Review: How the Soldier Repairs the Gramophone
Published Date:
06 June 2008
By Sandra Mangan
When Aleksandar's grandfather dies of "the fastest heart attack in the world" while watching Carl Lewis perform his record-breaking sprint, the young Bosnian boy promises to carry on his master story-telling tradition.
It is the spring of 1992 and the schoolboy's home town Visegrad is invaded by the Serbian army, forcing his and many other families to flee the violence.
The approaching shadow of war is told through a series of sometimes comic, often tragic episodes filled with quirky characters and the poignant musings of the loveable Aleksandar.
Debut author Sasa Stanisic, who escaped to Germany from Visegrad aged 14, has crafted a highly original book that has been critically acclaimed in his adopted country. The unconventional structure leaves a strong impression but may not sit well with every reader.
Sasa Stanisic (Weidenfield & Nicholson £12.99)
The full article contains 145 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
-
Last Updated:
06 June 2008 11:40 AM
-
Source:
n/a
-
Location:
Yorkshire
