This is one of the best books i've read in ages. The peoples' stories that fill these pages show just how amazing the people of Sarajevo are to be able to stay in their wartorn city. The thing that comes across strongest in this book is the undeniable spirit of Sarajevo and the refusal of these people to give in and let war ruin their lives.

The book is basically a collection of simple stories from different people who chose to stay in sarajevo during the war. All the stories are very emotional, however i came away with a good feeling rather than feeling sad. The people featured (which seems to be anyone, young children, cafe owners, musicians etc) in the book describe their experiences more as a triumph of spirit, rather than portraying themselves as helpless victims.

This is a truly inspirational book about inspirational people.

The author was an editor of Oslobodjenje, Sarajevo's independent newspaper that continued to publish daily throughout the 1992-1995 period that the city was besieged by Serb nationalist forces. The journal entries take in just the first 16 months of that siege. It is chilling to realize that the siege would continue for more than two years beyond the period covered by the journal-and that populations in some other cities and villages suffered even more than did Sarajevo's.

The stories of Sarajevo and Bosnia are breath taking. Mr. Dizdarevic brings to light the day to day struggle that so many residents of Sarajevo went through. Not only physically, but mentally as well. Sarajevo is a very beautiful city and is getting more beautiful as it gets rebuilt. I can not imagine what it would have been like to live these stories that Mr. Dizdarevic writes about. This is a must read book!

Written in the first years of the siege by an editor at Oslobodjenje, these poignant war stories, compelling descriptions, and perceptive reflections from a city under fire constitute one of the most authoritative testimonies of the entire Bosnian war. A powerful and often scathing articulation of Sarajevo's disillusionment with Western inaction and betrayal of international norms and values. (This short review is from "Book on Bosnia" published by The Bosnian Institute)