by Sue
There is a cellist, Vedran Smallovć, now living in Ireland, known as the cellist of Sarajevo. He left
Sarajevo in 1993. He was – probably still is – very cross about this book.
Steven Galloway, the author, sent the cellist a copy of the novel once it had
been published. Smallovć felt his name
and identity had been stolen and expected damages, an apology and compensation.
As far as I know, he hasn’t received anything yet. To be fair, it seems the
cellist is only a minor character in the novel. The three main characters all
have to deal, as best they can, with the siege of Sarajevo. The Bosnian Serbs
encircled Sarajevo from April 1992 to February 1996.
The novel has wonderful reviews. This might
be a mixed blessing given we are dealing with such a dreadful situation. Actually
being transported to the time and place might be harrowing. However, I’ve
committed us now. So, for good or ill, we might want to reflect on the
following ideas. A friend of mine, who recommended this novel, said that whilst
reading it she felt as though she were in Sarajevo herself. Is the book so
convincingly written? Is this a depressing or an uplifting story? Who comes
over as a real hero/heroine? Can a novel dealing with such awful circumstances
be regarded as “enjoyable”?
Rewarding reading, I hope, ladies.
Hello Ladies! Hope you both are well. We are still anxiously awaiting spring considering it snowed on the first day of spring. The days are getting brighter but this cold still lingers. I hope the seasons are more agreeable where you are.
ReplyDeleteI felt this book was fairly realistic. There did not seem to be too many literary liberties taken. As having never been in a war zone, I can only guess what it would be like. And to me, Mr. Galloway’s vision of war ridden Sarajevo did not seem too farfetched. I felt this book was predominately depressing. But considering it’s a war novel, it seems appropriate. Not to spoil anything, but I found the ending to be the most depressing part of all. I, like Kenan, was angry when the gangster was profiting. It was sad to watch Dragan and Arrow distance themselves from reality through isolation. Arrow changed her identity so that when Sarajevo returned Alisa could return too. Dragan distanced himself from all his former friends so that he could retain the memory of what was Sarajevo. The circumstances, all three characters were trapped in, were very disheartening.
However, I can’t say this was a bad novel. It was sad but it is a war story and when is war ever “enjoyable”? I sympathized with Dragan, Arrow, and Kenan. Isn’t this the “goal” of a good author; to make your reader feel for your characters? I believe Mr. Galloway succeeded. So I suppose, Sue, that is how a novel involving awful circumstances can be enjoyable.
As for the hero/heroine of this novel, I’d have to choose the cellist. Despite his limited role and the cliché of my choice, his bravery and drive make him a hero to me. Dragan and Kenan hid like rats from the men on the hills. The cellist chose not to hide despite a terribly vulnerable position. And while he was not defending lives like Arrow, he was providing the citizens of Sarajevo with a reprieve from the violence. He gave them hope and reminded them of what it meant to be from Sarajevo before the war. The cellist fought against the tyranny in the only way he knew how. That is why I’d choose him.
I look forward to hearing your answers to Sue’s questions. As my new bookcase has finally been built and my books finally released from storage, I will finally contribute to our book list if you like my choices.
Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner
Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
The Reader by Bernhard Schlink
Let me know what you both think.
Much love to you and your families,
Katie
Hello Ladies
ReplyDeleteKatie, you have my greatest sympathies regarding the weather. I don’t think it’s as cold here as it is with you. Nevertheless, your comments regarding brighter but still cold are very relevant to East Yorkshire. Glorious sunshine but the wind feels like it’s direct from the Arctic. Jay has returned from Malaysia – perhaps too early – and is coping heroically, suggesting it’s better to be cold than dripping with sweat. He’s early because we are going to yet another nephew’s wedding at the weekend. The weather forecast is dreadful. I’ve borrowed a hat, which may well remain in its bag.
Never mind, we’re not in Sarajevo in the 1990s so things could be worse. I absolutely agree with you, Katie: the events were character-driven and the characters were people with whom a reader could really identify. So, the novel was enjoyable in the sense that it was “gripping” as the blurb on the back of the book tells us.
I think my friend was right in that the geography of Sarajevo was described in such detail it took the reader there. Of course, a citizen of Sarajevo (Sarajevoan?) might not think it was convincing at all: but it was a realistic and consistent description of an initially thriving and now destroyed city – and this was all we needed. Because despite its very particular setting, I really did think this had a universal message. The idea that though others hate us we should not hate them is timeless – and so difficult to live up to.
So, despite its terrible detail, its rootedness in an appalling tragedy, the novel was ultimately uplifting. All three characters refuse to be defeated. They cling grimly to the moral standards they define for themselves. Arrow dies rather than lose her identity.
So, I thought they were all heroic. They all refused to be destroyed by man’s inhumanity to man. Initially, Kenan and Dragan appeared to be motivated by basic human needs: food and water. But Dragan finally walking across the intersection and Kenan going back to the bridge for Mrs Ristovski’s water bottles were actions motivated by thoughts of others. But you’re right about the cellist, Katie. He seems to have been motivated from the start by a determination to defy evil. His way of marking the deaths would inevitably risk his own life.
What I did like was the response of the sniper sent to kill the cellist; the recognition by Dragan that many of the Serbs in the hills were, like the citizens of Sarajevo, the children and grandchildren of men killed in WW2 concentration camps; the awareness that many of the people of Sarajevo were themselves making lots of money from the siege. The besiegers and those under siege were equally capable of evil. It would have been easy to demonise the Serbs.
Congratulations on your new bookcase, Katie, and on being able to access your books. Your choices are really interesting. I particularly look forward to “Little Earthquakes”. Thank you.
Hope Australia is enjoying warmth and calm, Nancy.
Happy Easter to you both
Love
Sue
Hello ladies,
ReplyDeleteSorry for my delayed post, I have been in Brisbane for a few days sharing an early Easter with my children, this is the first ever we are not all at home, and now we are sharing Easter Sunday with Dad, it’s difficult not too feel a little melancholy.
Katie I really hope the weather is warming up for you, I’ve just read your Facebook post about Benjamin claiming you as mine!. It really made me smile, those moments are so precious and heartwarming.
Sue, so glad Jay is home safe, if not a little chilled, we are looking forward to seeing you both in a few weeks. I have to say, I’m pretty excited !
Now, for our novel, I had mentioned to you Sue that I couldn’t read this novel before bed as I found it so sad it disturbed my sleep. This was true right until the end, I can’t say I enjoyed this story but I was drawn to reading it and to find out the fates of its characters.
Who is my hero? Basically anyone who can survive a war zone with their humanity in tact. So, I guess all the main characters in this story. I agree with you both, I found the setting realistic, I feel Galloway infused a real sense of fear into his story, fear of doing everyday things, fear of death and fear of losing identity.
The powerlessness and lack of control the characters had over their lives, and the dehumanising fear of being picked off by the men in the hills was counter point to the ending when each character finally took control of their fear and chose not to let hate control them. Even in Arrow’s case, control only to choose when to die.
The Cellist though a minor character provides the catalyst for the other characters to begin to believe there is another way to cope. They are all so brave, like you Katie, I have never been in a war zone but I have loved ones who have and their memories of that time are still distressing even fifty years later.
I have already recommended this story to a friend and lent my copy to another friend,all with the caveat, it’s an emotional and distressing story. They were keen to read it still.
Thank you Sue for choosing some challenging books, I appreciated the skill of the author and the story he was telling. It was well written and atmospheric and I’m glad I’ve read it.
love to all
Nancy
Katie, you're book choices sound great I'll add them to our list. I have been wanting to read Years Of Wonder!
ReplyDeletecheers