Deep Mountain Across the Turkish-Armenian Divide Hardcover – June 14, 2010

I had to take a little time after finishing this book before I was ready to post a review for it. It's a serious, thoughtful book that every Armenian (and Turk) should read. I hope it creates more momentum for dialogue and coming to terms between two deeply estranged peoples. This is a book of hope--hope for a better tomorrow.In Deep Mountain, Ece Temulkuran goes on a journey to understand how the issue of the Armenian Genocide impacts Armenians around the world, both in Armenia and the diaspora (specifically, France and the U.S.). She talks to many people and comes back with interesting perspectives. The book also goes somewhat into a sociological perspective on how the memory of the Armenian Genocide has manifested in Turkey, and how it has distorted Turks' own history and historical narrative. This is not a book of "was there a Genocide or not?"; in so many words she all but acknowledges this as a historical fact (and it's not a legitimate point of debate except by prostitutes on the Turkish payroll like "professor" Justin McCarthy (using "professor" in front of his name is demeaning to the vast majority of academics who have committed themselves to serious intellectual quests)). Rather, she is trying to explore and understand, how do we move on from the current impasse between Turks and Armenians?But I need to be clear, for all the good things about the book (and there are many), I still have some fundamental problems with her line of exploration and even conclusions. For all her sympathetic perspectives regarding Armenians and the black hole of history in Turkey surrounding the Armenian Genocide, it still seems in a lot of ways like she fundamentally just doesn't "get it" when it comes to understanding the pain and suffering of Armenians and how this drives current perspectives and actions. Whether she realizes it or not, her suggestion of any sort of "equivalence" with the suffering of Turks in this period is offensive and indicates a fundamental disconnect in her thinking. To this end, Ece Temelkuran really NEEDS to read "Armenian Golgotha" by Bishop Grigoris Balakian (the single best memoir of an Armenian Genocide survivor, which should be mandatory reading both for Turks as well as Armenians) to understand why this is so. I think she draws some conclusions as to what is this root cause of suffering that I would not agree with myself, but they are her conclusions and I believe she arrives at them honorably.In the final analysis, she is right about the need for dialogue. It's time, there is too much to be gained by trying to come to terms with the painful history of the Turkish destruction of the Armenian nation rather than continuing a deep freeze which has lasted nearly 100 years. She and I will differ on what this actually means--I'm not of the "forgive and forget" mentality that it seems like certain of her interviewees in the book suggest, nor of her "we all suffered" nonsense. But I do believe that Armenians and Turks need to try and find away to move forward, because neither Turkey nor Armenia are going to go away, and both countries and peoples will be better off for justly settling this issue and moving forward.Temelkuran suggests that since coming at the Genocide issue head-on is impossible from Turkey's perpsective, it has to be come at sideways, by talking about one's own story, whatever that is. Basically what she is saying is, find a way to get a conversation started, not by taking on the most charged aspect of the discussion, but rather something that can lead to a continuation of dialogue, and eventually this will build relationships and create human beings out of objects called either a "Turk" or an "Armenian." She advocates for dialogue between individuals, rather than advocating for political or even organizational dialogues (not that she doesn't believe these are important), because she suggests individuals may be able to accomplish more than organizations that are committed to a specific approach.All in all, this is an important book, and one that deserves to be read. I did not like some of the things I read in it, and I believe some of what she said needs to be responded to in a sympathetic yet seriously questioning manner. But we need more, not less, dialogue, and Ece Temelkuran is to be commended for her courage, integrity, and genuine commitment to making progress.Here is a link to "Armenian Golgotha," the above-mentioned book by Reverend Grigoris Balakian:  Armenian Golgotha (Vintage)

Ece's writing style takes some getting used to but once you get the hang of it the book is a great read, quite objective. it's not swayed in either direction, it looks at things in a very conciliatory way without being too mushy. if you've done some reading on the subject before on both sides' arguments, this book is great add to your library.

"Deep Mountain" is a book described on its front cover flap as an "account of the role of national myths and memories, and how they are sustained and distorted over time".The Armenian Genocide is NOT a "national myth", nor a "memory distorted over time".It is the tragical truth that has robbed an entire people of their ancestors, their memory, their past and of many of their possibilities for the future.Turkish journalists and intellectuals should focus their efforts on making official Turkey recognize the Armenian Genocide, without ifs and buts. You do not hear German officials denying the Holocaust by saying: "But the Jews fought back at the Warsaw Ghetto".The Turkish journalists' and intellectuals' duty is to make official Turkey recognize the Armenian Genocide, not portray traumatized Armenians as weird animals with a blind hatred for Turks. Make Turkey give closure to the Armenians, make the ghosts find peace and see how the Armenians' feelings will change toward Turkey.The Armenian people need closure. There is no need for books like "Deep Mountain" so far as there is no closure. There is no need for paternalistic approaches by Turkish journalists who marvel at themselves for being able to shed tears together with Armenians. The Armenians' plight is not the same as theirs.Any attempt to relativize the unspeakable pain and irreparable loss caused by the Genocide to Armenians worldwide, including to those living in the Republic of Armenia, is inhumane and despicable.

Great read which approaches this fragile matter as objective and sincere as possible, aims to make the reader to see through both sides' eyes.