A review by ionm
The Bridge Over the Drina by Ivo Andrić

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Ivo Andrić is an exceptional story teller. With every word he pulls you into a vivid reality that traps the imagination into believing that we are the witness to the action. "The Bridge over the Drina" won him the Nobel Prize for Literature, as this is one of the greatest chronicles of the Balkan history with its complex mix of cultures. Spanning over 300 years, each story is linked by the bridge (also a UNESCO World Heritage Site) in a small Bosnian village. We learn through the private lives of Christians (Orthodox and Catholic), Muslims, and Jewish, that each perspective is shaped not so much by religion, but by the role interpersonal relationships play in making human connections. This is an important cry for peace and understanding of difference, most exemplary described in a quiet sequence where the religious leaders of the three faiths share a cigarette over the bridge. That moment is as subtle as breathing with the universality of human nature. This is a masterpiece that each of us should read!