In the Hold

As war destroyed Yugoslavia in the early 1990's, a young generation suffered the psychological effects. With dark humor and realistic characters, Vladimir Arsenijevic creates the story of a developing family. The expectant father and narrator of the book seems to be the only sane character. His wife is a pregnant, clean for a little more than a year drug dealer. Her actions are a great source of humor throughout the book. The narrator's Hare Krishna brother in-law Lazar is a pecular story. Although it seems unlikely that there are many Hare Krishnas in Eastern Europe, it seems preposterous that one would volunteer himself for war. These characters, in addition to parents and junkie band members, set interactions as the main conflict develops which the narrator's preparation for fatherhood. While this coming of age story is plagued with drug use, it fairs much better than a William Burroughs book. It has humor and a plot. The plot is too thin to carry the entire book, but it is an entertaining venture.

This is a great book about methaphysical Belgrade during past ten years.

The thing I noticed most of all about this book is the strength the author has is creating original and interesting characters - from the main character, who is overly honest, wry and sarchastic yet is deeply affected by the war, to the glue-sniffing former friend who is so out of it that he wants to join the Crotian army because he'll be paid more. I don't think this book could have been written in English-it has the feeling of a translation from Serbian (that's a good thing).

I'm only 17 but do to the recent activities in Yugoslavia, I've been thrown into its path. Arsenijevic is a writer who beautifully entwines comedy and tragedy. You are often laughing and crying because of the ambivalence. If you have been paying attention to the horrors going on in Kosovo right now, you somehow can understand, through reading, how those people fighting to remain normal feel right now. A must read. You'll never put it down.

There is something in being able to write about your own misery with such a wit that it virtually infects readers not even remotely introduced to Belgrade and its people! Excellent book, excellent style and a sense of conciousness that is infectious. Now, all I want to do is go there and see for myself...