The Cellist Of Sarajevo

I have a very difficult time with stories with alternating points of view because it requires a certain skill to achieve a multi dimensional story without any choppiness. I picked up The Cellist Of Sarajevo on a whim at my local library, and was immediately drawn in by Steve Galloway’s seamless portrayal of all his characters. I highly recommend reading this novel because it’s such an emotionally and thought provoking book.

The Cellist of Sarajevo, by Steven Galloway, is a story about three individuals trying to come to grips with their reality. The characters are trapped within the deteriorating city of Sarajevo. The airport and transports routes obstructed which slims the chances of them escaping. Surrounded by enemy forces, and cut off from essential resources, these characters try to hold onto their last bit of hope in a very bleak situation. In times of tribulation the human spirit can preserve. A theme that radiates beautiful throughout the novel.

Another mentionable aspect about the novel is the alternating person point of view. It really adds deep dimension to the story. The Cellist Of Sarajevo is crafted in between three main stories following a general sub-story. Each main character is faced with a different problem, but the sub-story of how they all started off hopeless and ended up hopeful is amazing weaved into the novel. The alternating person point of view also lets us gain a closer understanding of each character; their struggles, fears, and memories.

The stories of Arrow, Kenan, and Dragan are all intertwined by one minor character, the anonymous cellist. The cellist is the symbol of hope radiating throughout the chaos stricken city of Sarajevo. His act seems so insignificant compared to mayhem going on around him, yet his determination to play the beautifully tragic and equally uplifting ‘Albinoni’s Adagio’ inspires hope amongst the people who listen.

In conclusion The Cellist of Sarajevo is a spectacular novel that really shows how strong and powerful the human spirit can be. Galloway’s novel is unbelievably inspiriting. It show’s that even though the situation can be depressing, bleak, and hopeless, we cannot give up. Arrow, Kenan, Dragan, and the anonymous cellist show us that even in the darkest of circumstances the human spirit can be strong and overcome any struggle.