ananya343's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sinimini's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
3.5
neenuchandramohan's review
4.0
The book walks you through the days of the 90s war among Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia. The devil in the name of religion has already inflicted so much pain, suffering and its really hard to understand the how and why of it. How can people call themselves human after killing people, raping and mutilating women and children. And all that in the name of God is something I'll never understand.
"Its not the fear of death, the hunger, and the deprivation that scares me, it's what people are capable of doing to each other when they're at war."
What soothes me is that those suffering never loses their hope.
"Hope is life."
The story is of a working woman, a journalist, in Sarajevo, about how war turned her life, a story about love, friendships and more.
"Its not the fear of death, the hunger, and the deprivation that scares me, it's what people are capable of doing to each other when they're at war."
What soothes me is that those suffering never loses their hope.
"Hope is life."
The story is of a working woman, a journalist, in Sarajevo, about how war turned her life, a story about love, friendships and more.
soraaaa's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
krisz's review
1.0
Egyelőre, 100 oldal után, ez egy kupac papír. Nem regény, hanem pontatlan történelemkönyv, ugyanis ahelyett hogy az emberi sorsot mutatná be, azon erőlködik, hogy a balkáni háborút Szarajevóból nézve bemutassa. Ez a görcsösség abban is megnyilvánul, hogy újságírót csinált a főhősből, hisz az milyen jól jön mindehhez…
Olyan égbekiáltó baromságok vannak benne, mint hogy a macedón tagállamot makedónok lakják, meg összefoglalóan beszél „a szerbek”-ről, akiknek ez nem tetszett, az nem tetszett, ezt nem akarták, azt nem akarták stb.
Az is rettenetesen zavar, hogy a fordÍtó horvát helyesírással és betűkészlettel dolgozik, pedig magyarul Milosevics meg Gazimesztán stb. a helyes írásmód. (Nem is értem, Koszovó miért nem Kosovo.)
Olyan égbekiáltó baromságok vannak benne, mint hogy a macedón tagállamot makedónok lakják, meg összefoglalóan beszél „a szerbek”-ről, akiknek ez nem tetszett, az nem tetszett, ezt nem akarták, azt nem akarták stb.
Az is rettenetesen zavar, hogy a fordÍtó horvát helyesírással és betűkészlettel dolgozik, pedig magyarul Milosevics meg Gazimesztán stb. a helyes írásmód. (Nem is értem, Koszovó miért nem Kosovo.)
persephonexxvi's review
4.5
This is one of those cases where I wish Goodreads allowed half stars. I would rate this 4.5 if I could!
Yes it does read a bit more like a history textbook in places but that's right up my street so was a plus point. I visited Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro last year so have been trying to better educated myself about the events of the 90s. I was already vaguely familiar with what happened so I didn't find following the political events too difficult.
The half star removed is because like other reviewers I wish I'd had a map to refer to as my geographical knowledge isn't great when you're getting down to the less well-known/publicised places. I don't know if this is because I was reading a Kindle edition and the physical book may actually have maps. And perhaps the book being set at a time where everything changes on a regular basis may make creating maps difficult.
It's a fairly brutal read. No details are spared when it comes to some of the atrocities suffered by the Bosnian-Muslims in particular. I usually read on my lunch break and I had to catch myself a couple of times, unsure if I could continue reading while eating my lunch.
The personal story of the main character is very engaging but the ending comes up on you quite abruptly. I would guess a deliberate choice by the author and for some readers it may work. But I wanted to know more of the main family's fate so I was a bit upset! I prefer to imagine everything worked out for them, it's my little bit of hope after the horrors they had all witnessed.
Yes it does read a bit more like a history textbook in places but that's right up my street so was a plus point. I visited Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro last year so have been trying to better educated myself about the events of the 90s. I was already vaguely familiar with what happened so I didn't find following the political events too difficult.
The half star removed is because like other reviewers I wish I'd had a map to refer to as my geographical knowledge isn't great when you're getting down to the less well-known/publicised places. I don't know if this is because I was reading a Kindle edition and the physical book may actually have maps. And perhaps the book being set at a time where everything changes on a regular basis may make creating maps difficult.
It's a fairly brutal read. No details are spared when it comes to some of the atrocities suffered by the Bosnian-Muslims in particular. I usually read on my lunch break and I had to catch myself a couple of times, unsure if I could continue reading while eating my lunch.
The personal story of the main character is very engaging but the ending comes up on you quite abruptly. I would guess a deliberate choice by the author and for some readers it may work. But I wanted to know more of the main family's fate so I was a bit upset! I prefer to imagine everything worked out for them, it's my little bit of hope after the horrors they had all witnessed.