Reviews with content warning for War - Black Butterflies

Audiobook. Trying to read more Women's Prize and Booker Prize shortlists. Very emotional telling of a few months of the siege of Sarajevo in 1992 from one woman's perspective. Zora stays in Sarajevo when other members of her family leave for the UK. The food runs low, the electricity goes off, the water goes off, the side of the apartment building is blown off. To run is to be a traitor. Not a sweeping view of the war but a very local, intimate view of the day to day changes experienced by one woman and her neighbours. The ending is in the same vein - not a long term "this is what happened in the end" but a development, a new reality to live through.

Lovely descriptions of art and artists' work, Slavic folk tales, and the practical getting by and camaraderie of people in the same impossible situation.

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rachel101's review

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dark informative sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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arayo's review

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challenging dark emotional tense

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

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jennikreads's review

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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notthatcosta's review

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Despite the plot being relentlessly grim for much of the book, I was really impressed by Priscilla Morris' capacity to introduce moments of levity and simple joy amidst the crushing reality of what was faced by the people of Sarajevo.

I was also impressed to learn that much of the plot was inspired by real life stories from Morris' family members and research subjects, which makes sense considering how grounded and lived in the characters felt.

Also certainly not an uplifting read, it's a book I thoroughly enjoyed.

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