What would you bring?

There was one part of the book that really made me think about how a war would affect my own life. In chapter three on pages 29-34, Irena talks about all of the stuff that she packed when she was forced to leave her house, which included some of her favorite magazines and clothes. Then, on page 33, she says, "Now she was carrying the contents of her life, so incompletely accounted for in a gym bag". She also makes reference to the Holocaust victims who were forced to carry everything that was important to them. That made me think - if I had to leave my home and everything I knew and pack it all into one gym bag, what would I bring? Would I pack pictures? Movies? Favorite books? Would it even matter if there was a war going on? What do you guys think? What would you bring with you? - Chelsea

The Sniper by Liam O'Flagherty

Hi all! Has anyone ever read the short story, "The Sniper," before? If not, it's definetly a great one - and a quick read. It deals with the conflict in Ireland, but is relevant regardless of the place and time. Please read and comment! Click here for the story. -Colleen

If you like Pretty Birds...

Here's another book that looks like it might be similar (female perspective on the war, etc.). I've never read it, but might be something to check out! Click on the picture for more info on the book.

-Colleen

Hi everyone. I was reading some of the things people have posted and came across this picture, which seems (at least to me) to relate to what some of you have thought about. There are so many victims in this book - here's one for real: (Colleen)


Saima, a woman in Sarajevo, holds a photograph of her daughter Fadila, who was killed during the Bosnian conflict in 1996. A 48-year-old pediatric dentist conscripted into battlefield surgery, Fadila was shot by a sniper while she was hanging her uniform on a line to dry. This picture was taken on the first anniversary on her death. From The Pain of War, an exhibition at the Mead Art Museum. Photo by Frank Ward, gelatin silver print, 1996, Mead Art museum, museum purchase

So because I'm addicted to YouTube, I decided to look up videos about Sarajevo and the War in Bosnia. I dont know if anyone else likes the videos on YouTube or not, but if you just search there are a ton that do a really good job of showing the city and the damage. I added the link to this post from one I watched on the site. It was just weird seeing the damage and imagining Irena there walking around and living the war. Check it out if you feel like it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdDAw9JnZ4g&mode=related&search=

I think I was shocked

So, when I first started reading, I was sort of shocked with all the responsibility Irena was taking on as a high schooler. I don't know about you but when I was in high school I only had to worry about sports, school work, and my friends. When I realized Irena was the same age, playing sports like I did, yet becoming a sniper I couldn't quite take it in. When I think of snipers I think about movies and how they are always old guys dressed in black...never do I think of a 17 year old who plays basketball and is into Madonna! What did everyone else think about this? Was it hard for anyone else to believe that even during war a seventeen year old was doing such dirty work!?

~Jessica

View U2's Miss Sarajevo Performance

Click here to view U2 and Luciano Pavorotti's performance of "Miss Sarajevo." This video also includes footage from post-war Sarajevo. A must see!

U2's Miss Sarajevo

Read the following lyrics from U2's "Miss Sarajevo." Think about any initial reactions or reflections you have after reading these lyrics.

Is there a time for keeping a distance
A time to turn your eyes away
Is there a time for keeping your head down
For getting on with your day
Is there a time for kohl and lipstick
A time for cutting hair
Is there a time for high street shopping
To find the right dress to wear

Here she comes
Heads turn around
Here she comes
To take her crown

Is there a time to walk for cover
A time for kiss and tell
Is there a time for different colors
Different names you find it hard to spell
Is there a time for first communion
A time for east 17
Is there a time to turn the mecca
Is there a time to be a beauty queen

Here she comes
Beauty plays the crown
Here she comes
Surreal in her crown

[Pavarotti]
Dici che il fiume trova la via al mare
E come il fiume giungerai a me
Oltre i confini e le terre assetate
Dici che come fiume come fiume
L'amore giunger
L'amore
E non so pi pregare
E nell'amore non so pi sperare
E quell'amore non so pi aspettare

[English translation:]
You say that the river finds the way to the sea
And as the river you'll come to me
Beyond the borders and the thirsty lands
You say that as river
As river
Love will come Love
And I cannot pray anymore
And I cannot hope in love anymore
And I cannot wait for love anymore

[Bono]
Is there a time for tying ribbons
A time for Christmas trees
Is there a time for laying tables
When the night is set to freeze

Some initial thoughts...

This novel is powerful because it can reach its readers on so many levels. One thing we found right off the bat was that we were making connections between the events in the text and our own lives. We hope you will make similar connections, and to get you started, we hope you'll consider responding to the following questions (feel free to respond to as many or as few as you'd like):

• Think about what defines you - your gender, your culture, your ethnicity, your religion, your age, your likes/dislikes, etc. If someone were to ask you to define yourself, how would you do so?
• Think of a life-altering event/time that has taken place in your life. How did this event/time affect you emotionally? How did it affect the way you live your life? Did your views change because of what you experienced? If so, how?
• The present is certainly a difficult time to be a young person, especially considering the state of our world (September 11, the war in Iraq, etc.). How do you feel about the things that are happening? Have these events/conditions affected the way you live your life? What is your outlook?

Some things to view before reading the novel

While the three of us were alive and in our early adolescence when the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina took place, we honestly had very little prior knowledge to bring to this novel. There is a wealth of information on the Internet that offers background on this war, but here are some suggestions to help you get started. We hope that this information gives you an idea of the climate surrounding the characters you are going to read about.

Click here for background information on the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina (from Wikipedia).

Click here for background information on the city of Sarajevo (where the novel takes place).