I simultaneously love and hate being Armenian. I love it because it's ridiculous, because I have at my disposal hundreds of odd, gutteral Armenian words that I can whip out to threaten and delight my friends, and because Armenian food is delicious and garlicky and full of meat. I hate it because culturally, the Armos I knew growing up were materialistic assholes who saw me as being something less than they were. Their taste for garish clothing and decor, large expensive autos and poorly executed plastic surgery have all been lampooned in my almost-finished first draft of my novel.
On the heels all this comes Nabaztag, some bunny-shaped wireless remote doodad invented by an Armenian guy in France that Bob reports was being pitched at FXFO Interactive, where he spent a few days brandishing his employer-funded badge. Bob asked me what the Armo word for bunny is, I told him, and then he showed me a picture of the Nabaztag. Even though the bunny and I share the same Franco-Armo heritage, I do not want a plastic rabbit shouting weather reports at me.
I have to say that my favorite character in my novel at this point is Zaven. Zaven is Olivia's counterpoint. Though Olivia thinks she's got it all figured out, Zaven tells her to her face that maybe she needs to think things through a little more.
I'm starting to have this "what have you DONE?!??!" feeling about the novel. I've been corresponding with a noted Armenian writer about it and am now a little fearful of the repercussions I may be in store for if and when this thing hits bookstore shelves. But I must be a brave little soldier and go on with it. This is a good time as any to get my brave soldier self on.
Posted by Zerd at March 14, 2007 03:07 PMMy step-father was Armenian. I grew up calling lahmacun "Armenian pizzas." When my mom's father died, my step-father got rid of the 12 year old Thuderbird he had been driving and took the 7 year old Chrysler my grandfather left behind. He drove that into the ground. Then he divorced my mom because "she was after his money." I grew up thinking his name was Robert Russian, but when he died I found out it was Zaven Nar-something-something-ian. I still love lahmacun.
Posted by: Kevin at March 14, 2007 06:44 PMthe way you feel about your novel reminds me of the way I feel about my almost-finished comic book. I fear that people will be totally disgusted by one of my stories, which is based on true events (I couldn't make this shit up). anyway, I'm trying not to worry too much about it.
Posted by: margaret at March 14, 2007 08:31 PMI didn't realize you knew so much of the language. I suspect your Armenian vocab is far superior to my Yiddish. But then, you're 2 generations from the o.c., and I'm like 3 or 4.
guta! (the cuke--did I spell that right?)
Posted by: swilkes at March 19, 2007 01:08 AM