Esta vez la conocida corresponsal de guerra nos lleva a Serbia. Con la misma sensibilidad y respeto Seierstad se ha acercado a sus habitantes antes durante y despues de la guerra de los Balcanes para contarnos sus alegrias sus penas y sus esperanzas en ese pais martir devastado en el pasado y olvidado en el presente. Para ello la periodista acompana durante un tiempo a catorce hombres y mujeres algunos simples ciudadanos otros intelectuales criticos y politicos de la oposicion como Levik periodista de una cadena opuesta al regimen pero tambien a seguidores de Milosevic como Mira la esposa de Dadic. Seierstad tampoco se olvida de los refugiados de Kosovo que tratan de reencontrar su lugar.

This book provides many interesting perspectives about the recent history of Serbia. The book consists of fourteen chapters, each relating the time the author spent with a different Serbian individual or family. She meets a wide range of people, including a convicted war criminal's wife, higher up members of Slobodan Milosevic's party, leaders of the opposition, refugees who fled Kososvo, a rock star, and artists. The meetings occur right before Milosevic's fall from power and continue for a few years after.

I really appreciated the way that Seierstad seemed to both value and question each of the different perspectives. It was really interestng to read chapters about people who knew Milosevic and other war criminals personally. It is rare to gain a human perspective on someone who just always seemed just plain evil.

I learned a lot about how complicated the situation is and how many crimes have been committed on all sides of the conflict, not just by Milosevic and his party. It was sad to read about all the people who were working so hard to overthrow his regime, only to be somewhat disappointed by what followed.

The book taught me a lot about Serbia, and I would love to read a book about every country that was written in this way, where you really get some different perspectives. Five stars may be a bit generous, but oh well. ( )

An interesting book, well researched and well-written. However, I would have liked was a timeline of the key events in Yugoslavia, I found it a little difficult to keep track. ( )

Een schrijfster en oorlogscorrespondent brengt aan de hand van interviews het huidige leven in Servië in beeld.

People rave about the way this author writes, but I just don't see it. Perhaps it is (literally) lost in the translation (from Norwegian to English)... That said, the stories she tells are very interesting, and the widely ranging perspectives she provides about Serbians' reactions to their government are fascinating. Well worth a read if you are at all interested in the Balkans. ( )