The Gimmicks

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Set during the final years of the Cold War, this debut novel follows three young Armenians as they journey from the Soviet Union through Europe to Southern California, exploring the profound impact of the Armenian Genocide on their lives. Beginning in Kirovakan, Armenia, in 1971, we meet Ruben Petrosian, a serious young man focused on mastering backgammon and studying his ancestors' history. He mourns the victims of the 1915 genocide, yearning for vengeance against those who deny it. Ruben's life changes when his cousin Avo, a gregarious and physically imposing figure, comes to live with him. Despite their differences, they form a deep bond, but their paths diverge when Ruben is drafted into an extremist group determined to force Turkey to acknowledge the genocide. Avo and Mina, Ruben's friend, grow closer in his absence. Eventually, Ruben contacts Avo, urging him to abandon Mina and join the extremists, a decision that will dramatically reshape their lives. The narrative intertwines with Terry "Angel Hair" Krill, a veteran whose life intersects with the cousins in unexpected ways. Through alternating perspectives, the novel masterfully explores the effects of history and injustice on ordinary lives, compelling readers to confront the realities of violence and its aftermath.