Image Credit: Amazon
I read a graphic novel after a long time thanks to fellow blogger Vishy who kindly lent me Fax from Sarajevo by Joe Kubert. The power of the graphic novel never ceases to amaze me. When pictures and words combine, it automatically makes the story more powerful as the atmosphere and emotions are enhanced. About Fax from Sarajevo –
In 1945, we told the world, “Never again.” In 1992, we forgot our promise. That was the year the war broke out in Sarajevo, Bosnia. The year that genocide revisited the planet. That was the year that international businessman and art agent, Ervin Rustemagic and his family found themselves trapped in a city under siege. Ervin’s only means of communication with the outside world was his fax machine and client and friend Joe Kubert put the story that unfolded to paper.
The book begins with Ervin returning to Sarajevo to meet his wife and kids after two weeks. Trouble is already brewing. On reaching, Ervin immediately notices that “the city seems strangely quiet.” His wife Edina tells him that shelling had begun outside the city. From there, it’s one rollercoaster ride for Ervin and his family as they seek refuge from ruthless bombings and other atrocities.
As people who know me would know, I love reading war stories. By that, I don’t mean the Guns of Navarone type where people are firing at each other or running across a bridge escaping bombs and holding a conversation in the middle. As brilliant as they might be, I find the Anne Frank kind of war stories more interesting. Where the focus is on one family/ies and we come to know their struggles, thoughts and feelings. Fax from Sarajevo is one such book. Edina’s parents’ house is bombed within 2 or 3 days of Ervin’s arrival and the family runs out seeking shelter. For some time they stay in a half bombed building and make a home for themselves. Later, they move to the Holiday Inn hotel amidst hopes of getting visas to flee the country.
Kubert does a good job of covering the war through Ervin, no doubt aided in large amounts by his regular faxes. Kubert portrays the family’s fear, unity and hopes as they try to escape death. Imagine living a life where every second is dangerous, any second you might wiped off by a bomb. Kubert’s book certainly brings out these thoughts. A couple of scenes particularly stand out for me. One is where the family is celebrating Maja’s birthday. Edina bakes a cake with “just flour and water” and invites some of their neighbors. The scene that Kubert draws is beautiful – the bombs exploding with fiery intensity outside while the children and the guests enjoy a moment of happiness and celebration.
The other one is when Ervin and his family are trying to escape across an airfield towards the mountains, a common route but fraught with danger. I loved the play of emotions and I could literally feel their hearts stop beating in fear and nervousness.
On the other hand, the book moved a tad slowly. In a lot of places, the style of writing becomes more like a string of observations or rather like venting.
“The thought of death is held lightly by children. The concept of mortality is unknown to children. The happy sounds of children at play are a lure for other children. A fusillade of sniper fire educates the survivors and cuts short a future never to be realized by others. Is a bonus paid for eliminating a young life? What is the cost of a young life that could have been another Picasso…or da Vinci… or Beethoven? Or your child?”
Of course, these are thoughts that go through our minds when we read such a book but written like this it becomes a drag on the pace. The illustrations are done in a sort of watercolor kind of way and I would say they are quite good in some parts while falls short in others. I don’t want to point out too many things. Kubert has been thoughtful enough to bring out Ervin’s story out and put it on paper with illustrations. And having pictures to look at while you read this story of survival and hope makes it a more thrilling read.
Verdict: Read to know about Sarajevo’s horrific war
Glad to know that you liked Joe Kubert's book, Birdy. I liked very much both the excerpts you have posted. The birthday celebrations when the bombing is going on outside is especially touching. Thanks for giving the link to the TIME magazine photos of the Bosnian war. It was interesting to see those pictures and read the comments. Did you read the comments there? There is a war of words going on there between Serbians, Croats, Bosnians and neutral guys. It just showed that the war broke hearts and is continuing to keep people divided, which is a tragedy. Thanks for this wonderful review :)
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