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Bookclub-in-a-Box Discusses The Cellist of Sarajevo, by Steven Galloway: A Novel Notes Mini-Guide for Readers and Leaders

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Bookclub-in-a-Box literary discussion guides offer interpretations and analysis of the themes, symbols, and writing styles of your favorite contemporary novels. Each guide also includes a handy plot synopsis, the author's biographical information, discussion questions, and more. They are ideal for use by book club members, teachers, students, and literature lovers.

About The Cellist of Sarajevo:
In a city under siege, four people whose lives have been upended are ultimately reminded of what it is to be human. From his window, a musician sees twenty-two of his friends and neighbors waiting in a breadline. Then, in a flash, they are killed by a mortar attack. In an act of defiance, the man picks up his cello and decides to play at the site of the shelling for twenty-two days, honoring their memory. Elsewhere, a young man leaves home to collect drinking water for his family and, in the face of danger, must weigh the value of generosity against selfish survivalism.

A third man, older, sets off in search of bread and distraction and instead runs into a long-ago friend who reminds him of the city he thought he had lost, and the man he once was. As both men are drawn into the orbit of cello music, a fourth character—a young woman, a sniper—holds the fate of the cellist in her hands. As she protects him with her life, her own army prepares to challenge the kind of person she has become.

41 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2015

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About the author

Marilyn Herbert

83 books42 followers
As an educator, school librarian, writer, book-talk presenter and facilitator, Marilyn loves to read and talk about books. Her enthusiasm for reading and sharing led her to unite her two favorite things: people and pages. In turn, this led to the creation of Bookclub-in-a-Box, the ultimate discussion companion for contemporary works of literary fiction. Marilyn is always looking for a great debate about books and welcomes all feedback.

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Profile Image for Jan Grimes.
28 reviews3 followers
April 25, 2024
This offered good insights to the Balckan wars. It really made the situation real, and human. And the story of the cellist is inspiring. But overall, I didn't get to know the characters well enough to get deeply absorbed.
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