Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absorbing and inspirational - destined to be a classic..., 13 Jan 2004
Few writers can get under your skin quite like Bill Carter - he's a man with many stories to tell and he pulls no punches, focusing an unflinching gaze on the most extreme circumstances - a troubled childhood, a wanderlust that took him around the globe, personal loss and how he ended up in Sarajevo during the Bosnian War. His account of the siege of Sarajevo, his involvement with its people, especially the artistic community, and how he came to bring U2's attention to their plight is both shocking and mesmerising, painting a picture of every facet of war and its effect on humanity. He tries to make sense of an insane situation, documenting the lives of those around him whilst slowly unravelling the threads of his past. There is much that will stun and confound but ultimately this book burns bright with the strength of human spirit, showing that even in the midst of war there is both bleak and joyful humour, friendships are forged, music is made and dogged determination can bring about change. Buy this book - you won't regret it. In an era of 'spin' and public mistrust in the politics of government it reminds us that there are individuals who can restore our faith in humanity.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Breath-taking, 27 Jun 2005
This has to be one of the greatest books I have ever read. After reading the first chapter, I couldn't put the book down and had to read the entire book in one sitting.This book is an exploration into the human mind and emotions of both the author and the people of sarajevo. Too often, the war that ravaged this part of the world is reduced to confusing statistics and remains generally unexplored by the mainstream media. As a person who is interested in the war (and particularly - the manner in which the world allowed it to happen), and has travelled to Sarajevo and spoken (mainly listened!) at great lenghts to the people who survived the seige, I would have to say that this book is the closest one can get to understanding what it must have been like to live under those conditions. Why it hasn't been made into a movie (an easy oscar-winner if all other aspects - actors, directors etc - were to be as good as the story) is beyond me. Oh, and as a U2 fan, it is great to see how the Sarajevo uplinks occured and all the work that was required to make them happen.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sarajevo's surrealism, 10 Jun 2004
BILL CARTER, before he entered Sarajevo's slaughterhouse, backpaked around teh world and found love and tragically lost it. And then he has found himself in the middle of wartime in Sarajevo, where he has come as many in the Spanish civil war. In this book he open and sincere speaks about his own life, he spreads before us the real life in Sarajevo and deep relationships he weaved with breave Sarajlije. He unselfish, altruistic helped them, most of all with live transmissions to U2 concerts around the Globe. This is not historical review of war, but deep emotional response to the horrors of war, he shows us life of small Great people under the unceasing threat with death. He has not been just observer of Bosnian tragedy - as UN lousy greedy forces, doing nothing, spending money and having a good career - he penetrated deeply in the hearts of Sarajevo citizens. He has been on of them. And if you want ever understand the soul of those people, their wide understanding of life, their great surrealism, you have to read this book.
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