Articulate and moving, Orhan’s Inheritance is Aline Ohanesian’s debut novel. This powerful historical fiction travels back and forth between the decline and dissolution of the Ottoman Empire and the 1990s. The novel’s historical events may be unknown to readers in the Western world, but Ohanesian provides a compelling narrative that weaves together the hardships in both past and present Turkey.
Orhan’s Inheritance is great not only for its sweeping plot, but for its strength of characters. The tale follows intelligent Lucine, an Armenian, and kind-hearted Kemal, a Turk, as their lives are torn apart by the hardships and trauma in the region. Their journey, as well as the struggle of the next generation, will deeply resonate with readers. Orhan’s Inheritance is an impressive and well-written read.
Review of Advance Review Copy
This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Algonquin Books
Content Analysis:
Profanity/Language: 7 religious exclamations, 18 mild obscenities, 2 religious profanities, 14 derogatory names, 12 scatological words, 4 anatomical terms, 1 offensive hand gesture and 9 f-word derivatives.
Violence/Gore: A few verbal threats; secondhand report of violence involving war, rebellions and torture; several scenes of brief violence involving battles, fistfights, and whippings; a few non-detailed scenes of violent death including political executions, murder, sniper fire and trampling by animals; a brief scene of blood and gore as a pregnant woman’s stomach is cut open; a brief scene of attempted rape of a minor; a brief scene with few details of rape between an adult and a minor.
Sex/Nudity A few incidents of kissing; a brief scene of nudity as women and children bathe at a bathhouse; a few sexual references; several implied or reported incidents of sexual activity involving masturbation and rape; use of pornography; a few brief scenes of sexual activity between adults and minors without explicit detail; a brief scene of attempted rape of a minor; a brief scene with few details of rape between an adult and a minor.
Mature Subject Matter:
Prostitution, stealing, religious persecution, war, genocide, abandonment, death of family member, rape, kidnapping, references to pornography and masturbation.
Alcohol / Drug Use:
Characters frequently smoke and drink.
