Net Net Book Reviews

This book follows the lives of three unconnected people in Sarajevo who share the commonalities of despair and deprivation in a city destroyed by civil war. Ultimately, they are all touched by the music of a brave cellist who brings a measure of humanity to the hellish scene when he takes to the deadly streets to play his instrument.

Suggested pairing: A classical music CD and hot chocolate with a shot of Bailey's – you'll want to feel warm after vivid images of harsh winter in Sarajevo.

Initially, it’s hard to get a read on the main characters in this book – you’re not sure whether to like them, pity them, or both.  But the lives of a socialite, Englishman and piano teacher in Hong Kong eventually come together in the last few chapters.  I once again found myself appalled at the brutality of World War II — and amazed at the risks taken by brave soles in order to help others survive in an occupied country.

Suggested pairing:  Hot tea (as the saying goes, when in Rome…)

I generally don't go for crime books but this one is worth the read. The story is told in an urban dialect, which makes it feel very authentic and gritty, from many different character view points. I didn't identify strongly with any one of them (usually not a good sign for me to continue reading), but the suspense of the plot was very compelling. Oddly, the description on the back of the book really doesn't jive with the actual story. The summary makes the book sound like a tale between rich vs. poor in NYC but that's not how it plays out at all. A compelling story all the same.

Suggesting paring: A Manhattan, of course!