This non-fiction book about Serbia between 1999 and 2004 offers profound insights.

The writer skillfully brings this dark era to life by interviewing and spending time with ordinary Serbians both before and after the fall of Milosevic and following the Balkan wars of the 90's.

For those not well-versed in the atrocities of those wars, there might be some confusion, and one may need to Google certain aspects.

Surprisingly, many Serbs still loved the dictator even after he was tried in The Hague for war crimes and genocide.

The word "Yugonostalgics," which I learned, refers to those who still loved and admired Tito.

Personally, if given a choice, I would have preferred to live under Tito rather than the psychotic Milosevic!

Some parts of the book are absurdly funny in a strange way.

Although the book was published in 2005 and is a bit dated, it is still worth reading for the perspectives of those who lived through and survived it all.

It reveals the intense nationalism among many Serbs at that time, who believed in a "Greater" Serbia.

Given the current political climate, I have a hunch that the passion for nationalism still lingers, despite Serbia's attempts to establish a young democracy.

Overall, I rate this book 3.5 stars.

Starting out, I had very little understanding of Serbia and the conflicts that were极其具有破坏性的 in the 90's.

However, after having read Seierstad's book, I almost have the feeling that I've actually visited the area and had conversations with the people there myself.

Her approach is so human and so humane that she appears to be able to truly get inside the minds and experiences of leaders and peasants, business people and displaced families alike.

She is compassionate without being overly sentimental, and she manages to strike a perfect balance between all the different factions. This allows us to see the human face of the suffering, loss, and division that have torn apart so many lives, not only in that particular region but also everywhere in the world where people's lives are shattered by oppression, political and racial strife, totalitarianism, and violence.

And yet, it is not the voice of despair that comes through most clearly in her work, but rather the voice of the survival of dreams and hopes for the future.

This gives us a glimmer of optimism and shows that even in the darkest of times, there is always a possibility for a better tomorrow.

I didn't manage to complete this book, mainly because I was extremely busy.

Moreover, it was borrowed from another library, which presented additional difficulties.

I also had a tough time getting fully engaged with the book.

However, I did get a glimpse of another aspect of the war in the late 1990s.

I recall following it during my time in J-School and the war trials against Milosevic.

The book essentially focuses on Seierstad's process of writing the book and conducting her interviews.

I sincerely hope that one day I will be able to finish it.

As of now, I have only reached page 128.

Despite the challenges, I still have an interest in understanding the full story that the book has to offer.

Maybe when my schedule becomes less hectic, I will be able to pick it up again and finally complete this literary journey.

Until then, I will keep the book in my mind and look forward to that future day.

Reading this in 2025, I truly would have valued a comprehensive and detailed introduction that could jog my memory about the events that took place in Serbia and the Balkans during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Back then, I did follow the news, but I still remember the great deal of confusion that surrounded what was happening. There was extensive talk of ethnic cleansing, atrocities, and war crimes. However, considering that podcasts hadn't been invented yet and the internet was in its infancy (I first visited an online news site after 9-11), as an ordinary American going about my daily life, I was never really certain about who was killing whom. Was it due to religious differences, nationalism, or something else entirely? At that time, I knew who Milosevic was, but more than twenty years later, I have to exert significant mental effort to distinguish him clearly from other post-Soviet strongmen.

I picked up this book because many of my friends have been traveling to Serbia and Bosnia recently. When I first heard this, I was astonished as I still envision them as war zones. But from what I've heard, they are currently peaceful and charming tourist destinations, rich in history and boasting numerous seaside resorts. So, I was eager to know what had transpired.

This book doesn't explain the intervening years, but it does offer a truly excellent mosaic of what it's like for ordinary people living in a country in crisis. The book is rather bleak, following its subjects from just before the overthrow of dictator Milosevic to a couple of years after. In the middle, many people are filled with hope for better days, but that hope has vanished by the end.

What gives hope is that now, approximately 25 years later, things do seem to have improved. Once again, this isn't a part of the world that I closely follow, and as I write this, there appears to be (yet another) coup taking place in Serbia. But the Wikipedia entry, and my friends who have recently been there, describe a country that is, well, quite lovely.

One thing that caught my attention in the Wikipedia entry is that although Serbia has joined in condemning Russia for the war in Ukraine, it did not participate in the sanctions. According to Wikipedia, this is because (as frequently described in With Their Backs to the World), the sanctions against Serbia in the 90s (along with the bombing) did not assist in bringing down Milosevic's rule or putting an end to any conflicts. It simply made an already suffering population endure even more hardship. That population experienced the sanctions and bombing as arbitrary and it led to a hatred of the United States and other countries that were involved. (I'm not taking a stance against sanctions on Russia, but I do find the Serbian perspective fascinating.)

Fantastic journalism!

It truly captures the sense of a defeated country coming to terms with the demise of its nationalist dream.

Seierstad's remarkable ability to vividly portray the thoughts of a wide range of people is what gives this book an exceptional and in-depth insight into Serbia.

We get to see the complex emotions, hopes, and fears of the Serbian people as they navigate through the difficult challenges facing their country.

The book not only presents a detailed account of the historical and political context but also delves into the personal experiences and perspectives of the individuals.

It offers a unique perspective on Serbia, allowing readers to understand the country's struggles and its journey towards a new future.

Overall, it is a captivating and thought-provoking work that provides a valuable contribution to our understanding of Serbia and its people.

Please provide the article that needs to be rewritten and expanded so that I can help you.

Being a Croatian national, I have a unique perspective when it comes to understanding the social aspect of characters. Many of the characters in the story seem to fit perfectly into the society in Croatia. This makes me wonder what these people would have to say today, considering the significant changes that have occurred since the book was written.

The social landscape of Croatia has evolved over the years. There have been political, economic, and cultural shifts that have influenced the way people live and interact. It would be interesting to hear the thoughts and opinions of the characters on these changes.

Perhaps they would have insights into how the society has changed for the better or worse. They might also have suggestions on how to address the current challenges and opportunities. Their perspectives could offer valuable lessons and启发 for us in the present day.

As a Croatian, I am curious to explore the connection between the fictional characters and the real-life society in Croatia. It makes me reflect on the past, present, and future of my country and how we can learn from the experiences of others, both real and imagined.

Typically a fan of Åsne’s form of investigative journalism, this book unfortunately fell a bit short for me.

This book is an accumulation of interactions and interviews the author has had with a diverse range of individuals in Serbia. She interviews each individual at three separate pivotal periods in Serbian history, which is rich with significant events: 1999, 2001, and 2004. In many ways, the divisive and distrustful factions described in the book bear a resemblance to those in my own country. This made the book an interesting, albeit somber, read. I truly enjoyed reading the various perspectives presented, including those of farmers, priests, politicians, and artists. It was an intelligent approach to presenting such a complex and layered region of the world.

However, where this book stumbles for me is the obvious biases that the author holds. In the realm of investigative journalism, I found this off-putting. She usually adheres strongly to her objectivity, yet in these pages, her utter disdain for some cultural and religious practices is blatantly described. If this book had been presented differently, I might have raged alongside her at the misogyny exhibited by many of the male characters. But I had expected journalism, not a judgmental take on another's view of the world.

The author of The Bookseller of Kabul has penned another tale, this time聚焦于被战争吞噬的世界的一部分——塞尔维亚。

In this work, she unveils the "personality" of the Serbs following the wars of the 1990s. I believe her depictions are honest and genuine. However, the book fails to grip the reader's attention as firmly as her previous one did. This is perhaps because she is writing about the instigators of war rather than the victims.

Serbia is currently facing accusations of war crimes and has endured a horrible dictator. Surprisingly, the people seem to approve of having a dictator and yearn for the return of the territory they lost. Kosovo is their greatest fixation, and several of the author's subjects are refugees from there, still grappling with the loss of their homes and possessions.

The author's biggest challenge lies in the fact that while her subjects may be hospitable to her, they have a collective and loathsome tendency to hate Muslims, Albanians, and others who are not Serbs. This is elucidated quite well by someone who tells Asne that in Yugoslavia and afterwards, the Serbs tended to dominate the government and civil service. This placed them in a position where they compelled other groups to pay bribes to get things accomplished and essentially lived off the work of others.

I don't think the Serbs' reputation has been enhanced in 2019, although I don't hear about them frequently. I sincerely hope that they have become more likable by now.

Twenty years after the time period it covers, this book still stands as a remarkable and highly perceptive work.

It serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences that unfold when citizens unthinkingly consume the fear and falsehoods that leaders like Milosevic promote.

The events described in the book offer a valuable lesson about the importance of critical thinking and the need to question the motives and actions of those in power.

By examining the past, we can better understand the present and strive to create a more informed and just society.

This book is not only a historical account but also a call to action for all of us to be vigilant and not allow ourselves to be misled by those who seek to manipulate and divide.

It is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complex dynamics of politics and the impact it can have on our lives.

Reading the book truly solidified the impressions that were formed during a visit to Belgrade several years ago.

It is a fact that while some Serbs seem to be captives of the past, it should be noted that the term "captives" implies that one is held against their will.

As Seierstad astutely points out, many of the individuals she interacted with are "...obsessed with the past and incapable of moving forward from lost battles or vanished empires."

Until the country manages to rid itself of its persecution complex (as one profiled individual candidly remarks: "We Serbs simply cannot handle being faced with the truth - we are forever blaming others"), there can be very little hope for progress in this troubled region of the globe.

It is essential for the Serbs to break free from the shackles of the past and embrace a more forward-thinking and objective approach if they wish to see positive change and development in their country.

Only then can Belgrade and the surrounding areas begin to heal and move towards a more prosperous and peaceful future.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the social, political, and personal turmoil that occurred both before and after the fall of Milosevic in Serbia. It offers a profound insight into the complexity of declaring a specific geographic area, in this case, Yugoslavia, as a unified country. The various groups residing in that area had conflicting values, beliefs, and perspectives on what truly constitutes a country. This book delves deep into these issues, providing a comprehensive understanding. To gain further insights into this remarkable book, it is advisable to read the other excellent reviews. Personally, I found this book even more captivating than her previous work, THE BOOKSELLER OF KABUL. It is a must-read for those seeking to explore the intricacies of history and human nature in a region that has witnessed significant upheavals.