Veronika Gasparyan – Mother at Seven

The horrific tortures Armenian Veronika Gasparyan went through as a young child doesn’t make Mother At Seven a novel to ready in a relaxed mode. A dysfunctional Sochi based family isn’t even a right label for the behavior Vera’s mother showed ever since the birth of Vera’s brother Tigro. The lack of love, intimacy, and taking up responsibilities that belong to Motherhood, is shocking. A father who’s absent at crucial moments, apparently saving the lives of others as ER medic, but insufficiently stepping up against what’s going on at home. Then a cruel uncle Armen that abused Vera for whatever reason he and Vera’s mother would like to see. No wonder development in school was under pressure, self-esteem destroyed, and talents not valued.

Grandpa, and a very few friends are the only glimmers of hope in Vera’s young life. When grandpa passes away, and Vera is prohibited to befriend Aslan, a Georgian. From a technical side I missed the reason why Armen disappeared from the scene in the last chapters of the book. The pace alternates. Some scenes are described in painful details, other periods are skipped. The visit notably with Armen to the dentist has a kind of open ending, just as the sudden trip with dad to relatives in the United States. There’s a sequel in the making. I really would learn about the change from the Sochi years of modern slavery to newfound freedom and restoration.

About the author

Veronika Gasparyan, author of Mother at Seven, was born in the beautiful city of Sochi, Russia in 1981. She is a proud descendant of many generations of Armenian ancestors from both sides of her family. Today she lives in her own home, in Smithfield, Rhode Island with her two sons.
From a very young age, Veronika enjoyed playing the piano which resulted in her attending a music school for ten years, and eventually, the prestigious Sochi College of Arts and Music. Other than the music, Veronika has always displayed a profound love of reading, and at a very young age, read dozens of books from her grandfather’s vast, personal library.
Veronika possesses an innate passion for helping others in any way that she can, which has displayed itself in many situations throughout her early years and adult life. She considers herself to be a true survivor of what many would call a traumatic and brutal childhood, but has still found a way to not lose her kindness, patience or hope for better days.
Veronika is a strong believer in laws of attraction and positive thinking and is working on other books that she hopes will provide emotional support to those who are in need — those who have given up or have already lost their hope for better days and a joyful life.
Veronika believes her lifelong mission is to help one person at a time while making the world a better place for us all.

I received a free review copy from the author in exchange for my personal, unbiased review upon reading.