Friends of WB Library Review "The Cellist of Sarajevo"

– As the February selection of the 2012-2013 Book Review Series, the Friends of the West Bloomfield Twp Public Library are reviewing “The Cellist of Sarajevo” by Steven Galloway on Wednesday, February 13 at 7 p.m. and again on Friday, February 15 at 10 a.m. in the Meeting Room of the West Bloomfield Twp Public Library Main Library, Main Branch, 4600 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield, MI.

The reviewer for the selection is Diane Henderson.

“Inspired by Vedran Smailovic, the cellist who, in 1992, played in a bombed-out Sarajevo square for 22 days in memory of the 22 people who were killed by a mortar attack, this is a novel about four people trying to maintain a semblance of their humanity in the besieged city. Kenan trudges across the city to collect water from the brewery for his family; on his way to buy bread, Dragan meets an old friend who reminds him of life before the war; Arrow, a sniper fighting against the occupation, is charged with keeping the cellist alive; and the cellist himself, in his simple act of performing, courageously brings a touch of life back to the citizens. Although Galloway’s characters weigh the value of their lives against the choices they must make, he effectively creates a fifth character in the city itself, capturing the details among the rubble and destruction that give added weight to his memorable novel.” --Elliot Mandel

There is no charge to attend either program.

For further information about the event at the West Bloomfield Twp Public Library, visit the Library website at www.wblib.org. To become a fan of the Friends of the West Bloomfield Twp Public Library and keep up with all their activities and events, visit their fanpage on Facebook at http://tinyurl.com/yj846fg