My Name Is Aram

Summary

My Name Is Aram is a collection of interconnected stories narrated by Aram Garoghlanian, a young Armenian American boy growing up in California’s San Joaquin Valley. Through his observations of family members, neighbours, and fellow members of the Armenian immigrant community, Aram discovers the contradictions and wonders of adult life. His relatives are often eccentric, proud, impulsive, and fiercely attached to their heritage, providing him with lessons about generosity, ambition, family loyalty, and human imperfection. Saroyan combines humour with tenderness, portraying a community attempting to preserve its cultural identity while adapting to life in a new country. The stories celebrate the ordinary experiences that shape childhood and the resilience of immigrant families, capturing how language, memory, and shared traditions help maintain a connection to ancestral roots across generations.