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A review by andrew61
The Use of Man by Aleksandar Tisma
4.0
Novi sad is a town in Serbian Yugoslavia and in this book we see the effects of the second world war and the subsequent communist partisans takeover post war from the view of three young individuals.
The opening is an unusual introduction to the story as pre war a woman who is the trio's German tutor buys a notebook, she then dies and begs Vera ,her pupil, on her deathbed to hide and destroy the book.
The story then follows Vera, Milinko, and Sredoje, pre war during the war and post war as we learn of their fates.
I found parts of the story incredibly effective, there is one chapter about Vera's experience in the concentration camp which is as hard a read as any I've found about the horror but that is made more distressing by how life treats her after the war.
The destruction of individuals and family is well told as the two men move in different directions, Milinko the hard working intelligent son of a brutal father ,full of hope goes to war but his ultimate fate is hard to learn, and Sredoje the son of a nationalist manages to weave I his way through the hostilities. Vera is the fascinating history with an intellectual Jewish father who married the former gentile maid which again gives a picture of how diversity once a norm becomes a danger and splits family.
Whilst in parts this book is disjointed in form and requires concentration I was glad that I persevered as it gives a stark picture of the war in Yugoslavia, the terror of the invasion and the effects on individuals. It also provides a snapshot of a diverse society pre war and as the communists post war take over gives some insight into how the creation of a greater state will create renewed horrors fifty years later when the regime of Tito collapsed.
Well worth reading.
The opening is an unusual introduction to the story as pre war a woman who is the trio's German tutor buys a notebook, she then dies and begs Vera ,her pupil, on her deathbed to hide and destroy the book.
The story then follows Vera, Milinko, and Sredoje, pre war during the war and post war as we learn of their fates.
I found parts of the story incredibly effective, there is one chapter about Vera's experience in the concentration camp which is as hard a read as any I've found about the horror but that is made more distressing by how life treats her after the war.
The destruction of individuals and family is well told as the two men move in different directions, Milinko the hard working intelligent son of a brutal father ,full of hope goes to war but his ultimate fate is hard to learn, and Sredoje the son of a nationalist manages to weave I his way through the hostilities. Vera is the fascinating history with an intellectual Jewish father who married the former gentile maid which again gives a picture of how diversity once a norm becomes a danger and splits family.
Whilst in parts this book is disjointed in form and requires concentration I was glad that I persevered as it gives a stark picture of the war in Yugoslavia, the terror of the invasion and the effects on individuals. It also provides a snapshot of a diverse society pre war and as the communists post war take over gives some insight into how the creation of a greater state will create renewed horrors fifty years later when the regime of Tito collapsed.
Well worth reading.