. She starts a new battle, this time struggling to change her destiny for someone she barely knows, who lives oceans apart and offers her nothing except his heart.
She risks everything, turning her whole life upside down. Anna realizes that her happiness, inner peace, and love are found worlds away from her own, with someone she would never have expected to be her soul mate. Still, Anna's sacrifices are not behind her, and the struggle has not yet ended, although she has found what she has needed all her redemption and unconditional love.
The stranger enigmatically hints at emotions in Anna that have been hidden for a long time behind the masks of her dark and shallow lifestyle.
The characters in the story are the voices of so many who do not dare to speak up in a world where social and religious standards openly chastise the very actions that behind closed doors have become the ultimate paradigmatic way of life.
As a disappointment to her parents, she walks the challenging paths alone, making her way toward fame and fortune despite lacking the support system to do so. Doors begin to open for her, and she enters the world of Arab celebrities. She is now a public figure in the Middle East, living an immoral married life in a materialistic world surrounded by influential business people and royal family members. She tries, in vain, to fill the void in her soul with sexual adventures and controversy by taking a wide variety of lovers. Her adventures invariably end in misery, doing nothing to awaken her from her numbness. Still, her vivid, out-of-control personality helps her move forward while simultaneously getting her in trouble. In the early stages of her life, she has suffered the unthinkable, being bullied and raped, with the civil war a constant backdrop throughout most of her childhood. The novel delves deep into Anna's mind as she has flashbacks of the trauma she has suffered, offering the reader a hint of an explanation for her behavior.
In a society in which men dominate women, she is one of the few who realize that fashion, social status, plastic surgeries, and bright smiles are not the answer to happiness. She lives in a world where a girl is only worth as much as her virginity, where women do not dare to ask for a divorce, where the fear of retribution keeps them locked in a cage that is very rarely gilded.
As fame, money, and power slowly eat at her soul, the arrogant Anna falls in love with a total stranger—a young, single bachelor from Canada—after a night of secret passion. That is where the story begins to unravel as she returns home with a scandal in her back pocket, her eyes and ears and heart tuned to this man instead of her husband. Anna realizes that neither her marriage nor her achievements have ever made her happy, so she decides to throw it all away. The lies and deceit that fill the so-called glamorous life she has been leading are floating up to the surface, including her husband's infidelity and the critical steps she has taken to reach the top.
Marriage, family, career—all destroyed to be united with the stranger. She starts a new battle, this time struggling to change her destiny for someone she barely knows, who lives oceans apart and offers her nothing except his heart.
She risks everything, turning her whole life upside down. Anna realizes that her happiness, inner peace, and love are found worlds away from her own, with someone she would never have expected to be her soul mate. Still, Anna's sacrifices are not behind her, and the struggle has not yet ended, although she has found what she has needed all her redemption and unconditional love.
The stranger enigmatically hints at emotions in Anna that have been hidden for a long time behind the masks of her dark and shallow lifestyle.
The characters in the story are the voices of so many who do not dare to speak up in a world where social and religious standards openly chastise the very actions that behind closed doors have become the ultimate paradigmatic way of life.
220 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 7, 2018
4 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 13, 2019
Despite this book is labelled Fiction it is based on true events, obviously names etc. have been changed from privacy and legal reasons, but the bones of the story remains the same. I felt like I was reading pages from someone’s biography.
Although Anna grew up in Lebanon, she is Armenian by blood. Her story gives insight into the struggles woman in her country experience. Not only is it educational but quite frankly its confronting and heartbreaking that although we as a nation have come so far with gender equality, we still have a long way to go, particularly in middle eastern countries.
Anna shares her difficulties and the sacrifices she had to make, as she worked her way up in the entertainment industry in Lebanon. Her strong will, confidence and sheer determination got her through any obstacle she faced in achieving her dreams. Her ambitions came at a cost though, some she regrets and others she’s not proud of, but she chose to share them regardless, which is incredibly brave.
There is a very strong message within this story 'Never forget where you come from'. Anna shares her home countries rich history and her patriotism is very clear. It adds an extra layer to her already intriguing storytelling.
It is hard not to fall in love with Anna. She is so vibrant and full of so much passion. Compassionate and inclusive, her growth throughout the book is evident. Her journey shapes her, her experiences change her values , enrichening her overall goals.
After Anna has worked so hard to achieve so much success, she willingly gives it all up for love.
This powerful story really captivated me, opening my eyes to a culture I knew very little about. She touched my heart and inspired me to always believe in myself and my dreams.
We all have a past, some may be darker than others but we need to learn from our experiences, change our paths, and look towards the future.
I listened to the audio version of Mask- narrated by Nicole Rene. The audio quality was clean and professional. The narrator did an excellent job of getting into characters and performing individual trates for each.
Thank you Nataly for providing me with an audio copy - This has not in any way influenced my review
Although Anna grew up in Lebanon, she is Armenian by blood. Her story gives insight into the struggles woman in her country experience. Not only is it educational but quite frankly its confronting and heartbreaking that although we as a nation have come so far with gender equality, we still have a long way to go, particularly in middle eastern countries.
Anna shares her difficulties and the sacrifices she had to make, as she worked her way up in the entertainment industry in Lebanon. Her strong will, confidence and sheer determination got her through any obstacle she faced in achieving her dreams. Her ambitions came at a cost though, some she regrets and others she’s not proud of, but she chose to share them regardless, which is incredibly brave.
There is a very strong message within this story 'Never forget where you come from'. Anna shares her home countries rich history and her patriotism is very clear. It adds an extra layer to her already intriguing storytelling.
It is hard not to fall in love with Anna. She is so vibrant and full of so much passion. Compassionate and inclusive, her growth throughout the book is evident. Her journey shapes her, her experiences change her values , enrichening her overall goals.
After Anna has worked so hard to achieve so much success, she willingly gives it all up for love.
This powerful story really captivated me, opening my eyes to a culture I knew very little about. She touched my heart and inspired me to always believe in myself and my dreams.
We all have a past, some may be darker than others but we need to learn from our experiences, change our paths, and look towards the future.
I listened to the audio version of Mask- narrated by Nicole Rene. The audio quality was clean and professional. The narrator did an excellent job of getting into characters and performing individual trates for each.
Thank you Nataly for providing me with an audio copy - This has not in any way influenced my review
December 24, 2018
Masks is a great creative story based on true-life events. Nataly Restokian created a wonderful fictional tale about an Armenian young lady who builds her success on her values of freedom and true love in her conservative society in the Middle East. The story will touch the reader’s heart. Masks has a message not to forget our past. This great creative work is about the life of struggle for true love and understanding. She believes in herself, faces obstacles but never gives up. She believes the future filled with love and understanding.
Nataly Restokian is a very talented novelist. I think you should read this brilliant work of literature.
Masks is one of the best books I have ever read.
I highly recommend to read and enjoy this fabulous novel.
Nataly Restokian is a very talented novelist. I think you should read this brilliant work of literature.
Masks is one of the best books I have ever read.
I highly recommend to read and enjoy this fabulous novel.
July 11, 2018
I have read a lot of books that tell the story of how difficult it can be for an ambitious woman, or in fact, any woman to succeed and be happy. It can be a strenuous and even degrading task, and a woman needs good people and a lot of luck to be successful sometimes. Not to mention talent. I live in the Middle East now. I teach English as a Second Language and it is quite a culture shock to be in a place where the men and women are segregated, and women must cover their body and face when they go out in public. I wanted to know how life is for some of them here but unfortunately, there is absolutely no chance to talk with them. So, when I got a chance to read Masks by Nataly Restokian, I jumped at the chance to read it. You should jump at the chance to read it too. It is a great book and a powerful story. In this period of the “Me too” movement and the many revelations about powerful men, abusing that power for sexual favors, Masks is relevant indeed.
Masks is the story of a headstrong, ambitious girl from Lebanon are her struggles and sacrifices as she claws her way to the top of the entertainment industry in the Middle East. It is full of rich details and believable characters that only someone who has lived it can know. Every aspect of Masks is on point, setting, plot, and most of all, characters. This is one woman’s story, but it is also a testament to the importance and power of family. Good family. The protagonist, Anna, is strong but she had a great support system in her mother, aunts, sisters, friends, even nieces, and nephews. They all pull together to help Anna get away from a terrible husband and be with her true love in Canada. A very powerful story with a perfect fairytale ending and a great look at life for an actress in the Middle East.
Masks is the story of a headstrong, ambitious girl from Lebanon are her struggles and sacrifices as she claws her way to the top of the entertainment industry in the Middle East. It is full of rich details and believable characters that only someone who has lived it can know. Every aspect of Masks is on point, setting, plot, and most of all, characters. This is one woman’s story, but it is also a testament to the importance and power of family. Good family. The protagonist, Anna, is strong but she had a great support system in her mother, aunts, sisters, friends, even nieces, and nephews. They all pull together to help Anna get away from a terrible husband and be with her true love in Canada. A very powerful story with a perfect fairytale ending and a great look at life for an actress in the Middle East.
June 2, 2018
I was given a free copy of this book for review
MASKS
by Nataly Restokian
If you have not read Masks, you should read it, and if you have read it, you should make sure to read it again, for when can a journey be filled with more experience than what the author, Nataly Restokian has gone through. In this debut novel, the Lebanon-born author details the life of Anna, the protagonist as she moves in a world of glamor and materialism. But deep within, Anna is fighting her own demons. She walks the path alone, disappointing her parents whose society demands social, religious and sexual taboos. Once on her own, Anna’s determination salutes her as opportunities unroll their red carpet for her and very soon she is in the world of Arab celebrities where she too tastes the wine of success. But is this what she actually desires? Is this what her soul invokes her? Though a public figure by now and fame and money is what she is dressed in, the protagonist’s soul pines to end her plastic smiles and sexual adventures and all the misery it brings along at the end of the day. Anna finds solace in her aunt Araxi’s house where the aged lady’s lifestyle is fashioned with the barest minimum.
Anna occasionally delves into her childhood in the war-torn surrounding of Lebanon with her parents making every endeavor to make a living by selling bread on the dreaded city street. Then there is the one-roomed house with innumerable people staying together, this room being a hall room, dining room, bathroom and bedroom all squashed into one. These memories get hold of her every now before making a permanent vision floating in her mind. A line that stands out is:
No one can finish the race for me, Anna thought. I must run on my own. I might fall, but nothing will keep me down.
Very soon a total stranger appears into Anna’s world and she realizes her deep love for this man. With his unconditional love, she understands her universe of glamor and materialism is just a method of temporary escape from her real world of love and serenity. She doesn’t mind living with this man, “Even in a hut,” when he had declared that in his life he neither has fame, name nor glamor.
The events of Masks appear clear in the mind as if one is watching a film. The language too is simple and lucid. Moreover, the flashbacks help a reader to comprehend the reason behind Anna’s outlook towards her present life.
The story laced with happiness, suffering and anger (which we all have faced and will face in the near future), add to the ultimate beauty of the story, the story that will touch the reader’s heart. Every story has a message and the message here is not to forget our past, to be respectful and modest to all that we have faced and the life of struggle we have gone through at our early formative years. And if we believe in ourselves, our future will be filled with love and understanding.
• Bob DCosta is a poet, author and consulting educationist with several fiction, non-fiction and books of poems to his name. He is a member of the Federation Of SAARC Writers And Literature (FOSWAL), the SAARC Apex Body. He is the owner and founder of Whatabook (www.whatabook.in). Find him at www.amazon.com/author/bobdcosta
MASKS
by Nataly Restokian
If you have not read Masks, you should read it, and if you have read it, you should make sure to read it again, for when can a journey be filled with more experience than what the author, Nataly Restokian has gone through. In this debut novel, the Lebanon-born author details the life of Anna, the protagonist as she moves in a world of glamor and materialism. But deep within, Anna is fighting her own demons. She walks the path alone, disappointing her parents whose society demands social, religious and sexual taboos. Once on her own, Anna’s determination salutes her as opportunities unroll their red carpet for her and very soon she is in the world of Arab celebrities where she too tastes the wine of success. But is this what she actually desires? Is this what her soul invokes her? Though a public figure by now and fame and money is what she is dressed in, the protagonist’s soul pines to end her plastic smiles and sexual adventures and all the misery it brings along at the end of the day. Anna finds solace in her aunt Araxi’s house where the aged lady’s lifestyle is fashioned with the barest minimum.
Anna occasionally delves into her childhood in the war-torn surrounding of Lebanon with her parents making every endeavor to make a living by selling bread on the dreaded city street. Then there is the one-roomed house with innumerable people staying together, this room being a hall room, dining room, bathroom and bedroom all squashed into one. These memories get hold of her every now before making a permanent vision floating in her mind. A line that stands out is:
No one can finish the race for me, Anna thought. I must run on my own. I might fall, but nothing will keep me down.
Very soon a total stranger appears into Anna’s world and she realizes her deep love for this man. With his unconditional love, she understands her universe of glamor and materialism is just a method of temporary escape from her real world of love and serenity. She doesn’t mind living with this man, “Even in a hut,” when he had declared that in his life he neither has fame, name nor glamor.
The events of Masks appear clear in the mind as if one is watching a film. The language too is simple and lucid. Moreover, the flashbacks help a reader to comprehend the reason behind Anna’s outlook towards her present life.
The story laced with happiness, suffering and anger (which we all have faced and will face in the near future), add to the ultimate beauty of the story, the story that will touch the reader’s heart. Every story has a message and the message here is not to forget our past, to be respectful and modest to all that we have faced and the life of struggle we have gone through at our early formative years. And if we believe in ourselves, our future will be filled with love and understanding.
• Bob DCosta is a poet, author and consulting educationist with several fiction, non-fiction and books of poems to his name. He is a member of the Federation Of SAARC Writers And Literature (FOSWAL), the SAARC Apex Body. He is the owner and founder of Whatabook (www.whatabook.in). Find him at www.amazon.com/author/bobdcosta
October 20, 2018
Masks is an intriguing story of a young, often naïve, woman as she tries to find freedom and love in a world dominated by men. In this era of the #MeToo movement the reader will find ample evidence of how men exert power over women within their realm of influence. The abuse and dominance of these men is well documented as this young protagonist tries to make her way through a world in which she finds the only real way to advance is to submit.
The author has a tendency to wax eloquent on very philosophical themes as Anna tries to understand her past, the world around her, and her future. These musings allow the reader to peer into this young woman’s mind, heart, and maybe even into her soul. The author uses this mechanism to help the reader learn a little about the world in which the novel is set. This world is often hidden from most of us by our ignorance.
Given that much of Anna’s trek follows that of the author’s it would stand to reason that some of the material shared in the book is autobiographical. Not to say that the author has made the same decisions which her protagonist made, but the world in which the book is set is familiar to the author. Therefore, it stands to reason that many of the things which are written have been observed by the author if not experienced by her.
Given that possibility, the story becomes so much more interesting as it gives the reader a window into the Armenian people and their plight, Arab society in general and Lebanese society in particular, and the world of media, love, and family found in these cultures.
Of course, if the reader is looking for sex and the wild world of the rich and famous, the author does not let the reader down. Sex is pervasive although not graphic. The main figure, Anna, is looking for love, unfortunately, she often looks for it in the wrong places. This aspect of the book is a little over the top for me but maybe it reflects a reality of which I am not aware. Regardless, the author keeps the reader entertained by the series of events surrounding Anna’s life.
The author has a tendency to wax eloquent on very philosophical themes as Anna tries to understand her past, the world around her, and her future. These musings allow the reader to peer into this young woman’s mind, heart, and maybe even into her soul. The author uses this mechanism to help the reader learn a little about the world in which the novel is set. This world is often hidden from most of us by our ignorance.
Given that much of Anna’s trek follows that of the author’s it would stand to reason that some of the material shared in the book is autobiographical. Not to say that the author has made the same decisions which her protagonist made, but the world in which the book is set is familiar to the author. Therefore, it stands to reason that many of the things which are written have been observed by the author if not experienced by her.
Given that possibility, the story becomes so much more interesting as it gives the reader a window into the Armenian people and their plight, Arab society in general and Lebanese society in particular, and the world of media, love, and family found in these cultures.
Of course, if the reader is looking for sex and the wild world of the rich and famous, the author does not let the reader down. Sex is pervasive although not graphic. The main figure, Anna, is looking for love, unfortunately, she often looks for it in the wrong places. This aspect of the book is a little over the top for me but maybe it reflects a reality of which I am not aware. Regardless, the author keeps the reader entertained by the series of events surrounding Anna’s life.
August 7, 2018
I recevied a complimentary copy.
The book is tough to get through. I am not sure how much is embellished and what parts are put more so in the front to get the plots across. The author is very good at creating heartbreaking settings and visuals that a reader should not have to carry around all day. I understand that this is supposed to be a real and open book, but it is not family friendly and can make someone extremely uncomfortable. The book might appeal more to men who have a lust for the more erotic side of the writing style which to me is not needed to get the points across. It's almost like the author is selling sex and explaining a terrible rape at the same time.
The book is tough to get through. I am not sure how much is embellished and what parts are put more so in the front to get the plots across. The author is very good at creating heartbreaking settings and visuals that a reader should not have to carry around all day. I understand that this is supposed to be a real and open book, but it is not family friendly and can make someone extremely uncomfortable. The book might appeal more to men who have a lust for the more erotic side of the writing style which to me is not needed to get the points across. It's almost like the author is selling sex and explaining a terrible rape at the same time.
April 15, 2020
This is an interesting semi autobiography, she is Lebanese Armenian. I recommend this book as it shows life and traditions in a modern Arab world. Anna since a child wanted to break the restrictions imposed on her, at the same time it shows how hard and sometimes what some do to become famous and this all over the world.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews