I can definitely see why The Cellist of Sarajevo got longlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize. Through a series of characters, the reader is shown various aspects of the seige of Sarajevo. The scariest part of this book? I was alive when this occured and I don’t remember ever hearing it in the news. I suppose I might have been too young, but it definitely pulled me back to reality regarding wars. I think reading it close to Remembrance Day was an appropriate way to reflect upon the things humans can do to each other. Definitely a core-shocker for me, but in a manageable way — I didn’t leave the book feeling like a horrible person, just reflective.
The Cellist of Sarajevo by Stephen Galloway tells the story of the seige of Sarajevo through the eyes of three individuals: a talented sniper who calls herself “Arrow” and kills the men in the hills, a man named Kenan who braves the streets to get water for his family, and Dragan, a man going to work at the bakery whose wife and son made it out of Sarajevo.
The reader is brought into the story in the midst of the seige; shells fall all over the city, but when one falls in the middle of a square while people are waiting in line for bread, 22 people are killed. A cellist saw this from the window of his flat, and has pledged to play in the middle of the square in honour of those who were killed: one day for every person. While no one knows the haunting song he plays, many, including our three main characters, are touched by it.
I don’t know how much more I can say about this novel and the beautiful writing, but to share a quote from the the early reviews:
“Steven Galloway’s The Cellist of Sarajevo is a wonderful story, a tribute to the human spirit in the face of insanity.” —Kevin Baker, author of Dreamland and Paradise Alley
Full disclosure: I received a copy of the book from the publisher for review purposes. This situation did not affect my review in any way, shape or form.
November 11, 2008 at 8:06 am
I am looking forward to reading this one very much. I have a friend in Croatia who was much closer to what was going on in Sarajevo at the time. It was a very frightening time, even for her because it wasn’t all that far away.
November 11, 2008 at 8:45 am
Thanks – I’m definitely putting that on my list!
November 11, 2008 at 9:22 am
Ooo..I’ve been wanting to read this one. I do remember a bit about the war when it was happening a long while back. I do remember that there were horrible things happening and it’s hard to believe these things still happen today.
November 11, 2008 at 10:33 am
Thanks for the recommendation. I’m adding this one to my list. I don’t remember much about the war there, but I probably should learn more.
November 11, 2008 at 7:15 pm
this is going on my list as well. I remember this tragic conflict….it was atrocious…though what conflict isn’t?!