Black ButterFly

Product Information

There is a very sad death towards the end that I could acknowledge as heartbreaking but I didn't feel the sorrow because of that disconnection. The people in Bosnia who left were labelled ‘deserters’ while those who stayed were labelled ‘good Serbs. Though the historical events during the Bosnian War are intriguing and there are certain heartwrenching moments in the book, there is a lack of depth in characterization, particularly the examination of the relationships between the character (especially the relationship between Zora and Mirsad, a bookseller whose romantic relationship with Zora bloomed during the siege).

All I can say is, if you are looking for a book that unveils the hidden costs of war on the citizens forced into it, and that juxtaposes many opposite feelings - vulnerability and resilience, hope and hopelessness, devastation and creation, this is the book for you. As the assault deepens and everything they love is laid to waste, black ashes floating over the rooftops, Zora and her friends are forced to rebuild themselves, over and over. A subplot running throughout involving a police investigation is largely relegated to the backburner and it never really stands out as anything other than window dressing and busywork.This unsettling episode evokes real fear in the reader and it set my nerves on edge after just a few pages.

The story is essentially split between two timelines, the past and the present, but largely centers in the present with our main protagonist, Adrien Winckler. Sarajevo’s people continue to fight against the seeds of division that the conflict tries to sow (there are some of course, who hold radical views, too).While on one hand, the author is brutal in her description of the volatile political climate, violence and horrific living conditions, she also paints a poignant picture of strength and resilience, humanity and a sense of family and unity among those struggling to survive the war. With beautiful writing and incredible insight, this novel deals with the many facets of the ensuing siege and war. This beautifully illustrated field guide covers caterpillars of the moth and butterfly species that are most likely to be encountered in the British Isles. As a gentleman knowing the requirements of society…, we ask you to use your influence with the Trustees that their decision on this subject may be changed…to avoid this threatening danger…”.

Initially we see her painting its bridges and landscapes—and later the destruction and fires that take over the city. The symbolism of Zora’s art and the significance of the title “Black Butterflies” against the upheaval and devastation Zora witnesses is of particular significance to this story. Indeed, her experiences bring about a change in her art, transforming her style into something more experimental than the landscapes she produced before.With her we too watch as a rich, bustling, lovely city is plunged into war—as a relatively normal life (there is unrest already when the story opens) deteriorates into a struggle for day-to-day survival—a battle not only against the war and its weapons, but also against its impacts, whether lack of basic necessities or the elements or the constant insecurity and uncertainty. I would have appreciated a brief note at the end on the facts behind the cause of the war and the political climate at the time, just like the facts behind the ethnic groups were clarified in the author’s note. Brown is a professor of public health, I expected this to be a dense body of work that was hyperfocused on lead poisoning in the city of Baltimore.