I bought this book on a whim and almost didn't get it. I was driving into work one morning a week or so ago, and heard Kenan on the air with our local guys talking about his book. I was in the 20's when the Bosnian war broke out, and I really didn't know much about it or think much about it.
Kenan did a wonderful job with his narrative of what his family went through and the struggles they had to face. I was completely shocked to see this inside story of how friends had turned on him and his family because of his ethnic and religious makeup. The scary thing is, I can see this happening again in many parts of the world.
The one thing I didn't like at first with the design of the story was how it would go from current day to the 1990's. It did this many times throughout the book, and I'll admit, it really frustrated me. But what I found was that it kept me sucked into the story and wanting to know more. It also let us cheat a little and skip ahead in the book each time it came to the more present time. I think this worked well and was well executed, and coupled with his skillful writing style, I thought it was a great read.
I also loved the fact that he had a list of the names of the people in the book and who they were, same with places, and also a short translation guide on what certain words mean. I found myself flipping to these many times.
One item that I really found nice in the book was not only the list that Kenan wanted to do if/when he returned to Bosnia, but the list he made after he visited it. His first list was more on the lines of confronting, but his second list was more on the lines on thanking. You can see the change that happened and that is a good thing. A troubled soul is not a good thing to have.
The one thing I wish was different in the book were the pictures. There are not enough. Kenan talks many times about these beautiful and wonderful people who he went back to see and who he met. The times where he went to his Grandpa's grave and met the grave keeper who repaired the headstone. It would have been wonderful to have seen some of those pictures. Possibly he can place them online for us to see someday.
I remember thinking back in 1984 how wonderful Sarajevo looked during the winter Olympics, and how interesting the people were. I recall saying to my parents that I wanted to go there some day. Then to see what this horrible war did to the country and how where the medals were awarded in 1984 was used as an execution place, it just saddens me. How could someone do this to their own people or their neighbors.
Anyhow, I'm glad I picked this book up as it has been one of the most enjoyable reads and I was sad when the book was done... not sad on how it all ended, but wished there was more to read.
John
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