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The Book of My Lives Aleksandar Hemon 9780374115739 Books

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The Book of My Lives Aleksandar Hemon 9780374115739 Books

I had never read anything by Hemon -- though I will now -- and I knew little about the war in Yugoslavia and the siege of Sarajevo beyond that it was awful. Hemon didn't actually live through the siege, though it is almost a character in the book, and the fulcrum of the author's life. Hemon left Sarajevo, a city he loved, just as hostilities were commencing, and he was stranded in Chicago. He feels the guilt and anxiety of NOT being in Sarajevo, where his friends are, and which forms the core of his identity. He also experiences, and depicts in simple, understated prose, the disorientation of exile. We see Hemon grow up as a result -- from a cocky, talented youth (whom I may not have liked too much) into a mature man (whom I think I might like quite a bit) -- and he seems to force himself towards a clear-eyed evaluation of himself at his various ages and stages of life.


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The Book of My Lives Aleksandar Hemon 9780374115739 Books Reviews

Growing up in the US, I had no idea about the war in Bosnia. I knew there was a war, but I had no idea the extent of it. This book is historical, insightful, and personal. I bawled my eyes out at the last chapter, but I would read it again and again.
Aleksandar Hemon describes the world as it was- in a raw, simple way! As a person born in the same city I could relate to many chapters describing life before the chaos! I applaude his honesty in sharing the most painful moments of his life through words! Definitely a must read!!
I'm no book critic but I wanted to take the opportunity to give this book its well deserved five stars. Although it deals with not one, but two unthinkable human tragedies, war and the loss of a child, it maintains a sense of humor and livelihood. It's so aptly titled - it is a book of life, on life, with life. While at times it leaves you teary-eyed, it never leaves you without hope. It's not devastating but instead empowering to follow the author trudge through the hand he was dealt one step at a time. It's also extremely well-written. Perhaps because English is my non-native yet primary language, I find this language to be exceptionally honest and down to Earth. Comfortably lined with Bosnian italics, his language is a major part of the life and lives of the author which comes through beautifully. I started reading "Nowhere Man" by Hemon immediately after finishing this. I highly recommend the Book of My Lives and other works by Aleksandar Hemon.
Far less explanation of the war in Bosnia than I wanted and expected, though it must be granted that Hemon's book is clearly a memoir, not history or journalism.
Hemon's prose is luminous, his story intimate and necessary. Long after I finished reading it, I still come back to it. Even beyond its inherent value as a portrait of Bosnia before its cataclysmic war, or Hemon's story as an exiled refugee thereafter, this book shines with startling sincerity and humanity. This may seem hyperbolic but I don't think I have ever read a book that both made me really laugh out loud and brought me to tears, which this book did. Hemon is a truly insightful student of people and the funny, tragic, contradictory, self involved and selfless things they do while passing through their many lives.
Because I like Hemon's short stories so much, I read his memoir even though I don't think anyone so young should be writing memoir. Still giving everything that Hemon experienced in war torn Bosnia, I figured he experienced enough already in his life to justify a memoir. The pieces are more anecdotal and assembled together from previously published articles. As such, it is sometimes repetitive. Though it lacks the penetrating insight and complexity that fiction affords, it still has the graceful, unobtrusive and eloquent prose style that makes Hemon so enjoyable to read. The final piece is devastating!
This book of essays is arranged in chronological order. We can see the author developing from childhood through teenage years to adulthood.

What strikes me most is how normal Hemon's life seems through all the changes going on around him in Sarajevo. As Sarajevo was crumbling in war, Hemon was rising. We hear about chess matches, playing in the park, teenage " bad boy" delinquencies that are universal. We hear about his father, his dog. But, mostly, what comes through is Hemon's love for Sarajevo! His continuing love for the city rings clear and doesn't lessen---even though he considers himself, and is, part of America, part of Chicago after he reaches age 27.

He excels at portraits of people whether it's his father or acquaintances in a pick up soccer game in Chicago. In the course of this, Hemon doesn't spare himself. A slightly humorous,but obviously true, part of himself comes to light as he describes what an utter mess his life has become living alone with detritus of all kinds after the break up of his first marriage. He reforms mainly because he wants to catch the woman who then becomes his second wife.

The last essay in this collection is filled with so much emotion that it's hard to read--but it's utterly necessary to an understanding of who Hemon is.

Through it all, Hemon's prose is luminescent and concise.
I had never read anything by Hemon -- though I will now -- and I knew little about the war in Yugoslavia and the siege of Sarajevo beyond that it was awful. Hemon didn't actually live through the siege, though it is almost a character in the book, and the fulcrum of the author's life. Hemon left Sarajevo, a city he loved, just as hostilities were commencing, and he was stranded in Chicago. He feels the guilt and anxiety of NOT being in Sarajevo, where his friends are, and which forms the core of his identity. He also experiences, and depicts in simple, understated prose, the disorientation of exile. We see Hemon grow up as a result -- from a cocky, talented youth (whom I may not have liked too much) into a mature man (whom I think I might like quite a bit) -- and he seems to force himself towards a clear-eyed evaluation of himself at his various ages and stages of life.