War Torn

by John Marks

"War Torn picks up where The Wall leaves off. It begins in the hangover period, after the euphoria and optimism of 1989 have faded, when the consequences of those changes have become all too clear - and one of the greatest consequences is the first war on European soil in half a century. While Berlin has come to the end of its historical nightmare, Mostar, like a perverse Balkan version of the German city, is dividing between East and West in a war that pits neighbor against neighbor, friend against friend, Christian against Muslim." The story of two lovers - Arthur, a rootless American journalist posted in Berlin, and Marta, a Muslim from the city of Mostar - War Torn provides a powerful, poetic, and unusually intimate depiction of war's devastations, a searing front-line description of the ways in which war can affect the lives of ordinary citizens. Through Arthur and Marta, we experience the personal shattering of a city, of a family, of an individual - and the redemptive possibilities of love. But War Torn is also a probing novel of through Arthur's journalistic lens, John Marks examines the inner lives of two mirror-image cities, and through fiction he allows us to better understand the changing times in which we live.

Paperback

First published October 5, 2003

Reviews

[Cody Tolmasoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This interesting book follows two lovers separated by the Yugoslavian conflict. Initially brought together during the fall of the Berlin wall, the book documents the parallels between these two conflicts, and leaves the reader with a feeling of some understanding of this incredibly complex conflict in Yugoslavia.

[Garland Fielder · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice read on the always difficult to understand Balkan's war. I've been to Mostar and Sarajevo firsthand and am still baffled over the ancient hostilities that define that land.
The read is romantic, economical and swift. I enjoyed the book, but think my travels there helped.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked up because of an upcoming trip to the Balkans. Pleasantly surprised by the nice love story amid a backdrop of war.

[Kyra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating beautifully paced informative 'thriller' about the Bosnian conflict. I only wish there were a sequel.

[Chris Bartholomew · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was well written. Not really my kind of book. A bit over philosophical. It follows the romance of an American journalist and a married women from war torn Mostar. A little bit of insight into the whole, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian conflict. A little bit of the philosophy of dualities. A little bit of exploration into the human psychic. It's a good book for someone!