What's Happening?
Narine Abgaryan's book, 'To Go On Living,' provides a deeply personal and localized perspective on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, focusing on the human impact rather than geopolitical analysis. The collection of thirty-one interconnected stories is set
in an Armenian border community after the early 1990s war, drawing on Abgaryan's own experiences growing up in Berd, Armenia. The narratives explore how war continues to affect individuals through damaged bodies, emptied homes, and the daily struggles of survivors. Abgaryan's work highlights that the conflict's consequences extend far beyond immediate hostilities, influencing generations and shaping the collective memory of the community. While the book centers on the 1990s war, it resonates with later events, including the 2020 war and the 2023 Azerbaijani military offensive that led to the displacement of nearly the entire Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh. The book avoids political history or legal claims, instead focusing on the ordinary lives of individuals, portraying them as real people with complex relationships and unfinished lives, rather than national symbols or martyrs.
Why It's Important?
Abgaryan's 'To Go On Living' is important because it shifts the narrative of conflict from abstract statistics and geopolitical headlines to the tangible human experience. In a world often desensitized to war through constant news cycles, the book compels readers to engage with the individual stories and the long-term psychological and social repercussions of violence. This approach fosters a deeper understanding of the human cost of conflict, making it personal rather than abstract. For U.S. audiences, who often consume news about international conflicts through a broad lens, this book offers a crucial counter-narrative that emphasizes empathy and the enduring impact on civilian populations. It underscores that peace is not merely the absence of fighting but a complex process of healing and reconstruction that can span generations. The book also challenges the often-used term 'resilience' by showing that 'going on living' is not effortless strength but arduous, unseen work, thereby enriching the discourse around post-conflict recovery and humanitarian aid.
What's Next?
The publication and reception of 'To Go On Living' could encourage a broader trend in literature and media to explore the human dimensions of conflict, moving beyond traditional geopolitical analyses. This shift might lead to more narratives that prioritize individual experiences and the long-term societal impacts of war, potentially influencing how international aid organizations and policymakers approach post-conflict regions. The book's success could also inspire other authors from conflict-affected areas to share their personal stories, contributing to a more nuanced global understanding of such events. Furthermore, it may prompt discussions within academic and journalistic circles about the limitations of conventional news reporting in capturing the full scope of human suffering and resilience in war zones, advocating for more in-depth, human-centered storytelling.
Beyond the Headlines
The deeper implication of 'To Go On Living' lies in its ability to restore moral attention to conflicts that often become depersonalized in global media. By focusing on the intimate details of daily life—cooking, gardening, burying the dead, and navigating complex relationships—Abgaryan reveals the profound ethical and cultural dimensions of war. The book highlights how conflicts remain alive in collective memory, with each new outbreak of violence reactivating past traumas and inherited stories. This perspective challenges the notion that conflicts have clear endpoints, demonstrating that for civilians, the aftermath is a continuous process of living with disability, loss, and the constant threat of renewed hostilities. It underscores the importance of understanding the historical and intergenerational trauma that shapes communities, suggesting that true reconciliation and peace require acknowledging these deep-seated wounds, rather than simply focusing on political settlements or ceasefires.
