The Cellist of Sarajevo in Reading with Style

Apr 22, 2009 Elizabeth (Alaska) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5-star-reads

This book is raw and powerful. Written in the present tense, you are with the characters on the streets of Sarajevo during the siege of 1992-1995. It isn't fun being there, but it is compelling. The cellist plays for 22 days in the crater from a shell that killed 22 people standing in line for bread. Why?

The author has taken a dark event in human history and crafted a story whose theme transcends that event and is relevant to each life in every situation: Each life is important, that self respec ...more

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Jun 27, 2011 Kate S rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, 2013

What an absolutely captivating story! The story of the siege Sarajevo told from three different perspectives, none of which are happy, all of whom are struggling to retain their identity and that of their city. The writing felt almost simplistic, but the pace and tone transported me into the lives of these characters. I can see myself re-visiting this one.

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Jan 24, 2015 Athira (Reading on a Rainy Day) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: f-literary, format-print, fiction, source-own, 2015

The Cellist of Sarajevo has been a book I wanted to read for quite a while. Every time I read a review of this book, I feel compelled to read the book itself but then pretty soon I forget all about it. When I saw this book at my B&N store early this year, I picked it up almost on a whimsy, and a few weeks later, I dived into it.

This is a very short book, but it is by no means a fast read. I found myself wanting to stop often, to ponder the passages and their meanings. There is so much depth in t The Cellist of Sarajevo has been a book I wanted to read for quite a while. Every time I read a review of this book, I feel compelled to read the book itself but then pretty soon I forget all about it. When I saw this book at my B&N store early this year, I picked it up almost on a whimsy, and a few weeks later, I dived into it.

This is a very short book, but it is by no means a fast read. I found myself wanting to stop often, to ponder the passages and their meanings. There is so much depth in this book, which is interesting because plot-wise, there isn't much. I wouldn't even say that this is a character-driven story, which it is. To me, it felt more like an action-driven story - how something you do ends up having a lot of consequences and can change the path of your future, how you give the impression of being a certain kind of person but deep inside you are nothing like that vision, how you never wanted to be involved in something but life and war brings you to the exact spot you swore off. The Cellist of Sarajevo is a very interesting study of humans and war, specifically humans in war, with the Bosnian War as the backdrop.

At the center of the story is the titular cellist, who is a minor character of this book. He has just resolved to play the cello at the site of a bombing for 22 days to mourn the 22 people who died there. (This cellist is inspired by Vedran Samilović, the real-life cellist who used to play in ruined buildings.) The arcs of three other characters, Arrow, Dragan, and Kenan evolve around the cellist's resolution. Arrow is a sniper who never wanted to kill people, and yet here she is, targeting the rebels and gunning them down. She is so good at what she does that she has thus far escaped capture. However, her newest assignment - protect the cellist at all costs - is likely to be far more dangerous than aiming her gun at remote rebels.

Dragan is one of the lucky few who still had a job. Every day, he makes his way from his house to the bakery where he works but there is one intersection that he needs to cross which is occasionally the focus of some sniper's fire. This particular day, the sniper has his scope focused on the intersection making Dragan unable to cross for a long time. It is here that he learns some valuable lessons about the indomitable human spirit even in the eyes of real danger.

Kenan makes a trip every few days to a water reservoir to fill his six bottles with enough water to keep his wife and kids sated for a few days. He also takes two extra bottles for his elderly neighbor whom he doesn't like and who doesn't give him any gratitude or appreciation. So far, he has been lucky although there is plenty of danger that he needs to face during this journey. But this time, he isn't so lucky.

There is so much to love in this book. Galloway's portrayal of what war does to people is interesting. Two of the characters identify themselves more as cowards than heroes. I would hesitate to call them cowards because they are really just scared. Kenan, the father, appears stoic, in control of himself, and confident in front of his family but the moment he steps outside for one of his frequent trips to get water, he crumbles to the floor because he doesn't want to die nor does he want to go out and walk in front of the enemy. Dragan doesn't try to help a friend who gets shot when she tries to cross the intersection but he does get embarrassed when a total stranger helps this woman over to the other side. Arrow, on the other hand, is more of a self-righteous person. She doesn't want to kill a weaponless person just because they seem to be in enemy territory. She would rather die than lose her principles.

I loved The Cellist of Sarajevo more than I thought I would when I first started it. The best comparison I can get for this book is any of José Saramago's books, which are incredibly difficult to plow through but by the end you are rewarded with an excellent story, wonderful characters, and plenty of wisdom to ponder. This isn't a book you want to rush through. It would make for an excellent night-time reading - the chapters aren't long, the characters are very identifiable, and despite how sad the circumstances are, you can't help but feel uplifted by the positive aspects of the book. ...more

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Aug 10, 2015 Rachel N. rated it really liked it

The story of three people during the siege of Sarajevo. Arrow is a sniper who choses her own targets. Kenan has a family and must make a dangerous journey every 4 days to get water. Dragan is older and has retreated into himself due to the war. The three characters stories never intersect but they all at one point in time hear about the cellist who is playing in the street where 22 people were killed getting bread. The book is good at showing the horror of this war and highlighting a situation I ...more

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Jul 07, 2012 Snowtulip rated it really liked it

Shelves: lit

This book was quiet and subtle, yet made a large impact. This book doesn't critique fear, inability to help others, killing, or hate. What it does is allow you as the reader, to question how you would deal with those concepts in horrible times. Would you be able to jump out as bullets are reigning down and save someone that is hit or would your fear hold you immobile...there is no judgement in this book in regards to either action. Humanity is individual in how we define and embrace it.

This migh ...more

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Jul 24, 2012 Penny (Literary Hoarders) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: from-windsor-public-library, audiobook, books-read-in-2012

3.5 stars actually. Really enjoyed the cello at the beginning and ending of each CD, but the narrator was too British, pompous and overly theatrical in his reading. Would have enjoyed a Yugo reading it instead. Formal review in progress.

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