I found Girl at War on the long list for the 2016 Bailey’s Women’s Prize for fiction and it’s still one of my favourite books this year. Sara Nović’s debut novel tells the story of Ana, a 10 year old girl in Croatia, whose idyllic childhood is devastated when civil war breaks out across Yugoslavia. It’s a story in two parts – the second being Ana’s later life when she’s living in America in her early 20s. Her past is so traumatic that she has kept much of it even from those she’s closest to. But she can’t escape her memories of the war and decides to return to Zagreb to try to make peace with the place she called home. I given Girl at War to lots of friends and family this summer. They all loved it (and most shed a tear or two…).
Girl at War by Sara Nović
A lovely idea! Thank you so much.
Thank you – please feel free to make any suggestions for other books to read?
I am going to get this based on your recommendation. I bought the Cellist of Sarajevo because the cover and the title caught my attention in the shop window and nothing more. I loved it. For some reason this has done the same 🙂 Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Let me know what yo think?
I bought this to read on my holiday to Croatia in 2016 (thought that it would enhance its relevance). I wasn’t disappointed. A poignant and stirring read. Thank you for recommending.