The Legacy of Lost Things

Book 23 of my 2015 Reading Challenge

read from March 10 - 26

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and would like to thank the author and/or publisher for the opportunity to read and honestly review it.

The Legacy of Lost Things by Aida Zilelian

Summary (via Goodreads)

Aida Zilelian’s breathtaking debut novel, The Legacy of Lost Things, follows three generations of a family of Armenian immigrants living in the United States, as they struggle with one another and against the Old World expectations of their community. When Araxi, the oldest daughter of the desperately unhappy Levon and Tamar, goes missing, the remaining family members are forced to confront their painful histories together, and the role each of them has played in driving Araxi away.
Through Araxi and her family, readers are given a unique look at the generational and cultural tensions that both keep families together and tear them apart. Using spare, poignant prose, Zilelian deftly explores the themes of romance, duty, infidelity and guilt. Because of the mature content, this book is intended for adult and young adult audiences. 

My Opinion

I wavered between 2 and 3 stars but went with 3 because of the writing style.

This was a very riveting read for me and each person's voice was interesting but it was occasionally difficult to distinguish between the time changes. 

It had so much potential but ended so quickly.  Some things wrapped up too neatly (implausible ending) but so much more was left unresolved.  It was entirely unsatisfactory after the investment I made in the characters.

Overall, good writing and I would read the author again but the arc and resolution needs a lot of work in this particular book.

Quote from the Book

"Anoush looked in the mirror as she dried her face. She had accepted the weight of time and her unhappy life a long time ago. It was enduring it that mattered the most to her."