Armenian Writer Astrid Davtian Publishes Debut Novel
“Déjà Vu” and the fragile boundaries of identity
Astrid Davtian, an Armenian writer and film director based in the Netherlands, has published her debut novel "Déjà Vu," a psychological thriller exploring identity and modern loneliness. Set in Amsterdam, the novel follows an unnamed television makeup artist who undergoes a physical transformation and begins reconstructing her identity. As she seeks recognition and control over how others perceive her, she becomes obsessed with a mysterious man and the story of a deceased jazz singer named Cynthia. The narrative examines themes of appearance, desire, reinvention and the gap between how people present themselves and who they truly are. Davtian blends dark humor with emotional depth, exploring contemporary relationships and the human search for genuine intimacy in an age shaped by online dating and curated identities. The novel draws comparisons to contemporary urban fiction writers such as Frédéric Beigbeder and Sergey Minaev.
