Harvest in the Snow: My Crusade to Rescue the Lost Children of Bosnia [Hardcover]

Ellen Blackman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 30, 1997

At the height of the Serbian siege of Sarajevo, Ellen Blackman could no longer bear the televised images of wounded children desperate for medical care. So she set off for Bosnia. There she shared the tragedies and occasional triumphs of a brave people whose world was crumbling around them while a seemingly indifferent world stood by. And despite tremendous bureaucratic and dangerous obstacles, she got the children out.

Editorial Reviews

From Kirkus Reviews

So unfocused is the author's account of her humanitarian work in Sarajevo that the ``lost children'' of the subtitle literally become lost in what is primarily a tale of one woman's Bosnian adventures. Blackman was a successful public-relations consultant in Chicago when she was jolted from her pampered existential stupor by footage of suffering children in Bosnia. Reaching deep into her dormant Jewish past, she began to think of Bosnia and its Muslims as the victims of a modern-day Holocaust. She decided to act. With a borrowed flak jacket, her savings in her pockets, and only the most naive and abstract notion of her goals, she headed for Sarajevo. A ten-day stay expanded to eight months as the author, her own favorite heroine, decided to battle the forces of indifference and incompetence (code words, in Blackman-ese, for the UN). She was the catalyst behind numerous rescue operations, from evacuating sick babies and children to finding a source for salt to keep Saravejo's bakery going. Nevertheless, Blackman's victories over red tape is only part of the story. From the start it is clear that her departure for Sarajevo is also a personal journey of discovery and growth. This aspect of Blackman's narrative ultimately dominates; her disjointed and self-indulgent chronicle includes lengthy passages on her discovery of the ``true meaning of friendship and love'' amid hardship. While Blackman does capture the generosity and warmth of Sarajevo's citizens, she presents an uninformed view of the overall political situation. She persists in viewing the war, the result of complex historical and ethnic tensions, as ``a clear-cut case of good versus evil.'' Her continuous attacks on the UN are jarring and unconvincing. And stylistic problems, most prominently in the form of abundant clich‚s, serve as constant irritations. An unpolished chronicle by a self-conscious do-gooder. (photos, not seen) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Review

"An inspiring account of courageous humanitarianism." -- Publishers Weekly --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Potomac Books Inc.; 1st edition (June 30, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1574880853
• ISBN-13: 978-1574880854
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,141,529 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Political indifference & the effects on a new generation, September 30, 2001

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jenn "jenniferlyn" (Bothell, WA USA (North of Seattle)) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Harvest in the Snow: My Crusade to Rescue the Lost Children of Bosnia (Hardcover)

Despite editorial reviews rating Ms. Blackman's account of her actions and experiences in Sarejevo to be "unfocused" and Ms. Blackman "her own personal heroine", I found her writing to be clear and concise regarding the "peacekeeping" mission and it's reception from those it was "protecting". Her personal story of the chaos and destruction of the country and it's people was informative and gripping at the same time, bringing home the reality of one woman's determination to do more than watch the horror and politics of war from her television set. Although I read her book in it's pre-edited format, her talent for telling the real story of the victims of war is obvious, and her selfless acts of giving and loving make this a book worth reading for those interested in not only the historical and religious reasons behind the conflict, but for anyone wanting to understand the psychological impact of patriotism and forced allegience on a young and idealistic generation.