The Lost I is Choghig Kazandjian’s first novel, initially published in 2004. Choghig Kazandjian was featured on Canada’s CTV, in connection to the topics and themes which run through her debut novel.

The story is set during the Lebanese Civil War, and follows the everyday lives of two young newlyweds Nayla and Samer, in their struggle to survive and to live as normal a life as possible, given the circumstances. A life which involves gatherings with friends and neighbours, over lunch, dinner and coffee breaks. A life which involves difficulty, risk, and uncertainty, as their beloved city is ravaged in front of their eyes, and as scenes of fear and terror replace the happy, loving memories they formed growing up.

The book offers real insight into how people cope in such terrible conditions and what it must be like to have to endure them. It offers an unbiased account of how war sweeps through the lives of innocent people, immensely affecting them, no matter what their color, race, religion, or political influences are. It shows how war slowly but gradually dissolves the sense of belonging and identity of all those who come into contact with it.

This book is a great read for people of all ages. It’s interesting as a fictional story, or as a recollection of part of history. Due to the current state of affairs in the world, it is believed that a vast majority can identify with this book; particularly those who have fled a war zone. Human beings are the same anywhere in the world; the fear they experience when held (whether physically, mentally, or emotionally) at gunpoint is the same regardless of their nationality or religion. Unfortunately, war is a universal language arguably as powerful as love is claimed to be, and therefore, this book holds universal appeal.