Week 2: Assignment 2 (Cellist of Sarajevo)
I am always completely stumped when asked to consider favorite reads because this would take a lifetime. In thinking about the assignment for this week I did have a few thoughts about types of books I tend gravitate toward. Mysteries and the who-done-it category keep me intrigued, especially those similiar to Kathy Reich and Patricia Cornwell. I was a nurse in my past life, so CSI stuff is in my blood (no pun intended). I tend to love anything about thrillers, serial killers, deadly games with dark and sinister characters and endings that are anything but neat and tidy.
Having just said that, I am a sucker for a great historical fiction read and the one I will talk about is The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway. This is a typical storyline I enjoy following and Steven Galloway is a master of weaving a layered plot. We get to know the characters intimately, understanding their feelings and emotions from witnessing dialog of a young rebel fighter and a family man who must simply provide for his family during this time of war. There is a meandering quality to the storyline, but Galloway manages to startle readers with moments that simply take your breath away.
The cellist in the story is a foundation upon which the plot continues to evolve. The reader is bound to him, he is brave and selfless in the face of devastation and destruction in this small village square. You can almost hear the music of the cello and then a deafening bomb explodes, killing innocent people, and yet, he continues to play in the midst of complete chaos.
As the story unfolds, the reader is left questioning the whole of humanity and how war is perceived by those forced to endure it's wrath.
You might like Madonnas of Leningrad, by Debra Dean. Marina Buriakov, an 82 year old Russian emigre to the US, is suffering from Alzheimers. The contemporary issues she deals with are told in an empathetic, heart breaking way. On the other hand, her former life in Russia, especially her work in the Hermitage Museum during the siege of Leningrad, provides the rest of the story. A rich narrative background compared with the issues of aging and modern life, bring this wonderful novel to life.
ReplyDeleteDoris, I'm intrigued already and this sounds like a perfect choice for me. I have 10 days and counting and then I can begin my two month respite from the doldrums of school work. I'm looking forward to reading things I enjoy:) April
DeleteNice work on the annotations! You're right on track.
ReplyDeleteYou might like Daniel Mason's, "The Piano Tuner." Set in 1886, a well known English piano tuner is commissioned by the British War Office to travel to Burma to repair a rare piano owned by an army surgeon. The language is heartwrenchingly poetic, allowing the reader to feel as if he/she is there in Burma experiencing the story alongside the piano tuner.
ReplyDeleteRight up my alley:) Thanks Jean, April
DeleteHi - I see you like forensic mysteries - I do too! You may enjoy Jeff Deaver's series starring Lincoln Rhyme. Lincoln is a wheelchair bound forensic specialist. If you like the first one, The Vanished Man, there are 6 in the series, thus far.
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