Synopses & Reviews
Aida Zilelian’s breathtaking debut novel, The Legacy of Lost Things, follows three generations of a family of Armenian immigrants living in the United States, as they struggle with one another and against the Old World expectations of their community. When Araxi, the oldest daughter of the desperately unhappy Levon and Tamar, goes missing, the remaining family members are forced to confront their painful histories together, and the role each of them has played in driving Araxi away.
Through Araxi and her family, readers are given a unique look at the generational and cultural tensions that both keep families together and tear them apart. Using spare, poignant prose, Zilelian deftly explores the themes of romance, duty, infidelity and guilt. Because of the mature content, this book is intended for adult and young adult audiences.
About the Author
Aida Zilelian is a New York writer and English teacher. She has been published in over twenty-five literary journals and several anthologies. She is also the curator of Boundless Tales, a reading series in Queens, NY. She is currently writing a collection of short stories. This is her first published novel and was the recipient of the 2014 Tololyan Literary Award.