Skeletons at the Feast Summary & Key Insights

Chris Bohjalian's "Skeletons at the Feast" unfolds in the aftermath of the Armenian Genocide, weaving a compelling narrative centered around the search for truth and justice across generations. The story primarily focuses on two intertwined narratives: the present-day investigation and the historical events leading to the genocide itself.

In the present day, Lexie Couillard, a young American woman, embarks on a journey to Armenia with her Armenian-American fiancé, Aram. Lexie, initially drawn to the romantic allure of Armenia, soon finds herself entangled in a centuries-old mystery surrounding Aram’s family history. Aram's family, particularly his grandmother, has always avoided discussing their past, shrouding it in a veil of silence and selective memory. Lexie's pursuit of answers leads her to uncover long-buried secrets about a massacre that targeted Aram's ancestors, including the alleged complicity of a prominent American philanthropist of the time, a man who later gained renown for his humanitarian work.

The novel then shifts to the past, revealing the brutal reality of the Armenian Genocide through the eyes of several characters living in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. We witness the horrors faced by the Armenian population: forced deportations, massacres, and systematic annihilation. One particularly poignant storyline follows a young Armenian woman, whose experiences highlight the resilience and strength of the Armenian people in the face of unimaginable cruelty. This historical narrative provides the context for the present-day mystery, giving flesh and blood to the skeletal remains of the past that haunt Aram's family and their community.

Lexie’s investigation, fueled by her love for Aram and her growing understanding of the Armenian experience, compels her to confront the dark legacy of the genocide and the complex moral questions surrounding its denial and the enduring consequences of its trauma. The narrative interweaves the personal experiences of individuals with the broader political and social forces that contributed to the genocide, revealing the systematic nature of the violence and the complicity of various individuals and institutions.

As the story unfolds, Lexie unravels a complex web of deceit and cover-ups that reach far beyond the borders of Armenia, exposing uncomfortable truths about the past and challenging the comfortable narratives that have obscured the reality of the Armenian tragedy. The overarching themes of the novel include memory, reconciliation, historical justice, the power of storytelling, and the lasting impact of trauma across generations. "Skeletons at the Feast" ultimately serves as a powerful testament to the enduring strength of the human spirit and the vital importance of confronting the painful realities of the past to build a more just future.