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ninavanapeldoorn's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
aubreytherese's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 ⭐️ rounded to 4⭐️
I found this to be a really interesting piece of historical fiction about the Bosnian War, which I do not know much about besides what I remember as a young child hearing about it on the news in the 90s. There was almost a dreamlike quality to this book, with the horrors and atrocities of the war side by side with Zora’s love of painting and deep care for the people around here. While there was some occasional beautiful imagery (the snow, for example), I didn’t get a strong sense of place or a deep understanding of the characters. The story idea was beautiful, it just wasn’t filled in with sufficient detail — and then it all wrapped up with so many unanswered questions.
I found this to be a really interesting piece of historical fiction about the Bosnian War, which I do not know much about besides what I remember as a young child hearing about it on the news in the 90s. There was almost a dreamlike quality to this book, with the horrors and atrocities of the war side by side with Zora’s love of painting and deep care for the people around here. While there was some occasional beautiful imagery (the snow, for example), I didn’t get a strong sense of place or a deep understanding of the characters. The story idea was beautiful, it just wasn’t filled in with sufficient detail — and then it all wrapped up with so many unanswered questions.
kdestephano's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
gaynorcaw's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Powerful book grabbed you didn’t let go. Written as f it was a memoir I learned a lot and was very moved.
wildheart_baby's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Written in the first and third person, it tells the story of Zora Kočović, a woman in her 50's who was a professor of art, until the Bosnian war and the division of Sarajevo. She tries to make the best of the ever worsening situation, where over time the beseiged population, see food run out, electricity get turned off, and the water turned off.
It takes place over the first year of the war, and you get to watch as there are small moments of joy, with the people managing to survive, and come togther as things start to get worse. This is fiction that is based on the lived experiences of those who lived through the war, and this comes through in the writing.
I enjoyed that conversations are in the first person, but then switch to the third when describing the scene, like someone is there documentary style.
It takes place over the first year of the war, and you get to watch as there are small moments of joy, with the people managing to survive, and come togther as things start to get worse. This is fiction that is based on the lived experiences of those who lived through the war, and this comes through in the writing.
I enjoyed that conversations are in the first person, but then switch to the third when describing the scene, like someone is there documentary style.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
readtotheend's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
4.0
I had not read much at all about the siege of Sarajevo that occurred from 1992-1996 which was part of the Bosnian War. I got a small glimpse of what that time period was like in Sarajevo through Zora, a Bosnian Serb artist living in Sarajevo at the time. The book started out slow for me but then picked up until the very end. For me, I think once I read the reference to what black butterflies were, I just got swept into the story. There aren't chapters - more like 5 sections which makes it challenging to go between audiobook and physical reading. I'd recommend this one in print.
sharksread's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
ldflagstad's review against another edition
4.0
Disturbing in that it would be hard to imagine this very real, very actual time period.
lizzyc0077's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I walked into this book completely blind and I was blown away. I listened in genuine shock, horror and sadness, experiencing what was written so well it felt real. The author claims this to be a work of fiction but it’s so well done it could be truth.
I listened to this in one long drive and I’m not sure if I am happy to not to not have had the time to look up anything about the book as it was going on. There are some things the author assumes you know, cities most of all, that would probably have taken a quick second to look up that I didn’t have.
I do wish there was more of an ending to this book but I understand the ambiguity. I’m not sure I fully grasp the final chapter “New Year” as the narrator was unreliable in a state of shock (which fit the state of the narrator quite well).
Also good audiobook reader!
I listened to this in one long drive and I’m not sure if I am happy to not to not have had the time to look up anything about the book as it was going on. There are some things the author assumes you know, cities most of all, that would probably have taken a quick second to look up that I didn’t have.
I do wish there was more of an ending to this book but I understand the ambiguity. I’m not sure I fully grasp the final chapter “New Year” as the narrator was unreliable in a state of shock (which fit the state of the narrator quite well).
Also good audiobook reader!
elaba25's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0