A combination of history and historical fiction, The Cellist of Sarajevo is a harrowing portrait of a late 20th century civil war set in central EuropA combination of history and historical fiction, The Cellist of Sarajevo is a harrowing portrait of a late 20th century civil war set in central Europe... And an excellent reading experience.
I do enjoy Khan's writing. While I rarely purchase stories written by series authors, this seemed a time to make an exception. Some plot developments I do enjoy Khan's writing. While I rarely purchase stories written by series authors, this seemed a time to make an exception. Some plot developments did occur that I am pleased to know (and will be curious to see how/if she covers them as completely in the next book, Among the Ruins). I also appreciated the second part of the story, in which Esa travels to Sarajevo to help a friend with unanswered questions left from the Bosnian War. That is one conflict that has been dogging Esa for some time.
This is a short story and should not be expected to be more than that. But that was certainly plenty for me and it does fit well into the series story lines....more
Excellent and ambitious novel. My first by O'Brien...definitely not my last. I am grateful to Constant Reader for this having been a group selection.
TExcellent and ambitious novel. My first by O'Brien...definitely not my last. I am grateful to Constant Reader for this having been a group selection.
The title of this book is explained at the outset which definitely flavors one's reading.
On the 6th of April 2012, to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the start of the siege of Sarajevo by Bosnian Serb forces, 11,541 red chairs,were laid out in rows along the eight hundred metres of the Sarajevo high street. One empty chair for every Sarajevan killed during the 1,425 days of siege. Six hundred and forty-three small chairs represented the children killed by snipers and the heavy ar- tillery fired from the surrounding mountains.
As the story begins and a stranger enters the small Irish town of Cloonoila, this message should not be lost. O'Brien uses her own subtle and non-specific foreshadowing.
Bearded and in a long dark coat and white gloves, he stands on the narrow bridge, looks down at the roaring current, then looks around, seemingly a little lost, his presence the single curiosity in the monotony of a winter evening in a freezing backwater that passes for a town and is named Cloonoila. Long afterwards there would be those who reported strange occurrences on that same winter evening; dogs barking crazily, as if there was thunder, and the sound of the nightingale, whose song and warblings were never heard so far west... (p 4)
This new man will bring many types of change to this small community, change none of them could possibly foresee. He could not foresee.
This novel alternates moments of quiet beauty, thoughtful insight, and remembered depravity. A very interesting presentation. I'm struck by several elements of this book: in particular, the use of imagery of the natural world and the disjointed appearance of the narrative at times. This latter device may be an aspect of the story itself, a means of presenting/representing the emotional upheaval at work. At least it appears like that to me. Then I wonder...did the author plan this or did it evolve from the story?
There is much fracturing of community shown here...remembered incidents from the Balkans, incidents in Cloonoila, the disparate and variously fractured immigrant community of London, all searching for a home, one of them a refugee from that small Irish town.
It was called the Centre and people from all over came in search of advice, then once a fortnight they gathered to share the stories of their fractured lives... They are there because they have nowhere else to go. Nobodies, mere numbers on paper or computer, the hunted, the haunted, the raped, the defeated, the mutilated, the banished, the flotsam of the world, unable to go home, wherever home is. (p 203)
This novel is powerful, difficult, beautifully written, but also manages to to introduce elements of hope into memories of some of mankind's worst moments and very current issues. It is timely and recommended because, as has been said before, we must never forget and we must always help the victims. ...more
In this excellent debut novel, Ausma Zehanat Khan presents a story with crime old and possibly new; a mystery of identity and possibly murder or was iIn this excellent debut novel, Ausma Zehanat Khan presents a story with crime old and possibly new; a mystery of identity and possibly murder or was it accident; reminders of genocide as well as the need for and cost of justice; social ills at home and abroad. She works with a very bold pen and does it very, very well. The plotting and characters are well done and eminently believable. The prose is equal to her task.
In one example of the beauty and elegance of her prose, I've selected a sentence from late in the novel when answers seem hidden from the investigating officers..
A steely rain slanted against the horizon, the lake beyond arranged in little thrusts of chaos against the shadowy outline of the shore, the white bone of the Bluffs at a treacherous distance. (loc 4421)
Within this sentence are reflected the mental and emotional confusion of everyone involved. The elements reflect the characters perfectly at precisely the exact moment. Then there are shorter sentences that sing: The first fresh sails on his personal ship of joy began to unfurl. (loc 3931)
The terrible background to the plot, though, is the ethnic cleansing in Bosnia in the 1990s. Does it connect? And if so, how? There are excerpts from haunting testimony you won't soon forget used purposefully throughout the novel.
I highly recommend this book to all who like contemporary mysteries with historical import combined with excellent writing and research.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review....more
I will repeat what I wrote in a comment earlier along in my reading. This work is intense, moving, lyrical at times, heartbreaking. The author describI will repeat what I wrote in a comment earlier along in my reading. This work is intense, moving, lyrical at times, heartbreaking. The author describes the days, and nights, of a city in the midst of war and the lives and deaths of the people in the city. Then he tells of his life in that city. There is occasional beauty but more bullets and bloodshed, and the thankless tasks of staying alive. This is the side of war I haven't read much about. We should all probably see this side.
I will read this again, parts of it many times. I especially loved the poem "Essay", the final poem "Dates", and the essay "Crows". I've been trying to decide between 4, 4.5 and 5 as a rating. I believe I will go with the 5. There is so much in the book. I believe I will find more at each reading....more
This is a wonderful story of a magical book, an illuminated manuscript begun in the 15th century and found in Sarajevo after the Bosnian War, a JewishThis is a wonderful story of a magical book, an illuminated manuscript begun in the 15th century and found in Sarajevo after the Bosnian War, a Jewish manuscript rescued by a Muslim librarian who could not bear to see such a treasure be destroyed.
Based on some fact and the author's talented recreation, we see the history of this religious piece over the years as some seek to destroy it and others work to save or embellish it. We move backward in time from the modern time to the Nazi era, to 19th century Europe, to the days of the Inquisition. I found I learned some history here while following the book. For this I thank Ms Brooks. I definitely will have to try others of her books....more