Journal Entry 1 by sudokugirl from Sarajevo, Sarajevo Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday, December 22, 2006

From Amazon.com:
"Sarajevo Marlboro is Miljenko Jergovic's remarkable debut collection of stories. Jergovic is a child of Sarajevo who remained in the city throughout the war. A dazzling storyteller, he brings a profoundly human, razor-sharp understanding of the fate of the city's young Muslims, Croats, and Serbs with a subterranean humor and profoundly personal vision. Their offbeat lives and daily dramas play out in the foreground, the killing zone in the background." 

Journal Entry 2 by sudokugirl from Sarajevo, Sarajevo Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Letting this travel as an international bookray. It will remain open at all times. Just PM me to join. The mailing order may change due to mailing preferences or geography.

The usual rules apply:
- Journal the book when you receive it.
- Keep the book for a maximum of one month, if you need longer please let me know.
- When you have almost finished PM the next person for their mailing address.
- Please write a new journal entry with your comments about the book and to whom and when it is being sent next.


List of participants (in mailing order):

Ftarazu (Portugal)
kizmiaz (Portugal)
okyrhoe (Greece)
kihli (Greece)
elpis (Greece)
mafaldaQ (Greece)
OpheliaPhillips (UK)
longfordmaine (UK)
shpriz1 (USA)
azuki (USA)
Hawkette (Australia)
Perdue (Finland)
French-girl (Netherlands)
rapturina (Netherlands)
colllapse (UK)
wanderingstar8 (UK)
Wijntje (Netherlands)
kobie03 (Canada)
elytra (Canada)<---- the book is here
duza-kaluza (Chile)
orlandoflores (Peru)
bruehwuerfel (Germany)
... 

Journal Entry 3 by sudokugirl at to a bookcrosser in sent by mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Released 6 yrs ago (1/10/2007 UTC) at to a bookcrosser in sent by mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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RELEASE NOTES:

Sent to Ftarazu. 

Journal Entry 4 by Ftarazu from Ovar, Aveiro Portugal on Thursday, January 18, 2007

It arrived. I have some books in front of this one but will try to read it asap.
Thanks sudokugirl! 

Journal Entry 5 by Ftarazu from Ovar, Aveiro Portugal on Thursday, February 08, 2007

What a great book! I really liked all the stories and I think the author is a great storyteller... In each story there is the ghost of war but also always a bit of hope. And in every single one of them you fell like war is something terrible that can happen anywhere and everywhere and to everyone and exactly when you least expect it. It really made me think that when we are far away of it we don’t have a clue…

Thanks sudokugirl for sharing.
It will be sent to kizmiaz this week.
 

Journal Entry 6 by kizmiaz from Belém , Lisboa (cidade) Portugal on Monday, March 05, 2007

Got it, thanks sudokugirl and Ftarazu. I'm reading one right now but I'll try and be quick about it. 

Journal Entry 7 by kizmiaz from Belém , Lisboa (cidade) Portugal on Monday, March 12, 2007

Journal Entry 8 by okyrhoe from Athens, Attica Greece on Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Arrived in my mailbox today, finally!!
Thanks sudokugirl for including me in the ray, and kizmiaz for mailing it to me. I look forward to reading this.

 

Journal Entry 9 by okyrhoe from Athens, Attica Greece on Thursday, May 17, 2007

An unforgettable book. Thank you sudokugirl for including me in this ray!

Many of these stories remind me of my own childhood, growing up in Beirut. It took me 18 years to return, because I was still caught up in the memories of the place.
Yes, it is unsettling how easily one can come to terms with the surreal aspect of human existence in times of war. I appreciate the underlying theme present in the collection -- the dilemma facing the writer when shaping fictional stories out of real pain and death. Jergovic's sensitivity comes through in the end, with the last piece "The Library."

Here are some interesting views of Sarajevo. 

Journal Entry 10 by kihli from Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki Greece on Monday, May 21, 2007

the book arrived today,thanks sudokugirl and okyrhoe! 

Journal Entry 11 by kihli from Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki Greece on Monday, June 04, 2007

an interesting collection of stories. There is the war,but not in a melodramatic way. Emotional for sure,but you can see how a tragedy like that becomes a daily routine,if this is ever possible. I liked the book a lot. It's going to travel this week. Thank you! 

Journal Entry 12 by kihli at on Friday, June 08, 2007

Released 5 yrs ago (6/8/2007 UTC) at

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going to elpis! 

Journal Entry 13 by elpis from Larisa, Larisa Greece on Monday, June 18, 2007

arrived by post this morning. it's quite small and i have already read the first 30 pages. interesting so far!
thanks sudokugirl and kihli!! 

Journal Entry 14 by elpis from Larisa, Larisa Greece on Thursday, July 12, 2007

i wasn't thrilled by this book although i liked the author's peculiar sense of humour. i have already posted to mafaldaq this morining. 

Journal Entry 15 by mafaldaQ from Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki Greece on Wednesday, July 25, 2007

I finally managed to go to the post and get my package from Elpis! Thank you sudokugirl and elpis! 

Journal Entry 16 by mafaldaQ from Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki Greece on Saturday, July 28, 2007

I had to read it really quickly in order to post it to OpheliaPhillips before leaving for my summer vacations. I find it rather interesting but I realized that my English needs more practise! Tomorrow morning I will mail it to OpheliaPhillips!

Thanks sudokugirl for including me in the ray, and elpis for mailing it to me.
 

Journal Entry 17 by OpheliaPhillips from York, North Yorkshire United Kingdom on Saturday, August 18, 2007

This arrived about a week ago at my home (parents address), but as I moved a couple of weeks ago, this only arrived in my hands today. Thank you Sudokugirl for setting up this ring – and adding the postcards. I think it will be interesting to have a few mental images of the place we’re going to be reading about. I’m looking forward to this read. And a big thank you to MafaldaQ for posting this out to me and for the ribbon package – wow, that was really sweet of you =) 

Journal Entry 18 by OpheliaPhillips from York, North Yorkshire United Kingdom on Sunday, August 19, 2007

I''m so glad I joined this bookray! I''ve already finished the book and I thought that the stories were fantastic. Purely for the writing this is a great read, and there are diverse characters here. And whilst the subject of the war looming up and breaking apart people''s lives is a big part of this book, Jergovic never dips into the melodramatic or sentimental - which made it all the more powerful and realistic for me. Also his down-to-earth acceptance that life isn''t perfect and things don''t always work out - certainly not like this hollywood movie dream that we should get everything in life just as we want it.

Of course, as with any collection of short stories, there are ones that I prefered over others: I liked " The Condor" with Izet the eglen-effendi; "The Gravedigger" with his outlook on life and death and the connection to the surrounding scenery, and the story of Rasim and Mara; "Seconds Out"; "Muslim Doll" which was really quite sad that Cipo wasn''t a braver person with that girl; and "Bosian Hotpot". I would like to know as well why Musa never did fire on Zenica in "Duke". I can''t help but feel that there''s a lot in these stories that I''ve missed.

Oh, and what about that last line for a book: "Gently stroke your books, dear stranger, and remember they are dust."

I still feel as though there is so much that I don''t know or understand about his part of the world and I feel a little ashamed that I don''t understand it better. Earlier in the year I''d started Asne Seierstad''s "With Their Backs to the World" (anyone else read this?)but what with my travels and everything I never got it finished and it got put somewhere. I shall have to dig it out and finish it.

I''ve got longfordmaine''s address so I will get this in the post after the weekend. 

Journal Entry 19 by longfordmaine from Longford, Middlesex United Kingdom on Thursday, August 23, 2007

Arrived yesterday. It will be the next book I read once I finish my current read. 

Journal Entry 20 by longfordmaine from Longford, Middlesex United Kingdom on Saturday, September 08, 2007

An absolutely fantastic collection of mini-portraits of a population at war. I can't recommend this book highly enough! 

Journal Entry 21 by longfordmaine at controlled release in controlled release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, September 20, 2007

Released 5 yrs ago (9/21/2007 UTC) at controlled release in controlled release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases

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RELEASE NOTES:

Put in the post to Brooklyn this morning. Sorry for the delay, I had an operation on my hand which has meant taking it easy for a while. 

Journal Entry 22 by shpriz1 from Clifton, New Jersey USA on Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Arrived safe and sound to Brooklyn, USA...Thank you. 

Journal Entry 23 by azuki from Miami, Florida USA on Thursday, October 25, 2007

Book has arrived!! Thanks Sudokugirl for sharing and shpriz1 for mailing, and every reader for passing it on, so that this little book has now travelled on to me.
I have a couple of bookrings to clear up first but look forward to it. 

Journal Entry 24 by azuki from Miami, Florida USA on Tuesday, November 20, 2007

First of all, thanks for the beautiful postcards that helped me imagine where the characters live and breathe. This is a collection of great stories, poetically written, although I m sure if I were more familiar with the historical background, I would have caught a lot more of the nuance. The last piece, The Library, is an excellent piece to end the book with, that makes the book lingers in my mind long after I flipped the last page.

Thank you Sudokugirl for sharing. I will mail this off to the next participant early December. 

Journal Entry 25 by Hawkette from Melbourne, Victoria Australia on Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Arrived at my house in Melbourne, Australia - a very well travelled little book!
Sarajevo is a city that has always captured my attention through books like these, and I am very much looking forward to this one. 

Journal Entry 26 by Hawkette from Melbourne, Victoria Australia on Saturday, April 26, 2008

A collection of haunting stories amoung the horrors of Sarajevo in trouble - the question of whether and how life carries on while war happens around these stories is the ghost of each tale. Many different perspectives and circumstances all rolled into one collection.

Have PMed bruehwuerfel for an address, as colllapse says they are travelling... 

Journal Entry 27 by Hawkette from Melbourne, Victoria Australia on Friday, July 11, 2008

In the post today, to Finland - about as far on the other side of the world as it can get! 

Journal Entry 28 by Perdue from Espoo, Uusimaa Finland on Friday, July 18, 2008

The book came in today, thank you! 

Journal Entry 29 by Perdue from Espoo, Uusimaa Finland on Tuesday, August 19, 2008

It took me three weeks to actually start reading the book, but when I did on a few hours' bus ride, it really hit me. (Short stories are my favourite travelling literature -- you can view out of the window in between stories, and if you have to change the train/bus, you might not have to do so in the middle of the story.) I really enjoyed the black humour, and also the deep sadness in some stories. The fact that the war was ever-present, in one way or another, made the book special. Also, when I started reading the book, the news from South Ossetia were being heavily covered and even though former Yugoslavia and Georgia are geographically far apart and culturally and historically different, pictures from the conflict really brought the texts to life. The current news reminded me that war is, unfortunately, not a distant affair at all.

I sent the book to French-girl today (just a day over the one-month limit!). 

Journal Entry 30 by Perdue at Espoo, Uusimaa Finland on Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Released 4 yrs ago (8/19/2008 UTC) at Espoo, Uusimaa Finland

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Sent to French-girl 

Journal Entry 31 by French-girl on Monday, September 01, 2008

The book arrived safely about one week ago. Thank you Sudokugirl, and Perdue for the nice card! 

Journal Entry 32 by French-girl on Saturday, September 27, 2008

This was a delightfull bookcrossing surprise! :-)Thank you very much sudokugirl for starting that ring!
Those short stories are beautifully written. I love how Jergovic uses realistic elements to depicts such a tragedy.The result is stunning.
I will send the book to rapturina on monday, if everything goes as planned... :-) 

Journal Entry 33 by French-girl on Thursday, October 02, 2008

Finally on its way to Rapturina :-) 

Journal Entry 34 by rapturina from Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland Netherlands on Friday, October 03, 2008

It's here! I've been looking forward to reading this book for a long time, hopefully I won't be disappointed. :D 

Journal Entry 35 by rapturina from Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland Netherlands on Friday, October 31, 2008

I finished reading this book quite a while ago already, but haven't had the time to write a journal entry. :D

What a fantastic book! I read it almost in one ago, and it was a great read. Miljenko Jergovic really has a talent for bringing Sarajevo to life and his characters were all very real. This also made it a very sad book, as you get an idea of what it was really like to live in Sarajevo during the war. So the book blew me away as it was so beautifully written, but it also made me very sad. Still, I am glad I got the chance to read it, what a gem! Thanks sudokugirl, for starting this ring!

I have colllapse's address and will be sending the book on to her tomorrow morning! 

Journal Entry 36 by colllapse on Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Arrived in the mail from the Netherlands yesterday - I can't wait to read it, it seems right up my alley! 

Journal Entry 37 by wanderingstar8 from London , Greater London United Kingdom on Thursday, February 05, 2009

Just arrived. I've got another bookring book to read first, but it's next on the list after that! 

Journal Entry 38 by wanderingstar8 from London , Greater London United Kingdom on Tuesday, March 03, 2009

I'm going to have to buck the trend on this one - I didn't manage to finish it. I found the stories much too disconnected and affectless. I can understand that this was meant to reflect something about the effect on society of what had happened in the war - but I never find that particular style very effective for me personally. I would recommend Balkan Express by Slavenka Drakulic for a really vivid (and angry) picture of the same sort of thing. 

Journal Entry 39 by wanderingstar8 from London , Greater London United Kingdom on Tuesday, March 03, 2009

I'm going to have to buck the trend on this one - I didn't manage to finish it. I found the stories much too disconnected and affectless. I can understand that this was meant to reflect something about the effect on society of what had happened in the war - but I never find that particular style very effective for me personally. I would recommend Balkan Express by Slavenka Drakulic for a really vivid (and angry) picture of the same sort of thing. 

Journal Entry 40 by Wijntje from Hengelo, Overijssel Netherlands on Thursday, March 12, 2009

Received, thank you :) 

Journal Entry 41 by Wijntje from Hengelo, Overijssel Netherlands on Thursday, May 28, 2009

Thanks for sharing this book with me Sudokugirl. I will send it to the next one in line. 

Journal Entry 42 by kobie03 from Lewins Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador Canada on Monday, July 20, 2009

This well travelled and well read book arrived today. Thanks sudokugirl for sharing and thanks Wijntje for sending it on to me with a nice card.I love short stories and from the JE's I'm sure to enjoy reading these. 

Journal Entry 43 by kobie03 from Lewins Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador Canada on Tuesday, July 28, 2009

An interesting collection of short stories from a great storyteller. With the war in the background in each story he captures the fear, pain and suffering of the war on the citizens while going about their daily routine. I liked his humor and will remember the last words of the book " Gently stroke your books, dear strangers, and remember they are dust." For it is books thar expose us to the daily effects on people of war. Thank you so much for sharing.
Ready to send to elytra. 

Journal Entry 44 by kobie03 at Marystown, NL -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Released 3 yrs ago (7/28/2009 UTC) at Marystown, NL -- Controlled Releases

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CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

in the mail to elytra. 

Journal Entry 45 by elytra from Victoria, British Columbia Canada on Thursday, August 13, 2009

Was waiting for me in the mail, when I got home from work! I was beginning to worry, but everything is fine!