tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post7023936932086665450..comments2023-11-09T07:51:21.497-05:00Comments on The Boston Bibliophile: REVIEW: The Cellist of Sarajevo, by Steven GallowayMarie Cloutierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14938166831865436287noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-78961208284025008602009-12-24T12:28:44.012-05:002009-12-24T12:28:44.012-05:00The problem is the gap between the stunning premis...The problem is the gap between the stunning premise-- cellist who decides to play in the middle of a war-- and the execution of it, which is a bit pedestrian in the way you have described. The powerful and original premise made me expect more.Bill Metcalfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08087482604758933718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-86133355140740578752009-08-30T19:00:24.158-04:002009-08-30T19:00:24.158-04:00Oh no! I'm sorry you didn't like this one....Oh no! I'm sorry you didn't like this one. I'm still going to read it, but might temper my expectations a bit.S. Krishnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10268527069548216054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-91207621275141681492009-08-15T13:39:33.172-04:002009-08-15T13:39:33.172-04:00Great review! When I've read about this book, ...Great review! When I've read about this book, I always suspected I'd feel the same way as you did. So, I've been studiously ignoring it when I go book shopping. Thanks for validating my position a bit!!Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05811292947565794018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-85003255849648383162009-08-15T09:02:30.546-04:002009-08-15T09:02:30.546-04:00You're right...there are tons of glowing revie...You're right...there are tons of glowing reviews of this book. I'm glad to have read your take because it gives me something to think about, as I hope to read this one at some point.<br /><br />--Anna<br /><a href="http://diaryofaneccentric.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Diary of an Eccentric</a>Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08046635675540466183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-65241656477333115092009-08-14T20:01:01.566-04:002009-08-14T20:01:01.566-04:00I haven't read the book but I feel that your p...I haven't read the book but I feel that your point about "how easy" it is to write this type of book (not specifically this book) is important. I can see how a book like this might be good, technically - all the screws and bolts are there - but might lack something. I am nonetheless intrigued by the idea of this book and may someday choose to read it. But I will certainly keep your well-put points in mind.Meytal Radzinskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15805413335735169073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-87124515260920494402009-08-13T20:09:32.270-04:002009-08-13T20:09:32.270-04:00I live in Serbia, so I would definitely want to re...I live in Serbia, so I would definitely want to read this. Thanks for the heads up! :)Nikolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11306130544726821173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-72289032613343259392009-08-13T20:08:36.503-04:002009-08-13T20:08:36.503-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Nikolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11306130544726821173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-11912399628973482592009-08-13T03:35:46.952-04:002009-08-13T03:35:46.952-04:00I felt a little like you with this book, although ...I felt a little like you with this book, although I appreciate it and like it somewhat, I just don't think it's worth the money to buy and keep either. I've read another similar-war-torn-scenario book this year which is a million times better (DeNiro's Game by Rawi Hage), which I absolutely recommend, but not for the squeamish as it is very graphic and might be offensive to some.clairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14397226316253896335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-14108966000538217802009-08-12T23:53:55.477-04:002009-08-12T23:53:55.477-04:00I know how you feel. There are books everybody has...I know how you feel. There are books everybody has raved about except me, and I feel like the only person alive who didn't like the book.<br />However, I think I want to read this book. Anti-war fiction is seriously missing from my reading historyHazrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08441208944580008891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-78497294566917981182009-08-12T20:45:22.378-04:002009-08-12T20:45:22.378-04:00Sorry that you didn't really like this one. I ...Sorry that you didn't really like this one. I had the chance to review it, but passed on it because it just didn't seem like the right story for me. I have read several good reviews, but there is something in me that still resists. Call it a hunch, but I probably would have felt much as you did after reading it.Zibileehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05857638467064749190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-87265103756811111322009-08-12T12:27:23.435-04:002009-08-12T12:27:23.435-04:00I've had this on my tbr list for sometime. I ...I've had this on my tbr list for sometime. I haven't read it yet, but I've always thought the premise to be interesting.<br /><br />Not sure how I would react to it given your reaction.Serenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04745809545249574387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-91375418800320736422009-08-12T11:03:13.834-04:002009-08-12T11:03:13.834-04:00I liked it, I liked the language, but thought it w...I liked it, I liked the language, but thought it was a bit short and something missing. Still one of the best reads so far this yearBlodeueddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03435479623560871881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-910040858444953782009-08-12T10:55:30.297-04:002009-08-12T10:55:30.297-04:00You're so right - it takes more than beautiful...You're so right - it takes more than beautiful writing to make a good book. I loved your description of Arrow.Belle Wonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12112894169429729531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-11026504945771882622009-08-12T10:25:07.948-04:002009-08-12T10:25:07.948-04:00I also read this recently, but I was glad I got it...I also read this recently, but I was glad I got it from the library and didn't buy it. I appreciated its message, but you're right that some of the characters are indistinguishable and much of it feels like it's been done before. The cellist and Arrow were what kept me reading and made this into an intriguing and thoughtful read.<br /><br />Meghan @ <a href="http://chikune.com/blog" rel="nofollow">Medieval Bookworm</a>Meghanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04553655640589660182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-91444876457181216042009-08-12T08:46:54.695-04:002009-08-12T08:46:54.695-04:00Great review; i liked this one, but was glad it wa...Great review; i liked this one, but was glad it was a library copy as well.(Diane) Bibliophile By the Seahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10519875632878992728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-25288879490758787992009-08-12T08:45:38.221-04:002009-08-12T08:45:38.221-04:00I've got this book waiting to be read - your r...I've got this book waiting to be read - your review will give me something to think about as I read it.bermudaonionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10726401178972099557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-68325166276221397702009-08-12T07:59:07.034-04:002009-08-12T07:59:07.034-04:00I so agree with your statement: "do-gooder li...I so agree with your statement: "do-gooder liberal fiction with its simplistic no-kidding morality is just boring." I have found it to be the same for do-gooder liberal non-fiction. Far better if you have some creativity to go along with the message.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1359999156621466745.post-44769979044320079562009-08-12T01:31:58.555-04:002009-08-12T01:31:58.555-04:00I have this one on my TBR list. I have heard lots...I have this one on my TBR list. I have heard lots of good things but there was one other review I read somewhere back months ago where they had the same reaction as you did. I wonder what my own will be.Beccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02706544792110129160noreply@blogger.com