Not Even My Name

Not Even My Name is a biography of Sano Halo, a survivor of the Greek genocide who later immigrated to the United States. Written by her daughter Thea Halo, the book chronicles Sano's life journey from her childhood in a Pontic Greek village through her experiences during the genocide and eventual migration to America. The narrative alternates between Thea's account of traveling with her mother to Turkey in 1989 to find her childhood home, and Sano's first-person recollections of her early life. Historical context and original poetry are woven throughout the text, providing background on the persecution of Pontic Greeks and other Christian minorities in early 20th century Turkey. Sano's story begins in the mountain village of Iondone near the Black Sea, where she lived with her family until their displacement during World War I. The book follows her struggle for survival during a forced death march, her time as a servant in a Turkish household, and her eventual journey to America. Through one woman's remarkable story, Not Even My Name examines themes of cultural identity, survival, and intergenerational trauma while documenting a largely unknown chapter of 20th century history.

Readers describe the book as a moving mother-daughter story that brings attention to the Pontian Greek genocide. Many note it fills a gap in documented history about the persecution of Christian minorities in Turkey. Readers appreciate: - The personal, intimate storytelling style - Details of Pontian Greek culture and traditions - The historical context provided through one family's experience - The daughter's journey to understand her mother's past Common criticisms: - Some sections move slowly - A few readers found the writing uneven - Limited broader historical background Ratings: Goodreads: 4.4/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (240+ ratings) Representative review: "A haunting account that gives voice to a overlooked tragedy through one survivor's memories. The mother-daughter relationship anchors the broader historical narrative." - Goodreads reviewer Multiple readers note the book prompted them to research more about the Pontian Greek genocide and displacement of Christian minorities in early 20th century Turkey.

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🔹 The Pontian Greek genocide claimed approximately 353,000 lives between 1916-1923, making it one of the largest but least discussed genocides of the 20th century. 🔹 Sano Halo, the book's subject, lived to be 105 years old and became known as "the voice of Pontos," sharing her story through interviews and documentaries until her death in 2014. 🔹 The book's title "Not Even My Name" refers to how Sano's original name, Themia, was changed to Sano by the Turkish family who took her in, symbolizing the erasure of cultural identity many survivors experienced. 🔹 Many Pontian Greeks who survived the death marches and expulsion settled in Greece, where today there are approximately 400,000 people of Pontian Greek descent. 🔹 Author Thea Halo has received numerous honors for her work, including The Raphael Lemkin Award for documenting genocide history and The New York Governor's "Award for Excellence in Honor of Women's History Month."