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.

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.

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.

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.

''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?

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.

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.

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, and while it's a horrific event, we owe it to all those victims to know about 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.

I am glad that there is a voice now in the historical fiction section telling a story of the Armenian genocide. One way or another people should not forget about the victims crucified, starved, hanged and tortured. The book takes time to get going, it is really slow for the first 30%, then it starts developing better. "The Seamstress of Ourfa" focuses mostly on one family that loves their home but is merely trying to survive. They are not political or religious, they are average people. The author conveys culture of the time and place fairly well.

However, I am missing depth in the story. It is getting very annoying to read half tones, hints, pieces of thoughts, fragments of feelings, blink of an eye. Sometimes it takes several pages to understand what is going on in the chapter. To me, there is not enough said about the trade of the main character. Yes, we know that she had 6 sewing machines and some maids to help her but the story has nothing to do with her being a seamstress. With the same success the book could be about a shoemaker of Ourfa or a milkwoman of Ourfa.

The theme is very deep but the execution did not quite deliver for me.

A 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, 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.

Recommended for readers of historical fiction and family sagas, or anyone interested in the Armenian genocide.