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brynpemery's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, War, Child death, and Genocide
Moderate: Infidelity and Xenophobia
apthompson's review against another edition
emotional
sad
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Deportation, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Child death, Colonisation, Confinement, Genocide, and Violence
milliemarilyn's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Beautifully written yet heartbreaking story of a woman during a war as the world crushes down around her. This is a story of resilience and hope even in the darkest times, of friendship and finding community in the worst times. Zora is an artist and her love and dependence on art is prevalent throughout.
I didn’t know anything about the siege of Sarajevo before listening to this book, book some research alongside listening means I’ve learnt a fair amount. I can see why this was nominated for women’s book of the year, five stars.
I didn’t know anything about the siege of Sarajevo before listening to this book, book some research alongside listening means I’ve learnt a fair amount. I can see why this was nominated for women’s book of the year, five stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Child death
Minor: Islamophobia and Racial slurs
hjb_128's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, War, Child death, Violence, Religious bigotry, Genocide, and Death
Moderate: Rape
bookynooknook's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Set in Bosnia, features families and friends who stay while war and genocide rages. Emotional, destroying and oh so important.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence and Violence
Moderate: Emotional abuse, War, Death, Child death, Animal death, Genocide, Xenophobia, and Islamophobia
Minor: Rape
frietje9's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Death, Animal death, and Child death
sidekicksam's review
fast-paced
3.75
The story follows Zora, a middle-aged painter who remains in Sarajevo after sending her elderly mother and husband away to stay with their daughter in England at the start of the war in Bosnia, believing it to be a temporary unrest. She remains in their apartment, forming a close community with her neighbours, watching the start of the war from up close.
Things gradually get worse. From being denied access to her studio at the university she works at, to electricity and water being cut from the city, cutting them off from the rest of the world.
I was invested in Zora's story, how she, her students, and her neighbours kept up morale in times of such despair. The resilience of humans in times of war, despite the atrocities they witness or are victim of.
The writing style makes it easy to read about such heavy subjects. The characters are not too complex, but also not developed enough for me to get attached to them. I almost missed one of the saddest bits of the book as it happened really fast, but also because the emotional impact wasn't as high as it could have been. Therefore I'd say my only comment on the book would be that I wanted it to be longer, to get to know the characters better and feel even more deeply for the book.
Would definitely recommend to anyone looking to learn about the siege of Sarajevo, the Bosnian war or who look for an historical fiction book.
Things gradually get worse. From being denied access to her studio at the university she works at, to electricity and water being cut from the city, cutting them off from the rest of the world.
I was invested in Zora's story, how she, her students, and her neighbours kept up morale in times of such despair. The resilience of humans in times of war, despite the atrocities they witness or are victim of.
The writing style makes it easy to read about such heavy subjects. The characters are not too complex, but also not developed enough for me to get attached to them. I almost missed one of the saddest bits of the book as it happened really fast, but also because the emotional impact wasn't as high as it could have been. Therefore I'd say my only comment on the book would be that I wanted it to be longer, to get to know the characters better and feel even more deeply for the book.
Would definitely recommend to anyone looking to learn about the siege of Sarajevo, the Bosnian war or who look for an historical fiction book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child death, and War
bethancy's review against another edition
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, War, and Violence
Moderate: Hate crime, Child death, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape
katewhite77's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
A very moving story of siege.
The fictionalised account of a siege that took place over thirty years ago is sadly more relevant today than at any time in the intervening years.
Telling the story of the seige of the Bosnian capital Sarajevo in the 90's. I think it is a book you should read if you want to know what it is like for ordinary people caught up in a conflict zone. How easy it is to go from living a normal life one minute to an extraordinary the next. The amazing community spirit that can spring up in amongst the tragedy of war.
Given the subject matter, this is a very hard-hitting book. However, it was not as brutal as I was expecting. It is just about sanitised enough for the average reader to get something from.
The fictionalised account of a siege that took place over thirty years ago is sadly more relevant today than at any time in the intervening years.
Telling the story of the seige of the Bosnian capital Sarajevo in the 90's. I think it is a book you should read if you want to know what it is like for ordinary people caught up in a conflict zone. How easy it is to go from living a normal life one minute to an extraordinary the next. The amazing community spirit that can spring up in amongst the tragedy of war.
Given the subject matter, this is a very hard-hitting book. However, it was not as brutal as I was expecting. It is just about sanitised enough for the average reader to get something from.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Child death, and War
nibs's review
challenging
emotional
informative
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I'd been interested since hearing Leena Norms talk about it on the Women's Prize longlist (and then it got to the shortlist). It took a while to find it in a bookstore but was so worth it.
Thoughts after finishing it:
I'm so emotional. I like historical fiction, but the author has done an amazing job pulling me into Zora's world. I feel it. The imagery as well - of black butterflies, or her apartment building, Sarajevo as a character itself. I understand why it was shortlisted for the Women's Prize.
In the acknowledgements it says how the author's family's experience parallels the book - her father rescued her maternal grandparents from the siege. And the artist parts were inspired by a real landscape painter, her great uncle Dobrivoje Beljkašić.
Thoughts after finishing it:
I'm so emotional. I like historical fiction, but the author has done an amazing job pulling me into Zora's world. I feel it. The imagery as well - of black butterflies, or her apartment building, Sarajevo as a character itself. I understand why it was shortlisted for the Women's Prize.
In the acknowledgements it says how the author's family's experience parallels the book -
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Child death
Moderate: Confinement