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A review by sidekicksam
Black Butterflies by Priscilla Morris
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