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The Cellist of Sarajevo

by Steven Galloway

The Cellist of Sarajevo Cover

ISBN13: 9781594483653
ISBN10: 1594483655
Condition: Standard
All Product Details

Only 2 left in stock at $7.95!

 

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

A spare and haunting, wise and beautiful novel about the endurance of the human spirit and the subtle ways individuals reclaim their humanity in a city ravaged by war.

In a city under siege, four people whose lives have been upended are ultimately reminded of what it is to be human. From his window, a musician sees twenty-two of his friends and neighbors waiting in a breadline. Then, in a flash, they are killed by a mortar attack. In an act of defiance, the man picks up his cello and decides to play at the site of the shelling for twenty-two days, honoring their memory. Elsewhere, a young man leaves home to collect drinking water for his family and, in the face of danger, must weigh the value of generosity against selfish survivalism. A third man, older, sets off in search of bread and distraction and instead runs into a long-ago friend who reminds him of the city he thought he had lost, and the man he once was. As both men are drawn into the orbit of cello music, a fourth character — a young woman, a sniper — holds the fate of the cellist in her hands. As she protects him with her life, her own army prepares to challenge the kind of person she has become.

A novel of great intensity and power, and inspired by a true story, The Cellist of Sarajevo poignantly explores how war can change one's definition of humanity, the effect of music on our emotional endurance, and how a romance with the rituals of daily life can itself be a form of resistance.

Review:

"I cannot imagine a lovelier, more beautifully wrought book about the depravity of war as The Cellist of Sarajevo. Each chapter is a brief glimpse at yet another aspect of the mind, the heart, [and] the soul." ZZ Packer, author of Drinking Coffee Elsewhere.

Review:

"Steven Galloway's The Cellist of Sarajevo is a wonderful story, a tribute to the human spirit in the face of insanity." Kevin Baker, author of Dreamland and Paradise Alley

Review:

"A grand and powerful novel about how people retain or reclaim their humanity when they are under extreme duress." Yann Martel, author of Life of Pi

Review:

"Indelible imagery and heartbreaking characters give authority to this chilling story and make human a crisis typically overlooked in literature." Kirkus Reviews

Synopsis:

The acclaimed and inspiring international bestseller that is a tribute to the human spirit.

In a city ravaged by war, a musician plays his cello for twenty-two days at the site of a mortar attack, in memory of the fallen. Among the strangers drawn into the orbit of his music are a young father in search of water for his family, an older man in search of the humanity he once knew, and a young woman, a sniper, who will decide the fate of the cellist — and the kind of person she wants to be.

About the Author

Steven Galloway teaches creative writing at the University of British Columbia.

What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 7 comments:

Jena, January 23, 2011 (view all comments by Jena)
I read a lot of unforgettable books in 2010, but this is at the top of the list of books I find myself reflecting on. A nearly seamless weaving of a glimpse into the lives of people who all, in some way, are touched by the cellist who sits in the center of a bomb crater and plays one day for every person who was killed in that explosion.
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bookwormlizzie, January 2, 2011 (view all comments by bookwormlizzie)
This books captures the horrifying nature of war without being over dramatic. It also captures moments of beauty in the midst of desolation. The characters are extremely well-written. The book pulled me in and didn't let me go. Best book I read in 2010.
Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No
bookwormlizzie, January 2, 2011 (view all comments by bookwormlizzie)
This books captures the horrifying nature of war without being over dramatic. It also captures moments of beauty in the midst of desolation. The characters are extremely well-written. The book pulled me in and didn't let me go. Best book I read in 2010.
Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No
(1 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
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Product Details

ISBN:
9781594483653
Author:
Galloway, Steven
Publisher:
Riverhead Trade
Author:
Klam, Julie
Subject:
Literary
Subject:
War stories
Subject:
Snipers.
Subject:
Literature-A to Z
Copyright:
Edition Description:
Mass Market
Publication Date:
20090331
Binding:
Paperback
Grade Level:
from 12
Language:
English
Pages:
256
Dimensions:
7.12x4.96x.66 in. .46 lbs.
Age Level:
18-17

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The Cellist of Sarajevo Used Trade Paper
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Product details 256 pages Riverhead Books - English 9781594483653 Reviews:
"Review" by , "I cannot imagine a lovelier, more beautifully wrought book about the depravity of war as The Cellist of Sarajevo. Each chapter is a brief glimpse at yet another aspect of the mind, the heart, [and] the soul."
"Review" by , "Steven Galloway's The Cellist of Sarajevo is a wonderful story, a tribute to the human spirit in the face of insanity."
"Review" by , "A grand and powerful novel about how people retain or reclaim their humanity when they are under extreme duress."
"Review" by , "Indelible imagery and heartbreaking characters give authority to this chilling story and make human a crisis typically overlooked in literature."
"Synopsis" by , The acclaimed and inspiring international bestseller that is a tribute to the human spirit.

In a city ravaged by war, a musician plays his cello for twenty-two days at the site of a mortar attack, in memory of the fallen. Among the strangers drawn into the orbit of his music are a young father in search of water for his family, an older man in search of the humanity he once knew, and a young woman, a sniper, who will decide the fate of the cellist — and the kind of person she wants to be.

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