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袘邪褌褜泻褨胁褖懈薪邪
芦校 屑懈褉薪懈褏 泻褉邪褩薪邪褏 谢褞写懈 薪邪褋芯谢芯写卸褍褞褌褜褋褟 褉芯蟹泻褨褕褕褞 胁褨褉懈 胁 褌械, 褖芯 褩褏薪褨泄 锌褉懈胁邪褌薪懈泄 写芯褋胁褨写 胁褨写芯泻褉械屑谢械薪懈泄 胁褨写 锌褍斜谢褨褔薪芯褩 褨褋褌芯褉褨褩. 袟邪 褉邪薪泻芯胁芯褞 泻邪胁芯褞 胁芯薪懈 屑懈屑芯褏褨写褜 锌械褉械谐谢褟写邪褞褌褜 薪芯胁懈薪懈 锌褉芯 胁褨泄薪懈, 蟹屑褨薪懈 褉械卸懈屑褨胁, 蟹屑芯胁懈, 褍斜懈胁褋褌胁邪, 胁胁邪卸邪褞褔懈, 褖芯 邪薪褨 褩褏薪褨褏 褉芯写懈薪, 邪薪褨 褩褏 褋邪屑懈褏 褑械 薪械 褋褌芯褋褍褦褌褜褋褟. 笑褟 褉芯蟹泻褨褕 薪褨泻芯谢懈 薪械 斜褍谢邪 写芯褋褌褍锌薪邪 袧褨薪褨 袘褍薪褦胁邪褑禄 鈥� The New York Times
袩芯写褨斜薪芯 写芯 芦袩械褉褋械锌芯谢褨褋褍禄 袦邪褉卸邪薪 小邪褌褉邪锌褨 褌邪 芦袩邪谢械褋褌懈薪懈禄 袛卸芯 小邪泻泻芯, 褍 谐褉邪褎褨褔薪芯屑褍 屑械屑褍邪褉褨 芦袘邪褌褜泻褨胁褖懈薪邪禄 袧褨薪邪 袘褍薪褦胁邪褑 褉芯蟹锌芯胁褨写邪褦 褨褋褌芯褉褨褞 胁谢邪褋薪芯褩 褋褨屑鈥櫻�, 褉芯蟹谢褍褔械薪芯褩 褔械褉械蟹 薪邪褑褨芯薪邪谢褨蟹屑 褌邪 卸邪褏谢懈胁褨 泻芯谢械泻褌懈胁薪褨 褌褉邪胁屑懈, 褖芯 褋褍锌褉芯胁芯写卸褍胁邪谢懈 褨褋褌芯褉褨褞 袘邪谢泻邪薪 褍 啸啸 褋褌芯谢褨褌褌褨. 校 1975 褉芯褑褨, 锌械褉械褋褌褉邪褕械薪邪 褔械褉械蟹 胁谢邪褋薪芯谐芯 褔芯谢芯胁褨泻邪, 褎邪薪邪褌懈蟹屑 褟泻芯谐芯 写械写邪谢褨 蟹褉芯褋褌邪胁, 屑邪褌懈 袧褨薪懈 袘褍薪褦胁邪褑 胁褌械泻谢邪 胁褨写 薪褜芯谐芯 泄 锌芯谢懈褕懈谢邪 袣邪薪邪写褍, 蟹邪斜褉邪胁褕懈 屑邪谢械薪褜泻褍 袧褨薪褍 褌邪 褩褩 褋褌邪褉褕褍 褋械褋褌褉褍 写芯 挟谐芯褋谢邪胁褨褩, 写械 卸懈谢懈 褩褩 斜邪褌褜泻懈. 袘邪褌褜泻芯 袧褨薪懈, 蟹邪褌褟褌懈泄 褋械褉斜褋褜泻懈泄 薪邪褑褨芯薪邪谢褨褋褌 袩械褌褉, 褋胁芯谐芯 褔邪褋褍 屑褍褋懈胁 锌芯谢懈褕懈褌懈 斜邪褌褜泻褨胁褖懈薪褍 胁 1950-褏. 袗谢械 锌械褉械褩蟹写 写芯 袣邪薪邪写懈 薪械 锌褉懈屑械薪褕懈胁 泄芯谐芯 胁褨褉懈 褍 胁褨谢褜薪褍 挟谐芯褋谢邪胁褨褞 褌邪 胁 褌械, 褖芯 斜芯褉芯褌懈褋褟 蟹邪 薪械褩 屑芯卸薪邪 胁 斜褍写褜-褟泻褨 褋锌芯褋芯斜懈.
芦袘邪褌褜泻褨胁褖懈薪邪禄 袧褨薪懈 袘褍薪褦胁邪褑 鈥� 褑械 薪械泄屑芯胁褨褉薪械 锌褉芯褟胁谢械薪薪褟 芯褋芯斜懈褋褌芯褩 褨褋褌芯褉褨褩 薪邪 褌谢褨 械锌芯褏懈. 袉褋褌芯褉懈褔薪褨 锌芯写褨褩 袘邪谢泻邪薪 袘褍薪褦胁邪褑 锌芯泻邪蟹褍褦 泻褉褨蟹褜 锌褉懈蟹屑褍 卸懈褌褌褟 芯泻褉械屑懈褏 谢褞写械泄. 袊褩 蟹邪胁蟹褟褌懈泄, 褌械屑锌械褉邪屑械薪褌薪懈泄 斜邪褌褜泻芯 蟹邪胁写邪褦 褉芯写懈薪褨 谢懈褕械 斜芯谢褞 褌邪 谐芯褉褟 褨 蟹写邪褦褌褜褋褟 薪械 胁邪褉褌懈屑 褋锌褨胁褔褍褌褌褟. 袗谢械 屑懈 斜邪褔懈屑芯 褌褉邪谐褨褔薪褨褋褌褜 褨 褋胁芯褦褉褨写薪褍 胁械谢懈褔 褑褨褦褩 蟹邪屑泻薪褍褌芯褩, 胁褨写褔邪泄写褍褕薪芯褩 谢褞写懈薪懈, 褟泻邪, 锌芯褌褉邪锌懈胁褕懈 胁 锌邪褋褌泻褍 褋懈谢 褨褋褌芯褉褨褩 褌邪 薪械胁写邪谢芯谐芯 胁懈斜芯褉褍, 锌褉芯卸懈谢邪 卸懈褌褌褟, 褋锌芯胁薪械薪械 薪械褋泻褨薪褔械薪薪芯谐芯 薪械褖邪褋褌褟, 鈥� 邪谢械 泄 芯褋芯斜谢懈胁芯谐芯 褋械薪褋褍 褌邪 锌褉邪谐薪械薪薪褟 写芯 胁懈褖芯褩 屑械褌懈.
袩芯写褨斜薪芯 写芯 芦袩械褉褋械锌芯谢褨褋褍禄 袦邪褉卸邪薪 小邪褌褉邪锌褨 褌邪 芦袩邪谢械褋褌懈薪懈禄 袛卸芯 小邪泻泻芯, 褍 谐褉邪褎褨褔薪芯屑褍 屑械屑褍邪褉褨 芦袘邪褌褜泻褨胁褖懈薪邪禄 袧褨薪邪 袘褍薪褦胁邪褑 褉芯蟹锌芯胁褨写邪褦 褨褋褌芯褉褨褞 胁谢邪褋薪芯褩 褋褨屑鈥櫻�, 褉芯蟹谢褍褔械薪芯褩 褔械褉械蟹 薪邪褑褨芯薪邪谢褨蟹屑 褌邪 卸邪褏谢懈胁褨 泻芯谢械泻褌懈胁薪褨 褌褉邪胁屑懈, 褖芯 褋褍锌褉芯胁芯写卸褍胁邪谢懈 褨褋褌芯褉褨褞 袘邪谢泻邪薪 褍 啸啸 褋褌芯谢褨褌褌褨. 校 1975 褉芯褑褨, 锌械褉械褋褌褉邪褕械薪邪 褔械褉械蟹 胁谢邪褋薪芯谐芯 褔芯谢芯胁褨泻邪, 褎邪薪邪褌懈蟹屑 褟泻芯谐芯 写械写邪谢褨 蟹褉芯褋褌邪胁, 屑邪褌懈 袧褨薪懈 袘褍薪褦胁邪褑 胁褌械泻谢邪 胁褨写 薪褜芯谐芯 泄 锌芯谢懈褕懈谢邪 袣邪薪邪写褍, 蟹邪斜褉邪胁褕懈 屑邪谢械薪褜泻褍 袧褨薪褍 褌邪 褩褩 褋褌邪褉褕褍 褋械褋褌褉褍 写芯 挟谐芯褋谢邪胁褨褩, 写械 卸懈谢懈 褩褩 斜邪褌褜泻懈. 袘邪褌褜泻芯 袧褨薪懈, 蟹邪褌褟褌懈泄 褋械褉斜褋褜泻懈泄 薪邪褑褨芯薪邪谢褨褋褌 袩械褌褉, 褋胁芯谐芯 褔邪褋褍 屑褍褋懈胁 锌芯谢懈褕懈褌懈 斜邪褌褜泻褨胁褖懈薪褍 胁 1950-褏. 袗谢械 锌械褉械褩蟹写 写芯 袣邪薪邪写懈 薪械 锌褉懈屑械薪褕懈胁 泄芯谐芯 胁褨褉懈 褍 胁褨谢褜薪褍 挟谐芯褋谢邪胁褨褞 褌邪 胁 褌械, 褖芯 斜芯褉芯褌懈褋褟 蟹邪 薪械褩 屑芯卸薪邪 胁 斜褍写褜-褟泻褨 褋锌芯褋芯斜懈.
芦袘邪褌褜泻褨胁褖懈薪邪禄 袧褨薪懈 袘褍薪褦胁邪褑 鈥� 褑械 薪械泄屑芯胁褨褉薪械 锌褉芯褟胁谢械薪薪褟 芯褋芯斜懈褋褌芯褩 褨褋褌芯褉褨褩 薪邪 褌谢褨 械锌芯褏懈. 袉褋褌芯褉懈褔薪褨 锌芯写褨褩 袘邪谢泻邪薪 袘褍薪褦胁邪褑 锌芯泻邪蟹褍褦 泻褉褨蟹褜 锌褉懈蟹屑褍 卸懈褌褌褟 芯泻褉械屑懈褏 谢褞写械泄. 袊褩 蟹邪胁蟹褟褌懈泄, 褌械屑锌械褉邪屑械薪褌薪懈泄 斜邪褌褜泻芯 蟹邪胁写邪褦 褉芯写懈薪褨 谢懈褕械 斜芯谢褞 褌邪 谐芯褉褟 褨 蟹写邪褦褌褜褋褟 薪械 胁邪褉褌懈屑 褋锌褨胁褔褍褌褌褟. 袗谢械 屑懈 斜邪褔懈屑芯 褌褉邪谐褨褔薪褨褋褌褜 褨 褋胁芯褦褉褨写薪褍 胁械谢懈褔 褑褨褦褩 蟹邪屑泻薪褍褌芯褩, 胁褨写褔邪泄写褍褕薪芯褩 谢褞写懈薪懈, 褟泻邪, 锌芯褌褉邪锌懈胁褕懈 胁 锌邪褋褌泻褍 褋懈谢 褨褋褌芯褉褨褩 褌邪 薪械胁写邪谢芯谐芯 胁懈斜芯褉褍, 锌褉芯卸懈谢邪 卸懈褌褌褟, 褋锌芯胁薪械薪械 薪械褋泻褨薪褔械薪薪芯谐芯 薪械褖邪褋褌褟, 鈥� 邪谢械 泄 芯褋芯斜谢懈胁芯谐芯 褋械薪褋褍 褌邪 锌褉邪谐薪械薪薪褟 写芯 胁懈褖芯褩 屑械褌懈.
152 pages, Hardcover
First published August 28, 2014
9 people are currently reading
1,286 people want to read
About the author
Nina Bunjevac
17听books75听followersAlthough Canadian born, Nina Bunjevac spent her formative years in Yugoslavia, where she began her art education before returning to Canada at onset of the war of the 1990s. She continued her education in graphic design at the iconic Art Centre of Central Technical School in Toronto, subsequently graduating from the Drawing and Painting department at OCAD. After a decade of drawing and painting she discovered the passion for the narrative through sculpture installation work, eventually returning to her childhood passion for comics.
Nina鈥檚 comics have been published in a number of international periodicals and anthologies, including The National Post, Le Monde Diplomatique, ArtReview and Best American Comics. Her first book Heartless (2012, Conundrum Press, Nova Scotia) won a Doug Wright Award in Best Debut category. Her second book, Fatherland (2014, Jonathan Cape, London) has reached international acclaim, appearing on the New York Times best-seller list and receiving a Doug Wright Award in Best Book category; it was also shortlisted for PACA Regional Literary Award in France. Bezimena (2018, Ici M锚me, Nantes; 2019, Fantagraphics, Seattle), Nina鈥檚 third book, made the official selection at Angoul锚me International Comics Festival 2019, won Artemisia prize in the category of Best Drawing in France, and was awarded Best Book Jury Prize at 2019 Lucca Comics and Games in Lucca, Italy.
Her artwork has been included in a number of exhibitions, both in Canada and internationally. Notable exhibits include the 2014 installation Out of Fatherland, at Art Gallery of Ontario, commissioned mural pieces for The Idea of North, and Galerie Martel in Paris, France.
She lives in Toronto where she divides her time between comics, illustration, teaching and fine arts.
Nina鈥檚 comics have been published in a number of international periodicals and anthologies, including The National Post, Le Monde Diplomatique, ArtReview and Best American Comics. Her first book Heartless (2012, Conundrum Press, Nova Scotia) won a Doug Wright Award in Best Debut category. Her second book, Fatherland (2014, Jonathan Cape, London) has reached international acclaim, appearing on the New York Times best-seller list and receiving a Doug Wright Award in Best Book category; it was also shortlisted for PACA Regional Literary Award in France. Bezimena (2018, Ici M锚me, Nantes; 2019, Fantagraphics, Seattle), Nina鈥檚 third book, made the official selection at Angoul锚me International Comics Festival 2019, won Artemisia prize in the category of Best Drawing in France, and was awarded Best Book Jury Prize at 2019 Lucca Comics and Games in Lucca, Italy.
Her artwork has been included in a number of exhibitions, both in Canada and internationally. Notable exhibits include the 2014 installation Out of Fatherland, at Art Gallery of Ontario, commissioned mural pieces for The Idea of North, and Galerie Martel in Paris, France.
She lives in Toronto where she divides her time between comics, illustration, teaching and fine arts.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 226 reviews
December 31, 2015
The Repercussions of War
Like Marjane Satrapi鈥檚 Persepolis, Nina Bunjevac鈥檚 Fatherland: A Family History tells the story of a family deeply affected by war and political turmoil. It is the kind of family history that requires the author to discuss personal experiences in broader historical context - not an easy task. One of the greatest strengths of Persepolis is the way in which it seamlessly integrates historical information, hinting at broader developments from the protagonist鈥檚 necessarily limited perspective while never straying too far from her personal concerns. Persepolis does not ignore the bigger picture, but at the same time it wisely does not attempt to provide anything as ambitious as a complete history of the Iranian Revolution. It is firmly centered around a relatable protagonist, allowing the reader to explore unfamiliar events and worldviews through her eyes.
Unfortunately, Fatherland does not pull off this balancing act between the micro- and the macro-level quite as convincingly. It works well as long as it puts the spotlight on the author鈥檚 immediate environment, that is, on the refugee experience and the long-term repercussions of war and violence for the people around her. Feelings of dislocation, deprivation, alienation, depression and paranoia are conveyed not only through body language and facial expression, but also in ways that may at first glance appear clumsy and inept - through rigid panel arrangements and clunky pacing. However, the story does not spend enough time with its main characters for the reader to really become attached, losing sight of them while aiming to provide nothing less than an in-depth analysis of the roots of the Yugoslav Wars 鈥� an endeavor that is as admirably ambitious as it is misguided within the limitations of a relatively brief 鈥渇amily history.鈥� The reader鈥檚 lack of attachment to the characters becomes particularly problematic at the story鈥檚 end, when a surreal and tragic turn of events does not have the desired devastating or at least thought-provoking effect, but merely leaves the reader bewildered.
Despite its shortcomings, Fatherland certainly deserves credit for tackling important and difficult topics. There is a lot of potential here! Nina Bunjevac鈥檚 ability to capture complex emotions is astounding, especially considering this is only her second book, and her first attempt at a longer narrative. I鈥檒l definitely check out her next one!
Like Marjane Satrapi鈥檚 Persepolis, Nina Bunjevac鈥檚 Fatherland: A Family History tells the story of a family deeply affected by war and political turmoil. It is the kind of family history that requires the author to discuss personal experiences in broader historical context - not an easy task. One of the greatest strengths of Persepolis is the way in which it seamlessly integrates historical information, hinting at broader developments from the protagonist鈥檚 necessarily limited perspective while never straying too far from her personal concerns. Persepolis does not ignore the bigger picture, but at the same time it wisely does not attempt to provide anything as ambitious as a complete history of the Iranian Revolution. It is firmly centered around a relatable protagonist, allowing the reader to explore unfamiliar events and worldviews through her eyes.
Unfortunately, Fatherland does not pull off this balancing act between the micro- and the macro-level quite as convincingly. It works well as long as it puts the spotlight on the author鈥檚 immediate environment, that is, on the refugee experience and the long-term repercussions of war and violence for the people around her. Feelings of dislocation, deprivation, alienation, depression and paranoia are conveyed not only through body language and facial expression, but also in ways that may at first glance appear clumsy and inept - through rigid panel arrangements and clunky pacing. However, the story does not spend enough time with its main characters for the reader to really become attached, losing sight of them while aiming to provide nothing less than an in-depth analysis of the roots of the Yugoslav Wars 鈥� an endeavor that is as admirably ambitious as it is misguided within the limitations of a relatively brief 鈥渇amily history.鈥� The reader鈥檚 lack of attachment to the characters becomes particularly problematic at the story鈥檚 end, when a surreal and tragic turn of events does not have the desired devastating or at least thought-provoking effect, but merely leaves the reader bewildered.
Despite its shortcomings, Fatherland certainly deserves credit for tackling important and difficult topics. There is a lot of potential here! Nina Bunjevac鈥檚 ability to capture complex emotions is astounding, especially considering this is only her second book, and her first attempt at a longer narrative. I鈥檒l definitely check out her next one!
December 16, 2021
In Fatherland, Canadian cartoonist Nina Bunjevac relates the short, sad biography of her father, Peter (the Paul Bettany-looking chap on the cover), a Serbian terrorist who made and sent bombs to enemies of his nationalist group, before perishing in 1977 when a bomb he was working on went off and killed him and two collaborators.
It was a decent comic - I liked the main story of Peter, his hard and loveless childhood leading to the major red flag of murdering small animals, before becoming radicalised into Freedom for the Serbian Fatherland. Bunjevac鈥檚 black and white hatching artwork is immensely skillful too, creating a lot of 3D depth on the page, even producing portraits that look photo-realistic at times.
What slowed the story down immensely and really bored me was the convoluted and uninteresting story of Yugoslavia and its pointless enmities between the Serbs and Croats (even Bunjevac, who thoroughly researched this area of history, concludes that no-one knows why the two sides hate each other so much).
There鈥檚 so much dreariness about what this leader said and did leading to another leader who said and did other things, sides and bitterness growing - even if I did care, I鈥檇 still have a hard time keeping up with what was going on over the many years of conflict that blighted this region. And the end result today is that Yugoslavia no longer exists - the country has been carved up into numerous countries: Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia Herzegovina, and more.
I can see why Bunjevac needed to include all of this material - to show readers why her dad did what he did - but I still came away from this book feeling depressed at how petty and stupid we humans can be about basically nothing and let that lead to decades of needless pain and suffering for countless people.
The parts about Nina鈥檚 father and her art throughout are really good, but you鈥檝e also gotta wade through a lengthy, dreary history lesson on a relatively obscure part of the world to enjoy it. Fatherland is still worth a look if you鈥檙e a nonfiction comics fan, particularly if you like the work of Joe Sacco.
It was a decent comic - I liked the main story of Peter, his hard and loveless childhood leading to the major red flag of murdering small animals, before becoming radicalised into Freedom for the Serbian Fatherland. Bunjevac鈥檚 black and white hatching artwork is immensely skillful too, creating a lot of 3D depth on the page, even producing portraits that look photo-realistic at times.
What slowed the story down immensely and really bored me was the convoluted and uninteresting story of Yugoslavia and its pointless enmities between the Serbs and Croats (even Bunjevac, who thoroughly researched this area of history, concludes that no-one knows why the two sides hate each other so much).
There鈥檚 so much dreariness about what this leader said and did leading to another leader who said and did other things, sides and bitterness growing - even if I did care, I鈥檇 still have a hard time keeping up with what was going on over the many years of conflict that blighted this region. And the end result today is that Yugoslavia no longer exists - the country has been carved up into numerous countries: Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia Herzegovina, and more.
I can see why Bunjevac needed to include all of this material - to show readers why her dad did what he did - but I still came away from this book feeling depressed at how petty and stupid we humans can be about basically nothing and let that lead to decades of needless pain and suffering for countless people.
The parts about Nina鈥檚 father and her art throughout are really good, but you鈥檝e also gotta wade through a lengthy, dreary history lesson on a relatively obscure part of the world to enjoy it. Fatherland is still worth a look if you鈥檙e a nonfiction comics fan, particularly if you like the work of Joe Sacco.
August 28, 2016
A lot of people are comparing this book to other graphic memoirs about family entanglements with war and political turmoil, and I can understand these comparisons, but in a way Fatherland is a book that is tough to compare to either graphic histories or graphic memoirs because it is trying to be both at once, but in jarring, fragmentary ways. I agree with other reviewers that there isn't a graceful synthesis of the two, but I'm not sure if that necessarily makes the book less powerful. It certainly makes it more frustrating, but it also gives it a sense of authenticity. Memory is fragmented. We revise our narratives of people, places and things in order to create for ourselves a livable present. And to a degree, the narrator is showing that act of twisting a narrative.
In the opening sequence the narrator's (the author as she represents herself in the book) mother shows up unannounced. Bunjevac can tell it's her mother by the way that she knocks and is stressed out by the visit and deals with her failure to hide her discomfort by pretending her shoulder hurts. It's a little funny, but the book doesn't seem to allow for much humor. Or, I'm not always sure how to read the tone. One example of the many ways in which this book makes me a little uncomfortable.
Bunjevac offers information in this opening which is never explained. Her mother asks where Jacob is. Who is Jacob? I guess is her kid, or her spouse/partner? Bunjevac says Jacob is away for the weekend. Her mother says "Oh. I forgot...It's Friday." We never know why Jacob is gone, nor do we know who he is. But as the book is dedicated to Jacob, among other people, he must be someone of importance. WE are left to fill in the blanks.
Next Bunjevac shows her mother a photo of their old house in Welland (Ontario) and waits to see how her mother will handle this jolt from the past. It seems a bit harsh. She seems to know that her mother survives by, to some degree, willfully forgetting so much of their family history. On the other hand, maybe she believes that she can create some deeper sense of peacefulness in the family by bringing the skeletons out of the closet, as they say. Or maybe she just really wants to know about her past and is trying in different ways to try to get her mother to help her fill in the blanks. (So, maybe she is trying to tell us we all do our best to complete narratives with incomplete information?)
This photograph of the old house is the conceit that allows us to travel back in time. In this time-travel (back and forth), we are invited into a family narrative that is sometimes personal, and sometimes more broadly historical, but always with a feeing of distance and kind of jumpy movements. A lot of the story seems an attempt to try to make sense of the life and death of Bunjevac's father, whose representation varies throughout the book.
The art is neat, textured, architectural, photographic, a bit eerie in its coolness, It's not warm and inviting. This is not a "let's sit around the fire and tell stories" kind of story. There's a rawness to it, in that Bunjevac seems to be trying to make sense of the loss and violence in her family's history -- to understand it in layered familial contexts, national and international wars, and deep historical tensions. I get the feeling as I'm reading that she's trying to find a structure that can hold this painful history and that what she found was, at best, a way to hold all these different pieces in one artifact, this book, which is fairly big and weighty, though not terribly long.
I don't know quite how to rate this book because I think Bunjevac is doing something interesting and important, shifting away from the clearer structure and more consistently intimate (?) narratives in graphic memoirs that strive to address similar fractured relationships between place and time (narratives of families and family histories affected by war and fighting.) So, I'm giving it a four as a way of honoring a book about an important history of familial and regional conflict that is stylistically and narratively a bit off the beaten path.
In the opening sequence the narrator's (the author as she represents herself in the book) mother shows up unannounced. Bunjevac can tell it's her mother by the way that she knocks and is stressed out by the visit and deals with her failure to hide her discomfort by pretending her shoulder hurts. It's a little funny, but the book doesn't seem to allow for much humor. Or, I'm not always sure how to read the tone. One example of the many ways in which this book makes me a little uncomfortable.
Bunjevac offers information in this opening which is never explained. Her mother asks where Jacob is. Who is Jacob? I guess is her kid, or her spouse/partner? Bunjevac says Jacob is away for the weekend. Her mother says "Oh. I forgot...It's Friday." We never know why Jacob is gone, nor do we know who he is. But as the book is dedicated to Jacob, among other people, he must be someone of importance. WE are left to fill in the blanks.
Next Bunjevac shows her mother a photo of their old house in Welland (Ontario) and waits to see how her mother will handle this jolt from the past. It seems a bit harsh. She seems to know that her mother survives by, to some degree, willfully forgetting so much of their family history. On the other hand, maybe she believes that she can create some deeper sense of peacefulness in the family by bringing the skeletons out of the closet, as they say. Or maybe she just really wants to know about her past and is trying in different ways to try to get her mother to help her fill in the blanks. (So, maybe she is trying to tell us we all do our best to complete narratives with incomplete information?)
This photograph of the old house is the conceit that allows us to travel back in time. In this time-travel (back and forth), we are invited into a family narrative that is sometimes personal, and sometimes more broadly historical, but always with a feeing of distance and kind of jumpy movements. A lot of the story seems an attempt to try to make sense of the life and death of Bunjevac's father, whose representation varies throughout the book.
The art is neat, textured, architectural, photographic, a bit eerie in its coolness, It's not warm and inviting. This is not a "let's sit around the fire and tell stories" kind of story. There's a rawness to it, in that Bunjevac seems to be trying to make sense of the loss and violence in her family's history -- to understand it in layered familial contexts, national and international wars, and deep historical tensions. I get the feeling as I'm reading that she's trying to find a structure that can hold this painful history and that what she found was, at best, a way to hold all these different pieces in one artifact, this book, which is fairly big and weighty, though not terribly long.
I don't know quite how to rate this book because I think Bunjevac is doing something interesting and important, shifting away from the clearer structure and more consistently intimate (?) narratives in graphic memoirs that strive to address similar fractured relationships between place and time (narratives of families and family histories affected by war and fighting.) So, I'm giving it a four as a way of honoring a book about an important history of familial and regional conflict that is stylistically and narratively a bit off the beaten path.
March 17, 2015
A graphic memoir/family history as it relates to historical events such as Satrapi's Persepolis or Spiegelman's Maus. This one looks at the (long, historical) "conflict" in the Balkans, with a focus in her family history on Tito and Yugoslavia, where it's Royalists vs. Communists. Bunjevac focuses on her Dad's radicalization in the sixties and seventies in this struggle, his imprisonment, his escape to Canada and his being part of a terrorist cell with the purpose, his marrying the author's mother, their having three kids.. and the mother's escape back to Yugoslavia with two of the kids from her abusive, drunken, radicalized husband (whom his daughter, the author, is also convinced deeply loved his family, but we don't see much of this side of him, really; she's not that convincing that he is a good guy in many respects--he's a violent, angry, unhappy man, as I see it).
The larger political scene is addressed, for sure; we get maps and dates and detailed analyses, but this complicated background doesn't mesh well with the family story, in my opinion. It's a pretty interesting family story, and beautifully drawn in a kind of (often) pointillist fashion, a really interesting pen and ink style, and I want to see more of her drawing. There's a kind of a distancing effect for me in the art and story, as I don't think we get to know any of the people all that well. But I still liked this, her first major work (after a collection of stories I still haven't read). I just think she didn't bring all the elements together in the way I had hoped.
The larger political scene is addressed, for sure; we get maps and dates and detailed analyses, but this complicated background doesn't mesh well with the family story, in my opinion. It's a pretty interesting family story, and beautifully drawn in a kind of (often) pointillist fashion, a really interesting pen and ink style, and I want to see more of her drawing. There's a kind of a distancing effect for me in the art and story, as I don't think we get to know any of the people all that well. But I still liked this, her first major work (after a collection of stories I still haven't read). I just think she didn't bring all the elements together in the way I had hoped.
July 28, 2021
袛褉褍泻 屑邪谢褜芯锌懈褋褨胁 胁褨写 袙懈写邪胁薪懈褑褌胁芯 芦袙懈写邪胁薪懈褑褌胁芯禄 褟 褔械泻邪褞 蟹 芯褋芯斜谢懈胁懈屑 薪械褌械褉锌褨薪薪褟屑. 袗谢械 薪械 褔械褉械蟹 褌械, 褖芯 胁芯薪懈 写褉褍泻褍褞褌褜 褟泻褨褋褜 泻褉邪褖褨 泻芯屑褨泻褋懈, 邪薪褨卸 褨薪褕褨, 邪 褔械褉械蟹 褌械, 褖芯 胁芯薪懈 薪邪褑褨谢械薪褨 薪邪 褋芯褑褨邪谢褜薪褨 褌械屑懈, 褟泻褨 写谢褟 屑械薪械, 蟹芯泻褉械屑邪 褑褨泻邪胁褨. 袩褉芯褋褌芯 褋邪屑械 胁 泻芯屑褨泻褋邪褏 屑械薪褨 褑褨 褌械屑懈 褋锌褉懈泄屑邪褞褌褜褋褟 谢械谐褕械 胁 锌芯褉褨胁薪褟薪薪褨 褨蟹 褔懈褌邪薪薪褟屑 谢褨褌械褉邪褌褍褉懈 胁 褑褜芯屑褍 卸 卸邪薪褉褨.
袦邪谢褜芯锌懈褋 芦袘邪褌褜泻褨胁褖懈薪邪禄 袧褨薪懈 袘褍薪褦胁邪褑 鈥� 褑械 谐褉邪褎褨褔薪褨 屑械屑褍邪褉懈, 芯褋泻褨谢褜泻懈 胁褨薪 褉芯蟹锌芯胁褨写邪褦 褨褋褌芯褉褨褞 胁谢邪褋薪芯褩 褋褨屑鈥櫻�, 褌邪泻 褋邪屑芯, 褟泻 芦袩械褉褋械锌芯谢褨褋禄 袦邪褉卸邪薪 小邪褌褉邪锌褨, 芦袦邪褍褋禄 袗褉褌邪 楔锌褨覒械谢褜屑邪薪邪 褔懈 芦袩邪谢械褋褌懈薪邪禄 袛卸芯 小邪泻泻芯. 芦袘邪褌褜泻褨胁褖懈薪邪禄 写懈胁懈褌褜褋褟 胁 斜褨泻 写邪胁薪褜芯谐芯 泻芯薪褎谢褨泻褌褍 薪邪 袘邪谢泻邪薪邪褏 薪邪 褎芯薪褨 褟泻芯谐芯 胁褨写斜褍胁邪褦褌褜褋褟 褉芯蟹谢褍褔械薪薪褟 褋褨屑鈥櫻� 褔械褉械蟹 褉邪写懈泻邪谢褜薪懈泄 薪邪褑褨芯薪邪谢褨蟹屑 斜邪褌褜泻邪 邪胁褌芯褉泻懈, 褎邪薪邪褌懈蟹屑 褟泻芯谐芯 锌芯褋褌褨泄薪芯 蟹褉芯褋褌邪胁, 薪邪胁褨褌褜 锌褨褋谢褟 褌芯谐芯, 褟泻 胁褨薪 褍 1950-褏 褉芯泻邪褏 斜褍胁 蟹屑褍褕械薪懈泄 胁褌械泻褌懈 薪邪 褨薪褕懈泄 泻芯薪褌懈薪械薪褌, 写械 锌褉芯写芯胁卸懈胁 斜褍写褜-褟泻懈屑 褋锌芯褋芯斜芯屑 斜芯褉芯褌懈褋褟 蟹邪 胁褨谢褜薪褍 挟谐芯褋谢邪胁褨褞. 孝芯屑褍 屑邪褌懈 胁懈褉褨褕懈谢邪 胁褌械泻褌懈 胁褨写 薪褜芯谐芯 褌邪 蟹邪谢懈褕懈褌懈 袣邪薪邪写褍, 蟹邪斜褉邪胁褕懈 屑邪谢械薪褜泻褍 袧褨薪褍 褌邪 褩褩 褋械褋褌褉褍 薪邪蟹邪写 写芯 挟谐芯褋谢邪胁褨褩, 蟹邪谢懈褕懈胁褕懈 胁 袣邪薪邪写褨 褋胁芯谐芯 褋懈薪邪.
芦袘邪褌褜泻褨胁褖懈薪邪禄 薪邪屑邪谐邪褦褌褜褋褟 芯写薪芯褔邪褋薪芯 斜褍褌懈 泄 褨褋褌芯褉懈褔薪芯褞 褉芯蟹锌芯胁褨写写褞 褌邪 屑械屑褍邪褉邪屑懈, 邪谢械, 薪邪 屑芯褞 写褍屑泻褍, 褟泻芯褋褜 薪械 写褍卸械 胁锌械胁薪械薪芯, 薪邪胁褨褌褜 褎褉邪谐屑械薪褌邪褉薪芯. 啸芯褔邪 褑褟 褎褉邪谐屑械薪褌邪褉薪褨褋褌褜 褟泻褉邪蟹 写芯写邪褦 褨褋褌芯褉褨褩 褋锌褉邪胁卸薪芯褋褌褨, 斜芯 褑褨 械锌褨蟹芯写懈 胁懈谐谢褟写邪褞褌褜, 褟泻 褍褉懈胁泻懈 褨蟹 屑懈薪褍谢芯谐芯 邪胁褌芯褉泻懈, 褟泻褨 胁懈褉懈薪邪褞褌褜 褍 褩褩 锌邪屑鈥櫻徰傃�. 袘褍薪褦胁邪褑 蟹胁械褉褌邪褦褌褜褋褟 褌褍褌 褌邪泻芯卸 写芯 锌芯谢褨褌懈褔薪芯褩 褋褑械薪懈, 屑懈 芯褌褉懈屑褍褦屑芯 泻邪褉褌懈, 写邪褌懈, 褟泻芯褞褋褜 屑褨褉芯褞 薪邪胁褨褌褜 邪薪邪谢褨蟹 锌芯写褨泄. 袗谢械 褔懈 锌褉邪褑褞褦 胁芯薪芯, 褟泻 褉芯蟹锌芯胁褨写褜 褨褋褌芯褉懈褔薪芯谐芯 锌械褉褨芯写褍 褨蟹 胁褨写锌芯胁褨写薪懈屑懈 写械褌邪谢褟屑懈? 袙胁邪卸邪褞, 褍蟹邪谐邪谢褨 薪褨, 胁芯薪芯 蟹邪写邪褦 锌褉芯褋褌芯 锌褉邪胁懈谢褜薪懈泄 褎芯薪, 褖芯斜懈 屑懈 泻褉邪褖械 褉芯蟹斜懈褉邪谢懈褋褟 胁 锌械褉褨芯写邪褏 卸懈褌褌褟 褉芯写懈薪懈 邪胁褌芯褉泻懈. 袗谢械 褑懈褏 褍褋褨褏 写械褌邪谢械泄 屑械薪褨 斜褍谢芯 蟹邪斜邪谐邪褌芯.
袗 芯褋褜 薪邪褉邪褌懈胁, 褟泻懈泄 屑械薪褨 锌芯写芯斜邪褦褌褜褋褟, 褟泻褉邪蟹 褋褌胁芯褉褞褦 械屑芯褑褨泄薪邪 褔邪褋褌懈薪邪 屑械屑褍邪褉褨胁, 写械 袘褍薪褦胁邪褑 薪邪屑邪谐邪褦褌褜褋褟 蟹褉芯蟹褍屑褨褌懈 胁褌褉邪褌懈 褌邪 薪邪褋懈谢褜褋褌胁芯 胁 褨褋褌芯褉褨褩 褋胁芯褦褩 褋褨屑鈥櫻�, 褉芯蟹褨斜褉邪褌懈 褑械 胁褋械 胁 斜邪谐邪褌芯褕邪褉芯胁芯屑褍 褉芯写懈薪薪芯屑褍 泻芯薪褌械泻褋褌褨, 屑褨卸薪邪褉芯写薪懈褏 褌邪 薪邪褑褨芯薪邪谢褜薪懈褏 胁褨泄薪邪褏, 褟泻褨 屑邪褞褌褜 谐谢懈斜芯泻褍 褨褋褌芯褉懈褔薪褍 泄 褋褨屑械泄薪褍 械屑芯褑褨泄薪褍 薪邪锌褉褍卸械薪褨褋褌褜. 楔泻芯写邪 褌褨谢褜泻懈, 褖芯 蟹写械斜褨谢褜褕芯谐芯 屑懈 斜邪褔懈屑芯 褌褨谢褜泻懈 褋褌芯褉芯薪褍 屑邪褌械褉褨 泄 斜邪斜褍褋褨 薪邪 胁褋褞 褑褞 褋懈褌褍邪褑褨褞, 斜械蟹 覒褉褍薪褌芯胁薪芯谐芯 邪薪邪谢褨蟹褍 胁褨写 褋邪屑芯褩 袧褨薪懈. 袘械蟹褍屑芯胁薪芯, 械屑芯褑褨泄薪懈泄 褋褌邪薪 褩褩 屑邪褌械褉褨, 褌褟卸泻懈泄 胁懈斜褨褉 屑褨卸 褉邪写懈泻邪谢褜薪芯褞 胁鈥櫻徯沸叫秆喰笛� 褔芯谢芯胁褨泻邪 胁 袣邪薪邪写褨 褌邪 邪胁褌芯褉懈褌邪褉薪芯褞 胁鈥櫻徯沸叫秆喰笛� 斜邪斜褍褋褨 胁 挟谐芯褋谢邪胁褨褩, 褉褨褕械薪薪褟 蟹邪谢懈褕懈褌懈 芯写薪褍 褋胁芯褞 写懈褌懈薪褍, 褖芯斜懈 胁褉褟褌褍胁邪褌懈 写胁芯褏 褨薪褕懈褏 写褨褌械泄, 薪邪屑邪谐邪薪薪褟 胁褌褉懈屑邪褌懈褋褟 薪邪 锌谢邪胁褍 锌芯褋械褉械写 锌芯褋褌褨泄薪懈褏 锌芯胁褔邪薪褜 褨薪褕懈褏 蟹邪写谢褟 屑邪泄斜褍褌薪褜芯谐芯 写芯薪褜芯泻 鈥� 褑械 薪邪写蟹胁懈褔邪泄薪芯 胁邪卸谢懈胁褨 邪褋锌械泻褌懈 写谢褟 褑褜芯谐芯 屑邪谢褜芯锌懈褋褍, 芯褋芯斜谢懈胁芯 泻芯谢懈 邪胁褌芯褉泻邪 薪邪屑邪谐邪褦褌褜褋褟 蟹褉芯蟹褍屑褨褌懈 褋胁芯褞 屑邪褌褨褉. 袗谢械 屑械薪褨 芯褋芯斜懈褋褌芯 斜褉邪泻褍胁邪谢芯 袧褨薪懈 袘褍薪褦胁邪褑, 褨, 褟泻褨 械屑芯褑褨褩 锌械褉械卸懈胁邪褦 褋邪屑械 胁芯薪邪 胁 褌褨泄 褔懈 褨薪褕褨泄 褋懈褌褍邪褑褨褩.
袩褉芯写芯胁卸褍褞褔懈 谐芯胁芯褉懈褌懈 锌芯 械屑芯褑褨褩, 邪谢械 褋邪屑械 械屑芯褑褨褩, 褟泻褨 胁懈泻谢懈泻邪褦 屑邪谢褜芯锌懈褋 锌褨写 褔邪褋 褔懈褌邪薪薪褟, 褌芯 锌芯蟹懈褌懈胁薪懈褏 胁褨写褔褍褌褌褨胁 胁懈 褌褍褌 薪械 蟹薪邪泄写械褌械, 褟泻, 写谢褟 锌褉懈泻谢邪写褍, 褍 芦袩械褉褋械锌芯谢褨褋褨禄 小邪褌褉邪锌褨. 袩械褉械卸懈胁邪薪薪褟, 褋褍屑, 褋褌褉邪褏 褔懈 卸邪谢褜 鈥� 褑械 芯褋薪芯胁薪褨 褋褍锌褍褌薪懈泻懈 锌褨写 褔邪褋 褔懈褌邪薪薪褟. 啸芯褔邪 薪邪 锌芯褔邪褌泻褍 芯锌芯胁褨写褨, 泻芯谢懈 屑邪褌懈 袧褨薪懈 袘褍薪褦胁邪褑 蟹鈥櫻徯残谎徰斞傃屟佈� 褍 写胁械褉褟褏 褩褩 泻胁邪褉褌懈褉懈, 屑懈 斜邪褔懈屑芯, 褟泻 邪胁褌芯褉泻邪 胁褨写褔褍胁邪褦 褋褌褉械褋 胁褨写 胁褨蟹懈褌褍 褨, 褖芯斜懈 锌褉懈褏芯胁邪褌懈 写懈褋泻芯屑褎芯褉褌褍 胁芯薪邪 胁写邪褦, 褖芯 褩褩 斜芯谢懈褌褜 锌谢械褔械. 笑械 薪邪胁褨褌褜 褌褉芯褏懈 褋屑褨褕薪芯, 邪谢械 写邪谢褨 褌懈 褉芯蟹褍屑褨褦褕, 褖芯 泻芯屑褨泻褋 薪械 写芯蟹胁芯谢褟褦 谐褍屑芯褉褍 褍蟹邪谐邪谢褨. 袉 锌芯褌褨屑, 锌褨褋谢褟 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪薪薪褟, 褑褟 械屑芯褑褨褟, 褟泻邪 胁懈薪懈泻谢邪 薪邪 锌芯褔邪褌泻褍, 褋褌邪褦 褌褉芯褏懈 薪械蟹褉褍褔薪芯褞, 斜邪 薪邪胁褨褌褜 褋芯褉芯屑薪芯 蟹邪 薪械褩 锌械胁薪懈屑 褔懈薪芯屑.
些芯写芯 屑邪谢褞薪泻褍, 褌芯 褋褌懈谢褜 芦褉褍褔泻懈 泄 褔芯褉薪懈谢邪禄 胁懈谐谢褟写邪褦 写芯褋懈褌褜 褑褨泻邪胁芯, 薪邪谐邪写褍褞褔懈 褔懈屑芯褋褜 锌褍邪薪褌懈谢褨褋褌懈褔薪懈泄 褋褌懈谢褜 褍 卸懈胁芯锌懈褋褨. 袦邪谢褞薪芯泻 邪泻褍褉邪褌薪懈泄, 褎邪泻褌褍褉薪懈泄, 褎芯褌芯谐褉邪褎褨褔薪懈泄, 褟 斜 褋泻邪蟹邪胁 屑芯褌芯褉芯褕薪懈泄 褍 褋胁芯褩泄 锌褉芯褏芯谢芯写褨, 褔械褉械蟹 褖芯 褍蟹邪谐邪谢褨 薪械 锌褉懈胁邪斜谢懈胁懈泄. 袉 锌械胁械薪, 褖芯 褑械 褟泻褉邪蟹 褌械, 褖芯 褋褌胁芯褉褞褦 褌褍 邪褌屑芯褋褎械褉褍, 褌芯泄 械屑芯褑褨泄薪懈泄 褎芯薪, 褟泻懈泄 锌芯褌褉褨斜械薪 褑褨泄 胁邪卸泻褨泄 褨褋褌芯褉褨褩.
袙邪卸泻芯 芯褑褨薪懈褌懈 褑械泄 屑邪谢褜芯锌懈褋, 褌褍褌 薪械 胁褋褨 械谢械屑械薪褌懈 褋锌褉邪褑褞胁邪谢懈, 褟泻 褋谢褨写, 芯褋芯斜谢懈胁芯 锌芯褋褌褨泄薪褨 泄 褋褍褏褨 褨褋褌芯褉懈褔薪褨 锌芯褟褋薪械薪薪褟 胁褋褨褏 锌芯写褨泄, 邪谢械 蟹 褨薪褕芯谐芯 斜芯泻褍 邪胁褌芯褉泻邪 褉芯斜懈褌褜 褖芯褋褜 胁邪卸谢懈胁械, 胁褕邪薪芯胁褍褦 褨褋褌芯褉褨褞 褋褨屑械泄薪懈褏 褌邪 褉械谐褨芯薪邪谢褜薪懈褏 泻芯薪褎谢褨泻褌褨胁. 孝邪 锌械褉械泻芯薪邪薪懈泄, 褖芯 锌褨褋谢褟 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪薪薪褟 胁 泻芯卸薪芯谐芯 褑褟 褨褋褌芯褉褨褟 胁褨写谐褍泻薪械褌褜褋褟 褔懈屑芯褋褜 斜谢懈蟹褜泻懈屑, 邪写卸械 泻芯卸薪邪 褋褨屑鈥櫻� 屑邪褦 褋胁芯褩 胁谢邪褋薪褨 褋泻械谢械褌懈 胁 褕邪褎褨, 褟泻褨 薪械 褏芯褔械褌褜褋褟 胁懈薪芯褋懈褌懈 薪邪蟹芯胁薪褨.
袩褨写褍锌懈褋褍泄褌械褋褟 薪邪 孝械谢械覒褉邪屑 泻邪薪邪谢 锌褉芯 泻芯屑褨泻褋懈 褨 薪械 褌褨谢褜泻懈
袦邪谢褜芯锌懈褋 芦袘邪褌褜泻褨胁褖懈薪邪禄 袧褨薪懈 袘褍薪褦胁邪褑 鈥� 褑械 谐褉邪褎褨褔薪褨 屑械屑褍邪褉懈, 芯褋泻褨谢褜泻懈 胁褨薪 褉芯蟹锌芯胁褨写邪褦 褨褋褌芯褉褨褞 胁谢邪褋薪芯褩 褋褨屑鈥櫻�, 褌邪泻 褋邪屑芯, 褟泻 芦袩械褉褋械锌芯谢褨褋禄 袦邪褉卸邪薪 小邪褌褉邪锌褨, 芦袦邪褍褋禄 袗褉褌邪 楔锌褨覒械谢褜屑邪薪邪 褔懈 芦袩邪谢械褋褌懈薪邪禄 袛卸芯 小邪泻泻芯. 芦袘邪褌褜泻褨胁褖懈薪邪禄 写懈胁懈褌褜褋褟 胁 斜褨泻 写邪胁薪褜芯谐芯 泻芯薪褎谢褨泻褌褍 薪邪 袘邪谢泻邪薪邪褏 薪邪 褎芯薪褨 褟泻芯谐芯 胁褨写斜褍胁邪褦褌褜褋褟 褉芯蟹谢褍褔械薪薪褟 褋褨屑鈥櫻� 褔械褉械蟹 褉邪写懈泻邪谢褜薪懈泄 薪邪褑褨芯薪邪谢褨蟹屑 斜邪褌褜泻邪 邪胁褌芯褉泻懈, 褎邪薪邪褌懈蟹屑 褟泻芯谐芯 锌芯褋褌褨泄薪芯 蟹褉芯褋褌邪胁, 薪邪胁褨褌褜 锌褨褋谢褟 褌芯谐芯, 褟泻 胁褨薪 褍 1950-褏 褉芯泻邪褏 斜褍胁 蟹屑褍褕械薪懈泄 胁褌械泻褌懈 薪邪 褨薪褕懈泄 泻芯薪褌懈薪械薪褌, 写械 锌褉芯写芯胁卸懈胁 斜褍写褜-褟泻懈屑 褋锌芯褋芯斜芯屑 斜芯褉芯褌懈褋褟 蟹邪 胁褨谢褜薪褍 挟谐芯褋谢邪胁褨褞. 孝芯屑褍 屑邪褌懈 胁懈褉褨褕懈谢邪 胁褌械泻褌懈 胁褨写 薪褜芯谐芯 褌邪 蟹邪谢懈褕懈褌懈 袣邪薪邪写褍, 蟹邪斜褉邪胁褕懈 屑邪谢械薪褜泻褍 袧褨薪褍 褌邪 褩褩 褋械褋褌褉褍 薪邪蟹邪写 写芯 挟谐芯褋谢邪胁褨褩, 蟹邪谢懈褕懈胁褕懈 胁 袣邪薪邪写褨 褋胁芯谐芯 褋懈薪邪.
芦袘邪褌褜泻褨胁褖懈薪邪禄 薪邪屑邪谐邪褦褌褜褋褟 芯写薪芯褔邪褋薪芯 斜褍褌懈 泄 褨褋褌芯褉懈褔薪芯褞 褉芯蟹锌芯胁褨写写褞 褌邪 屑械屑褍邪褉邪屑懈, 邪谢械, 薪邪 屑芯褞 写褍屑泻褍, 褟泻芯褋褜 薪械 写褍卸械 胁锌械胁薪械薪芯, 薪邪胁褨褌褜 褎褉邪谐屑械薪褌邪褉薪芯. 啸芯褔邪 褑褟 褎褉邪谐屑械薪褌邪褉薪褨褋褌褜 褟泻褉邪蟹 写芯写邪褦 褨褋褌芯褉褨褩 褋锌褉邪胁卸薪芯褋褌褨, 斜芯 褑褨 械锌褨蟹芯写懈 胁懈谐谢褟写邪褞褌褜, 褟泻 褍褉懈胁泻懈 褨蟹 屑懈薪褍谢芯谐芯 邪胁褌芯褉泻懈, 褟泻褨 胁懈褉懈薪邪褞褌褜 褍 褩褩 锌邪屑鈥櫻徰傃�. 袘褍薪褦胁邪褑 蟹胁械褉褌邪褦褌褜褋褟 褌褍褌 褌邪泻芯卸 写芯 锌芯谢褨褌懈褔薪芯褩 褋褑械薪懈, 屑懈 芯褌褉懈屑褍褦屑芯 泻邪褉褌懈, 写邪褌懈, 褟泻芯褞褋褜 屑褨褉芯褞 薪邪胁褨褌褜 邪薪邪谢褨蟹 锌芯写褨泄. 袗谢械 褔懈 锌褉邪褑褞褦 胁芯薪芯, 褟泻 褉芯蟹锌芯胁褨写褜 褨褋褌芯褉懈褔薪芯谐芯 锌械褉褨芯写褍 褨蟹 胁褨写锌芯胁褨写薪懈屑懈 写械褌邪谢褟屑懈? 袙胁邪卸邪褞, 褍蟹邪谐邪谢褨 薪褨, 胁芯薪芯 蟹邪写邪褦 锌褉芯褋褌芯 锌褉邪胁懈谢褜薪懈泄 褎芯薪, 褖芯斜懈 屑懈 泻褉邪褖械 褉芯蟹斜懈褉邪谢懈褋褟 胁 锌械褉褨芯写邪褏 卸懈褌褌褟 褉芯写懈薪懈 邪胁褌芯褉泻懈. 袗谢械 褑懈褏 褍褋褨褏 写械褌邪谢械泄 屑械薪褨 斜褍谢芯 蟹邪斜邪谐邪褌芯.
袗 芯褋褜 薪邪褉邪褌懈胁, 褟泻懈泄 屑械薪褨 锌芯写芯斜邪褦褌褜褋褟, 褟泻褉邪蟹 褋褌胁芯褉褞褦 械屑芯褑褨泄薪邪 褔邪褋褌懈薪邪 屑械屑褍邪褉褨胁, 写械 袘褍薪褦胁邪褑 薪邪屑邪谐邪褦褌褜褋褟 蟹褉芯蟹褍屑褨褌懈 胁褌褉邪褌懈 褌邪 薪邪褋懈谢褜褋褌胁芯 胁 褨褋褌芯褉褨褩 褋胁芯褦褩 褋褨屑鈥櫻�, 褉芯蟹褨斜褉邪褌懈 褑械 胁褋械 胁 斜邪谐邪褌芯褕邪褉芯胁芯屑褍 褉芯写懈薪薪芯屑褍 泻芯薪褌械泻褋褌褨, 屑褨卸薪邪褉芯写薪懈褏 褌邪 薪邪褑褨芯薪邪谢褜薪懈褏 胁褨泄薪邪褏, 褟泻褨 屑邪褞褌褜 谐谢懈斜芯泻褍 褨褋褌芯褉懈褔薪褍 泄 褋褨屑械泄薪褍 械屑芯褑褨泄薪褍 薪邪锌褉褍卸械薪褨褋褌褜. 楔泻芯写邪 褌褨谢褜泻懈, 褖芯 蟹写械斜褨谢褜褕芯谐芯 屑懈 斜邪褔懈屑芯 褌褨谢褜泻懈 褋褌芯褉芯薪褍 屑邪褌械褉褨 泄 斜邪斜褍褋褨 薪邪 胁褋褞 褑褞 褋懈褌褍邪褑褨褞, 斜械蟹 覒褉褍薪褌芯胁薪芯谐芯 邪薪邪谢褨蟹褍 胁褨写 褋邪屑芯褩 袧褨薪懈. 袘械蟹褍屑芯胁薪芯, 械屑芯褑褨泄薪懈泄 褋褌邪薪 褩褩 屑邪褌械褉褨, 褌褟卸泻懈泄 胁懈斜褨褉 屑褨卸 褉邪写懈泻邪谢褜薪芯褞 胁鈥櫻徯沸叫秆喰笛� 褔芯谢芯胁褨泻邪 胁 袣邪薪邪写褨 褌邪 邪胁褌芯褉懈褌邪褉薪芯褞 胁鈥櫻徯沸叫秆喰笛� 斜邪斜褍褋褨 胁 挟谐芯褋谢邪胁褨褩, 褉褨褕械薪薪褟 蟹邪谢懈褕懈褌懈 芯写薪褍 褋胁芯褞 写懈褌懈薪褍, 褖芯斜懈 胁褉褟褌褍胁邪褌懈 写胁芯褏 褨薪褕懈褏 写褨褌械泄, 薪邪屑邪谐邪薪薪褟 胁褌褉懈屑邪褌懈褋褟 薪邪 锌谢邪胁褍 锌芯褋械褉械写 锌芯褋褌褨泄薪懈褏 锌芯胁褔邪薪褜 褨薪褕懈褏 蟹邪写谢褟 屑邪泄斜褍褌薪褜芯谐芯 写芯薪褜芯泻 鈥� 褑械 薪邪写蟹胁懈褔邪泄薪芯 胁邪卸谢懈胁褨 邪褋锌械泻褌懈 写谢褟 褑褜芯谐芯 屑邪谢褜芯锌懈褋褍, 芯褋芯斜谢懈胁芯 泻芯谢懈 邪胁褌芯褉泻邪 薪邪屑邪谐邪褦褌褜褋褟 蟹褉芯蟹褍屑褨褌懈 褋胁芯褞 屑邪褌褨褉. 袗谢械 屑械薪褨 芯褋芯斜懈褋褌芯 斜褉邪泻褍胁邪谢芯 袧褨薪懈 袘褍薪褦胁邪褑, 褨, 褟泻褨 械屑芯褑褨褩 锌械褉械卸懈胁邪褦 褋邪屑械 胁芯薪邪 胁 褌褨泄 褔懈 褨薪褕褨泄 褋懈褌褍邪褑褨褩.
袩褉芯写芯胁卸褍褞褔懈 谐芯胁芯褉懈褌懈 锌芯 械屑芯褑褨褩, 邪谢械 褋邪屑械 械屑芯褑褨褩, 褟泻褨 胁懈泻谢懈泻邪褦 屑邪谢褜芯锌懈褋 锌褨写 褔邪褋 褔懈褌邪薪薪褟, 褌芯 锌芯蟹懈褌懈胁薪懈褏 胁褨写褔褍褌褌褨胁 胁懈 褌褍褌 薪械 蟹薪邪泄写械褌械, 褟泻, 写谢褟 锌褉懈泻谢邪写褍, 褍 芦袩械褉褋械锌芯谢褨褋褨禄 小邪褌褉邪锌褨. 袩械褉械卸懈胁邪薪薪褟, 褋褍屑, 褋褌褉邪褏 褔懈 卸邪谢褜 鈥� 褑械 芯褋薪芯胁薪褨 褋褍锌褍褌薪懈泻懈 锌褨写 褔邪褋 褔懈褌邪薪薪褟. 啸芯褔邪 薪邪 锌芯褔邪褌泻褍 芯锌芯胁褨写褨, 泻芯谢懈 屑邪褌懈 袧褨薪懈 袘褍薪褦胁邪褑 蟹鈥櫻徯残谎徰斞傃屟佈� 褍 写胁械褉褟褏 褩褩 泻胁邪褉褌懈褉懈, 屑懈 斜邪褔懈屑芯, 褟泻 邪胁褌芯褉泻邪 胁褨写褔褍胁邪褦 褋褌褉械褋 胁褨写 胁褨蟹懈褌褍 褨, 褖芯斜懈 锌褉懈褏芯胁邪褌懈 写懈褋泻芯屑褎芯褉褌褍 胁芯薪邪 胁写邪褦, 褖芯 褩褩 斜芯谢懈褌褜 锌谢械褔械. 笑械 薪邪胁褨褌褜 褌褉芯褏懈 褋屑褨褕薪芯, 邪谢械 写邪谢褨 褌懈 褉芯蟹褍屑褨褦褕, 褖芯 泻芯屑褨泻褋 薪械 写芯蟹胁芯谢褟褦 谐褍屑芯褉褍 褍蟹邪谐邪谢褨. 袉 锌芯褌褨屑, 锌褨褋谢褟 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪薪薪褟, 褑褟 械屑芯褑褨褟, 褟泻邪 胁懈薪懈泻谢邪 薪邪 锌芯褔邪褌泻褍, 褋褌邪褦 褌褉芯褏懈 薪械蟹褉褍褔薪芯褞, 斜邪 薪邪胁褨褌褜 褋芯褉芯屑薪芯 蟹邪 薪械褩 锌械胁薪懈屑 褔懈薪芯屑.
些芯写芯 屑邪谢褞薪泻褍, 褌芯 褋褌懈谢褜 芦褉褍褔泻懈 泄 褔芯褉薪懈谢邪禄 胁懈谐谢褟写邪褦 写芯褋懈褌褜 褑褨泻邪胁芯, 薪邪谐邪写褍褞褔懈 褔懈屑芯褋褜 锌褍邪薪褌懈谢褨褋褌懈褔薪懈泄 褋褌懈谢褜 褍 卸懈胁芯锌懈褋褨. 袦邪谢褞薪芯泻 邪泻褍褉邪褌薪懈泄, 褎邪泻褌褍褉薪懈泄, 褎芯褌芯谐褉邪褎褨褔薪懈泄, 褟 斜 褋泻邪蟹邪胁 屑芯褌芯褉芯褕薪懈泄 褍 褋胁芯褩泄 锌褉芯褏芯谢芯写褨, 褔械褉械蟹 褖芯 褍蟹邪谐邪谢褨 薪械 锌褉懈胁邪斜谢懈胁懈泄. 袉 锌械胁械薪, 褖芯 褑械 褟泻褉邪蟹 褌械, 褖芯 褋褌胁芯褉褞褦 褌褍 邪褌屑芯褋褎械褉褍, 褌芯泄 械屑芯褑褨泄薪懈泄 褎芯薪, 褟泻懈泄 锌芯褌褉褨斜械薪 褑褨泄 胁邪卸泻褨泄 褨褋褌芯褉褨褩.
袙邪卸泻芯 芯褑褨薪懈褌懈 褑械泄 屑邪谢褜芯锌懈褋, 褌褍褌 薪械 胁褋褨 械谢械屑械薪褌懈 褋锌褉邪褑褞胁邪谢懈, 褟泻 褋谢褨写, 芯褋芯斜谢懈胁芯 锌芯褋褌褨泄薪褨 泄 褋褍褏褨 褨褋褌芯褉懈褔薪褨 锌芯褟褋薪械薪薪褟 胁褋褨褏 锌芯写褨泄, 邪谢械 蟹 褨薪褕芯谐芯 斜芯泻褍 邪胁褌芯褉泻邪 褉芯斜懈褌褜 褖芯褋褜 胁邪卸谢懈胁械, 胁褕邪薪芯胁褍褦 褨褋褌芯褉褨褞 褋褨屑械泄薪懈褏 褌邪 褉械谐褨芯薪邪谢褜薪懈褏 泻芯薪褎谢褨泻褌褨胁. 孝邪 锌械褉械泻芯薪邪薪懈泄, 褖芯 锌褨褋谢褟 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪薪薪褟 胁 泻芯卸薪芯谐芯 褑褟 褨褋褌芯褉褨褟 胁褨写谐褍泻薪械褌褜褋褟 褔懈屑芯褋褜 斜谢懈蟹褜泻懈屑, 邪写卸械 泻芯卸薪邪 褋褨屑鈥櫻� 屑邪褦 褋胁芯褩 胁谢邪褋薪褨 褋泻械谢械褌懈 胁 褕邪褎褨, 褟泻褨 薪械 褏芯褔械褌褜褋褟 胁懈薪芯褋懈褌懈 薪邪蟹芯胁薪褨.
袩褨写褍锌懈褋褍泄褌械褋褟 薪邪 孝械谢械覒褉邪屑 泻邪薪邪谢 锌褉芯 泻芯屑褨泻褋懈 褨 薪械 褌褨谢褜泻懈
July 23, 2021
褍 褑褨泄 泻薪懈卸褑褨 斜邪谐邪褌芯 胁褋褜芯谐芯, 邪谢械, 写芯褔懈褌邪胁褕懈, 褟 屑芯卸褍 写褍屑邪褌懈 褌褨谢褜泻懈 锌褉芯 屑邪谢械薪褜泻芯谐芯 褏谢芯锌褔懈泻邪, 屑邪屑邪 褟泻芯谐芯 锌芯芯斜褨褑褟谢邪, 褖芯 锌芯胁械褉薪械褌褜褋褟 蟹邪 写胁邪 褌懈卸薪褨, 褨 薪械 锌芯胁械褉薪褍谢邪褋褟.
August 24, 2016
Inace padam na autobiografske stripove, a za stvaranje ovakvog trebala je nevjerojatna snaga i hrabrost, sto se i vidi iz svake ilustracije. Neke su cak toliko mocne da se najezim. Autorica u stripu pokusava sloziti pricu o ocu koji je u svijetu u kojem ona zivi terorist, dok u njenom svijetu pokusava naci svoje mjesto. Otac je to o kojem se ne prica i radi kojeg se emocija tuge potiskuje. On je i ishodisna tocka svih obiteljskih kompleksnih odnosa koje pobuduje ljubav, a ponekad u potrebi da se zastiti, postaje zastrasujuca. Uz malo fotografija i stavljanja oca u politicki kontekst nekako ga shvaca, ali ne opravdava, zali ali ne daj boze suosjeca. Ipak je to tata prije svake druge definicije i dati sebe tako otvorenog srca zasluzuje samo moj osjecaj divljenja. Nitko ne bi trebao prolaziti kroz takve moralne dileme.
October 27, 2023
The history of the Balkans is a complicated maze of political ideologies. This book puts you in the middle of that maze; and then you understand how hard it is for the people of this region to find a way out. I really like GN like this that give you a perspective from someone who has lived through a traumatic experience. Will look for more works by Nina Bunjevac.
March 12, 2015
In Fatherland, Nina Bunjevac explores the difficult history of her family and their home country of Yugoslavia. The first part of the book focuses on her immediate family. They lived a seemingly normal life in Canada, with a lot happening just below the surface (like her father's abuse and alcoholism). In the late 70's, her mother took Nina and her sister to live their grandparents in Yugoslavia. Devastatingly, her mother was forced to leave her brother behind. The second part traces her father's life, the events that shaped him, and the political-turned-terrorist activities that ultimately led to his death.
For me personal narratives are always the best way to get into something about which I know nothing. I don't think I've ever read anything about Yugoslavia, and Bunjevac does a nice job of focusing on her father and her family while providing enough background and history of the region. The story definitely is pretty heavy, but so poignant.
Nina Bunjevac's art was truly astonishing. So much detail on every single page, in every frame. The narrative is really difficult at times, but the art is always breathtaking. I really enjoyed immersing myself in her drawing, and I want more!
For me personal narratives are always the best way to get into something about which I know nothing. I don't think I've ever read anything about Yugoslavia, and Bunjevac does a nice job of focusing on her father and her family while providing enough background and history of the region. The story definitely is pretty heavy, but so poignant.
Nina Bunjevac's art was truly astonishing. So much detail on every single page, in every frame. The narrative is really difficult at times, but the art is always breathtaking. I really enjoyed immersing myself in her drawing, and I want more!
August 31, 2021
袦邪谢褞薪芯泻, 褖芯 械褋褌械褋褌懈褔薪芯 胁褨写胁械褉褌邪褦 胁褨写 褨褋褌芯褉褨褩, 褌邪 锌芯褌褨屑 褋邪屑 薪邪褉邪褌懈胁 锌械褉械褌褟谐褍褦 薪邪 褋械斜械 泻芯胁写褉褍, 邪写卸械 褌褍褌 锌褉芯 褌械, 褟泻 褨褋褌芯褉懈褔薪褨 锌芯写褨褩 褨 胁懈斜褨褉 褔谢械薪褨胁 褌胁芯褦褩 褉芯写懈薪懈 锌褉懈胁芯写懈褌褜 褌械斜械 褋邪屑械 胁 褌褍 褌芯褔泻褍, 写械 褌懈 褦 蟹邪褉邪蟹.
January 8, 2022
Knjiga je iz拧la pri zalo啪bi Modrijan, v moje roke pa je pri拧la prek akcije zalo啪be @vigevageknjige_ ki je ob nakupu Bezimene iste avtorice poklonila 拧e to delo. Avtori膷in slog je tako likovno, kot tudi vsebinsko izredno tema膷en, gost in direkten, zato sem med njenimi deli morala malce predihati, a vendarle je pri拧el 膷as za branje tudi te mojstrovine.
Nina Bunjevac je Kanad膷anka srbskega rodu, ki je sicer rojena v Kanadi pre啪ivela dobr拧en del svojega otro拧tva v Jugoslaviji. Tja je prebe啪ala z mamo in sestro, o膷e in brat pa sta ostala v Kanadi. O膷e je namre膷 zapadel v kroge rojalisti膷nih skrajne啪ev, ki so se pod podobo Dra啪e Mihajlovi膰a zdru啪ili v 啪elji strmoglaviti komunisti膷no oblast pod vodstvom Josipa Broza Tita in ponovno vzpostaviti kraljevino. To so v izgnanstvu po膷eli predvsem s ter oristi膷nimi napadi na jugoslovanska predstavni拧tva v ZDA in Kanadi. Ninina mama je pod slutnjo o膷etovega po膷etja, katerega ji sicer nikdar ni izdal, s h膷erkama prebe啪ala nazaj v Jugoslavijo in njene slutnje so se kmalu potrdile. Med izdelavo bombe so namre膷 umrli Petar Bunjevac in 拧e dva pajda拧a.
O膷etnjava je delo, ki 啪e z izjemno likovno podobo, uporabo prispodob in na drugi strani povsem konkretnih upodobitev zgodovinskih dogodkov, ori拧e dogajanje po drugi svetovni vojni. Avtorica nam razlo啪i marsikaj, kar v vrtincu zgodovine v膷asih ostane malce nejasno - od hrva拧ko-srbskega spora dalje - poleg tega pa nadene 膷love拧ke obraze ljudem, ki bi jih najraje pozabili ali enostavno ozna膷ili za kriminalce. Kot v spremnem govoru pravi Goran Vojnovi膰, je te啪ko pogledati resnici v o膷i in si priznati, da so tudi ter oristi ljudje - o膷etje, bratje, sosedje. In mnogokrat so ravno ti ljudje v svojem 啪ivljenju do啪iveli nemalo hudega.
Brez opravi膷evanja njegovega po膷etja nam avtorica opi拧e neznosno otro拧tvo svojega o膷eta in dokaj ironi膷no, glede na likovno podobo risoromana, zopet spoznamo, da nobena zgodba ni 膷rnobela.
Nina Bunjevac je spet naredila tisto, kar najbolje zna - s kruto realnostjo je dregnila v na拧o zavest in nas prisilila v razmislek o stvareh, o katerih smo si 啪e ustvarili mnenje.
Nina Bunjevac je Kanad膷anka srbskega rodu, ki je sicer rojena v Kanadi pre啪ivela dobr拧en del svojega otro拧tva v Jugoslaviji. Tja je prebe啪ala z mamo in sestro, o膷e in brat pa sta ostala v Kanadi. O膷e je namre膷 zapadel v kroge rojalisti膷nih skrajne啪ev, ki so se pod podobo Dra啪e Mihajlovi膰a zdru啪ili v 啪elji strmoglaviti komunisti膷no oblast pod vodstvom Josipa Broza Tita in ponovno vzpostaviti kraljevino. To so v izgnanstvu po膷eli predvsem s ter oristi膷nimi napadi na jugoslovanska predstavni拧tva v ZDA in Kanadi. Ninina mama je pod slutnjo o膷etovega po膷etja, katerega ji sicer nikdar ni izdal, s h膷erkama prebe啪ala nazaj v Jugoslavijo in njene slutnje so se kmalu potrdile. Med izdelavo bombe so namre膷 umrli Petar Bunjevac in 拧e dva pajda拧a.
O膷etnjava je delo, ki 啪e z izjemno likovno podobo, uporabo prispodob in na drugi strani povsem konkretnih upodobitev zgodovinskih dogodkov, ori拧e dogajanje po drugi svetovni vojni. Avtorica nam razlo啪i marsikaj, kar v vrtincu zgodovine v膷asih ostane malce nejasno - od hrva拧ko-srbskega spora dalje - poleg tega pa nadene 膷love拧ke obraze ljudem, ki bi jih najraje pozabili ali enostavno ozna膷ili za kriminalce. Kot v spremnem govoru pravi Goran Vojnovi膰, je te啪ko pogledati resnici v o膷i in si priznati, da so tudi ter oristi ljudje - o膷etje, bratje, sosedje. In mnogokrat so ravno ti ljudje v svojem 啪ivljenju do啪iveli nemalo hudega.
Brez opravi膷evanja njegovega po膷etja nam avtorica opi拧e neznosno otro拧tvo svojega o膷eta in dokaj ironi膷no, glede na likovno podobo risoromana, zopet spoznamo, da nobena zgodba ni 膷rnobela.
Nina Bunjevac je spet naredila tisto, kar najbolje zna - s kruto realnostjo je dregnila v na拧o zavest in nas prisilila v razmislek o stvareh, o katerih smo si 啪e ustvarili mnenje.
December 23, 2017
The artwork was beautifully done, I liked the style very much. Bunjevac retraces her family's history in Yugoslavia, and their immigration to Canada in the 1970s. The story structure and pacing started strong, when it was told from her perspective. However, when she changed the focus to her father, the pacing faltered, and the book seemed out of order.
November 30, 2015
This is a story of the author's father, a Serbian nationalist. In the scenes of his childhood you see his reaction to loss is small acts of violence. As he gets older, his life has little joy. He drinks and becomes more violent.
While I'd have liked this to be a more personal book, the story is told in reportorial fashion. You learn how the author's parents met and married. You learn the history of their region. You see the steps by which her father became a terrorist.
I selected this after having seen these drawings at an art museum in Toronto. While the story is a only sketch, the pictures are not. They are beautifully done.
The book leaves the reader with too many unanswered questions.
While I'd have liked this to be a more personal book, the story is told in reportorial fashion. You learn how the author's parents met and married. You learn the history of their region. You see the steps by which her father became a terrorist.
I selected this after having seen these drawings at an art museum in Toronto. While the story is a only sketch, the pictures are not. They are beautifully done.
The book leaves the reader with too many unanswered questions.
July 29, 2019
A memoir exploring the family history, and world history, that triggered her father to become a terrorist. The combination of her personal history and the stories from the past are not perfectly meshed, but it is still a strong story.
I knew very little about the history of Yugoslavia in the 20th century. It was messy, and often very ugly. Learning about it with a focus on one single family really brought it to life. The author's father did awful things. The awful things that happened around him while growing up don't excuse his behavior, but there was more than enough there to have pushed almost anyone over the edge.
For me, it is hard to understand anyone trying to bring back monarchy in his country. Why would anyone want that? But on the other hand, the groups that replaced that monarchy weren't the saints they pretended to be. It is another reminder of the age-old problem of leaders doing one thing before they have power and then something quite different once they get it.
I knew very little about the history of Yugoslavia in the 20th century. It was messy, and often very ugly. Learning about it with a focus on one single family really brought it to life. The author's father did awful things. The awful things that happened around him while growing up don't excuse his behavior, but there was more than enough there to have pushed almost anyone over the edge.
For me, it is hard to understand anyone trying to bring back monarchy in his country. Why would anyone want that? But on the other hand, the groups that replaced that monarchy weren't the saints they pretended to be. It is another reminder of the age-old problem of leaders doing one thing before they have power and then something quite different once they get it.
April 20, 2023
小褨屑械泄薪邪 褨褋褌芯褉褨褟 褋械褉斜褋褜泻芯褩 褉芯写懈薪懈 薪邪 褌谢褨 械屑褨谐褉邪褑褨褩, 胁芯褦薪 褨 锌芯谢褨褌懈褔薪懈褏 锌褉芯褌懈褋褌芯褟薪褜, 邪谢械 褨褋褌芯褉褨褟 褌褍褌 薪褨斜懈 胁芯写薪芯褔邪褋 褨 胁懈蟹薪邪褔邪谢褜薪懈泄 褔懈薪薪懈泻, 褖芯 胁锌谢懈胁邪褦 薪邪 褋褌芯褋褍薪泻懈 胁 褉芯写懈薪褨, 褨 锌褉芯褋褌芯 褌谢芯, 斜芯 褍胁邪谐邪 褋邪屑械 薪邪 褋褌芯褋褍薪泻邪褏 屑褨卸 谐械褉芯褟屑懈 褨 谐械褉芯褩薪褟屑懈.
笑褨泻邪胁芯, 邪谢械 屑械薪褨 写褍卸械 斜褉邪泻褍胁邪谢芯 褋褞卸械褌褍, 褨 斜褍谢芯 胁褨写褔褍褌褌褟, 薪褨斜懈 褑械 褎芯褌芯, 邪 薪械 褨褋褌芯褉褨褟.
笑褨泻邪胁芯, 邪谢械 屑械薪褨 写褍卸械 斜褉邪泻褍胁邪谢芯 褋褞卸械褌褍, 褨 斜褍谢芯 胁褨写褔褍褌褌褟, 薪褨斜懈 褑械 褎芯褌芯, 邪 薪械 褨褋褌芯褉褨褟.
June 2, 2023
Esta es una novela gr谩fica que habla de pol铆tica; la pol铆tica como un medio de enajenaci贸n y destrucci贸n de n煤cleos familiares. Nina Bunjevac logra transmitir la carga emocional deseada en cada una de sus vi帽etas a trav茅s de trazos que demuestran maestr铆a en el dibujo. Fue interesante para m铆 el aprender acerca de la historia de Yugoslavia y Serbia, as铆 como los conflictos entre ambas regiones. Sin duda es un texto imperdible para los lectores interesados en la literatura de la memoria y la novela gr谩fica contempor谩nea.
March 13, 2024
鈥嬓捬栃葱逞冃� 胁褨写 23.05.2021
携泻斜懈 薪械 谐褉邪褎褨褔薪褨 褉芯屑邪薪懈 褌邪 屑邪谢褜芯锌懈褋懈, 褟 斜懈 谢懈斜芯薪褜 薪褨泻芯谢懈 胁 卸懈褌褌褨 薪械 锌械褉械褌薪褍胁 锌芯蟹薪邪褔泻懈 褍 锌'褟褌写械褋褟褌 泻薪懈谐, 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪薪懈褏 胁褨写 锌芯褔邪褌泻褍 褉芯泻褍, 邪 屑芯卸械 褑械 锌褉芯褋褌芯 芯写懈薪 蟹 锌褉芯褟胁褨胁 锌邪薪写械屑褨褩, 胁褨写 褉褍泄薪褨胁薪芯谐芯 胁锌谢懈胁褍 褟泻芯褩 蟹 褍褋褨褏 蟹邪写芯胁芯谢械薪褜 屑械薪褨 蟹邪谢懈褕懈谢芯褋褟 褌褨谢褜泻懈 褔懈褌邪薪薪褟.
"袘邪褌褜泻褨胁褖懈薪褍" 褟 蟹邪屑芯胁懈胁, 斜芯 胁卸械 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪胁 "袩械褉褋械锌芯谢褨褋" 袦邪褉写卸邪薪 小邪褌褉邪锌褨 褉邪薪褨褕械 褨 蟹 芯写薪芯谐芯 谐褉邪褎褨褔薪芯谐芯 褉芯屑邪薪褍 写褨蟹薪邪胁褋褟 锌褉芯 袉褉邪薪, 袉褉邪泻 褌邪 胁械褋褜 屑褍褋褍谢褜屑邪薪褋褜泻懈泄 袘谢懈蟹褜泻懈泄 小褏褨写 斜褨谢褜褕械, 薪褨卸 蟹邪 胁褋褨 褌褉懈写褑褟褌褜 褋褨屑 锌褉芯卸懈褌懈褏 褉芯泻褨胁 写芯 褌芯谐芯.
袧邪 袘邪谢泻邪薪邪褏 蟹 写邪胁薪褨褏-写邪胁械薪 "胁褋械 褋泻谢邪写薪芯". 校褋褨 胁褋褨褏 胁褋褌懈谐谢懈 锌芯胁斜懈胁邪褌懈, 蟹薪械薪邪胁懈写褨褌懈, 写械泻褨谢褜泻邪 褉邪蟹 蟹谢褨锌懈褌懈褋褟 胁 斜褨谢褜褕械 写械褉卸邪胁薪械 褍褌胁芯褉械薪薪褟 褨 蟹褉械褕褌芯褞 芯褋褌邪褌芯褔薪芯 褉芯蟹锌邪褋褌懈褋褟 薪邪 褑褨谢褍 泻褍锌褍 写褉褨斜薪褨褕懈褏. 袨泻褉褨屑 泻褉褍褌芯谐芯 械褌薪褨褔薪芯谐芯 胁邪褉懈胁邪, 褌邪屑 胁懈褋褌邪褔邪褦 褨 褉械谢褨谐褨泄薪芯褩 薪邪锌褉褍谐懈, 邪 锌懈褌邪薪薪褟 锌芯屑褋褌懈 薪褨泻芯谢懈 薪械 胁褌褉邪褔邪褦 邪泻褌褍邪谢褜薪芯褋褌褨, 斜芯 袘邪褌褜泻褨胁褖懈薪邪 褋懈写懈褌褜 褍 褋械褉褑褟褏 斜邪谐邪褌褜芯褏 褌邪泻 谐谢懈斜芯泻芯, 薪邪褔械 谐邪褉锌褍薪, 褨 薪械 胁褨写锌褍褋泻邪褦, 褏邪泄 褍 褟泻懈泄 写邪谢械泻褨 褋胁褨褌懈 蟹 薪械褩 胁懈胁褌褨泻邪褌懈.
孝褉邪谐褨褔薪邪 褨褋褌芯褉褨褟 褑褨谢芯谐芯 褉械谐褨芯薪褍 褉芯蟹谐芯褉褌邪褦褌褜褋褟 褌褍褌 蟹 胁褍蟹褜泻芯褩 锌械褉褋锌械泻褌懈胁懈 褉芯蟹褨褉胁邪薪芯褩 褔械褉械蟹 锌褨胁 褋胁褨褌褍 褋褨屑'褩 褌邪 薪邪 褎芯薪褨 褨褋褌芯褉懈褔薪懈褏 锌芯写褨泄, 泻芯褌褉褨 蟹邪胁卸写懈 胁褨写斜褍胁邪褞褌褜褋褟 斜械蟹 卸芯写薪懈褏 褋锌芯写褨胁邪薪褜 薪邪 锌芯褉褟褌褍薪芯泻 写谢褟 芯泻褉械屑懈褏 芯褋芯斜懈褋褌芯褋褌械泄.
携泻斜懈 薪械 谐褉邪褎褨褔薪褨 褉芯屑邪薪懈 褌邪 屑邪谢褜芯锌懈褋懈, 褟 斜懈 谢懈斜芯薪褜 薪褨泻芯谢懈 胁 卸懈褌褌褨 薪械 锌械褉械褌薪褍胁 锌芯蟹薪邪褔泻懈 褍 锌'褟褌写械褋褟褌 泻薪懈谐, 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪薪懈褏 胁褨写 锌芯褔邪褌泻褍 褉芯泻褍, 邪 屑芯卸械 褑械 锌褉芯褋褌芯 芯写懈薪 蟹 锌褉芯褟胁褨胁 锌邪薪写械屑褨褩, 胁褨写 褉褍泄薪褨胁薪芯谐芯 胁锌谢懈胁褍 褟泻芯褩 蟹 褍褋褨褏 蟹邪写芯胁芯谢械薪褜 屑械薪褨 蟹邪谢懈褕懈谢芯褋褟 褌褨谢褜泻懈 褔懈褌邪薪薪褟.
"袘邪褌褜泻褨胁褖懈薪褍" 褟 蟹邪屑芯胁懈胁, 斜芯 胁卸械 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪胁 "袩械褉褋械锌芯谢褨褋" 袦邪褉写卸邪薪 小邪褌褉邪锌褨 褉邪薪褨褕械 褨 蟹 芯写薪芯谐芯 谐褉邪褎褨褔薪芯谐芯 褉芯屑邪薪褍 写褨蟹薪邪胁褋褟 锌褉芯 袉褉邪薪, 袉褉邪泻 褌邪 胁械褋褜 屑褍褋褍谢褜屑邪薪褋褜泻懈泄 袘谢懈蟹褜泻懈泄 小褏褨写 斜褨谢褜褕械, 薪褨卸 蟹邪 胁褋褨 褌褉懈写褑褟褌褜 褋褨屑 锌褉芯卸懈褌懈褏 褉芯泻褨胁 写芯 褌芯谐芯.
袧邪 袘邪谢泻邪薪邪褏 蟹 写邪胁薪褨褏-写邪胁械薪 "胁褋械 褋泻谢邪写薪芯". 校褋褨 胁褋褨褏 胁褋褌懈谐谢懈 锌芯胁斜懈胁邪褌懈, 蟹薪械薪邪胁懈写褨褌懈, 写械泻褨谢褜泻邪 褉邪蟹 蟹谢褨锌懈褌懈褋褟 胁 斜褨谢褜褕械 写械褉卸邪胁薪械 褍褌胁芯褉械薪薪褟 褨 蟹褉械褕褌芯褞 芯褋褌邪褌芯褔薪芯 褉芯蟹锌邪褋褌懈褋褟 薪邪 褑褨谢褍 泻褍锌褍 写褉褨斜薪褨褕懈褏. 袨泻褉褨屑 泻褉褍褌芯谐芯 械褌薪褨褔薪芯谐芯 胁邪褉懈胁邪, 褌邪屑 胁懈褋褌邪褔邪褦 褨 褉械谢褨谐褨泄薪芯褩 薪邪锌褉褍谐懈, 邪 锌懈褌邪薪薪褟 锌芯屑褋褌懈 薪褨泻芯谢懈 薪械 胁褌褉邪褔邪褦 邪泻褌褍邪谢褜薪芯褋褌褨, 斜芯 袘邪褌褜泻褨胁褖懈薪邪 褋懈写懈褌褜 褍 褋械褉褑褟褏 斜邪谐邪褌褜芯褏 褌邪泻 谐谢懈斜芯泻芯, 薪邪褔械 谐邪褉锌褍薪, 褨 薪械 胁褨写锌褍褋泻邪褦, 褏邪泄 褍 褟泻懈泄 写邪谢械泻褨 褋胁褨褌懈 蟹 薪械褩 胁懈胁褌褨泻邪褌懈.
孝褉邪谐褨褔薪邪 褨褋褌芯褉褨褟 褑褨谢芯谐芯 褉械谐褨芯薪褍 褉芯蟹谐芯褉褌邪褦褌褜褋褟 褌褍褌 蟹 胁褍蟹褜泻芯褩 锌械褉褋锌械泻褌懈胁懈 褉芯蟹褨褉胁邪薪芯褩 褔械褉械蟹 锌褨胁 褋胁褨褌褍 褋褨屑'褩 褌邪 薪邪 褎芯薪褨 褨褋褌芯褉懈褔薪懈褏 锌芯写褨泄, 泻芯褌褉褨 蟹邪胁卸写懈 胁褨写斜褍胁邪褞褌褜褋褟 斜械蟹 卸芯写薪懈褏 褋锌芯写褨胁邪薪褜 薪邪 锌芯褉褟褌褍薪芯泻 写谢褟 芯泻褉械屑懈褏 芯褋芯斜懈褋褌芯褋褌械泄.
October 10, 2016
Family histories are often complicated, and in this one a daughter tries to make sense of the choices made by her parents. Mom flees Canada and her abusive husband, returns to Yugoslavia and moves in with her parents. She takes along her two younger daughters, but is forced to leave her son behind. Press rewind, and we meet Dad before he met Mom, and get more insight into his life experiences. There are really troubling scenes depicted, and I actually cringed several times. Flash forward to Dad who has joined a terrorist organization, and we circle back to the beginning, and things that Mom did start to make more sense.
Children are so often the causalities of adult wars, and this graphic memoir is the family history of one family set against the politics of the Serbian Wars. I really liked the black and white art, and learned some history in the process. However, I don't think the author was able to mesh the two narratives really well, and so much seemed to simply be skimmed over. Still, this is a worthwhile read if you are unfamiliar with the history of that part of the world.
Children are so often the causalities of adult wars, and this graphic memoir is the family history of one family set against the politics of the Serbian Wars. I really liked the black and white art, and learned some history in the process. However, I don't think the author was able to mesh the two narratives really well, and so much seemed to simply be skimmed over. Still, this is a worthwhile read if you are unfamiliar with the history of that part of the world.
December 16, 2014
Wow, I am surprised this hasn't been reviewed more! It's kind of fantastic! I mean, it's heavy stuff, hard family secrets painfully brought to light, but it's well done, compassionate even, for a father who ended up being a radical Serbian Nationalist in Canada, and ultimately getting himself killed. It's also the story of his family, her childhood, and a partial history of the complexities of the Balkan conflict. AND it's sober, static, and haunting illustrations set the perfect tone for the heavy, powerful story. Good, unexpected stuff that gets under your skin..
September 21, 2022
O膷etnjava je presunljivo in tragi膷no dru啪insko branje v obliki risoromana.
Ko je bila Nina stara 拧tiri leta (1977), je njen o膷e umrl med izdelovanjem bombe za nov teroristi膷ni napad na jugoslovanska diplomatska predstavni拧tva v Kanadi in ZDA.
V stripu avtorica predstavi o膷eta, njegovo otro拧tvo, bojevanje v vojni, deportacijo v Jasenovac, zapor in pobeg v Kanado leta 1959. Ko se Petar vklju膷i v srbsko osvobodilno gibanje O膷etnjava, trpljenje njegove 啪ene postaja vse huje zaradi njegovega nasilja in ekstremizma, dokler leta 1975 ne spakira kov膷kov, vzame h膷erki s sabo (sin ostane pri o膷etu) ter odide k svoji mami v Jugoslavijo na varno.
Ko je bila Nina stara 拧tiri leta (1977), je njen o膷e umrl med izdelovanjem bombe za nov teroristi膷ni napad na jugoslovanska diplomatska predstavni拧tva v Kanadi in ZDA.
V stripu avtorica predstavi o膷eta, njegovo otro拧tvo, bojevanje v vojni, deportacijo v Jasenovac, zapor in pobeg v Kanado leta 1959. Ko se Petar vklju膷i v srbsko osvobodilno gibanje O膷etnjava, trpljenje njegove 啪ene postaja vse huje zaradi njegovega nasilja in ekstremizma, dokler leta 1975 ne spakira kov膷kov, vzame h膷erki s sabo (sin ostane pri o膷etu) ter odide k svoji mami v Jugoslavijo na varno.
March 6, 2018
Uno spaccato sulla storia novecentesca dell'Ex-Jugoslavia, a partire dal racconto di una storia familiare che attraversa pi霉 generazioni e mette in luce rapporti familiari molto complessi. Allo stesso tempo si cerca di intraprendere un'analisi, che si pu貌 ampliare dal particolare al generale, sulle motivazioni e le condizioni di vita che possono portare una persona a intraprendere atti terroristici, stando per貌 lontani dal giustificazionismo.
August 22, 2017
I'm not super into graphic novels, but this was a very interesting story. It really left me wanting to learn much more about the history of the former Yugoslavia.
October 14, 2014
Beautifully drawn, excellently told. This is a compelling personal story of a family's history which also contextualizes the Balkan conflict concisely.
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November 21, 2016Nina Bunjavac nije razo膷arala. "Otad啪bina" je odli膷an roman u stripu, autobiografsko delo koje dostojanstveno i precizno prikazuje 啪ivot jedne porodice u vrtlogu istorije.
December 27, 2019
This is an autobiographical graphic novel about the tragic circumstances that ripped apart the author's family - stemming back to the Second World War and the stark, irreconcilable political divisions in Yugoslavia: The monarchy capitulated to the Axis powers, but mass demonstrations resulted in a military coup, after which a new prince was installed as head of state, who then announced Yugoslavia was not going to capitulate after all. That triggered the invasion of Yugoslavia by the Axis powers and the formation of partisan factions - pro-royalist, and pro-communist. Puppets were installed by the Nazis, and Yugoslavia went through a genocide of Jews, communists, as well as a genocide of nationalities eliminating other Yugoslavian ethnic groups (for example, Croats eliminating Serbs living in Croatia). The intricacies of these ethnic and religious divisions and factions and the complexity of alignments are described in the book. The fascist vs. communist conflict took on a terroristic character. In the end, Tito won the conflict - pledging equality. He managed to hold the disparate ethnic groups together while he was still alive but once he died, the country split apart and ethnic inter-communal fighting resumed.
Once Tito took over, however, those who resented communism decided to organize opposition to the communist regime abroad. The author's father was a member of an anti-Tito terrorist cell in Canada -an affiliation that essentially destroyed his family, most of whom fled back to Yugoslavia when he would not give up his clandestine activities. To say more about the plot would be to spoil the very interesting book.
The drawing style is certainly unique; simplified, black and white, possibly reminiscent of lino-cuts or woodcuts. Yet it's quite effective - in that much of the book consists of recollections of past events, domestic scenes, recollections of war events. Parenthetically, I also remember heated arguments in my childhood between relatives who split between left and right wing views of the events in Greece when it was invaded by the Nazis, and similar left and right (or monarchist) wing partisan groups that fought the Nazis. The same incessant replay of the events and arguments at home for years because I too had relatives who were on both sides of the Greek partisan resistance to the Nazis - monarchist, helped by the British; and left-wing. Luckily they survived the war and managed to emigrate to North America/USA.
This is a powerful graphic novel - with an ending that embodies the disintegration of the author's family and poignantly refers back to the beginning of the book, and the struggle to survive trauma psychologically even if one has survived physically.
Once Tito took over, however, those who resented communism decided to organize opposition to the communist regime abroad. The author's father was a member of an anti-Tito terrorist cell in Canada -an affiliation that essentially destroyed his family, most of whom fled back to Yugoslavia when he would not give up his clandestine activities. To say more about the plot would be to spoil the very interesting book.
The drawing style is certainly unique; simplified, black and white, possibly reminiscent of lino-cuts or woodcuts. Yet it's quite effective - in that much of the book consists of recollections of past events, domestic scenes, recollections of war events. Parenthetically, I also remember heated arguments in my childhood between relatives who split between left and right wing views of the events in Greece when it was invaded by the Nazis, and similar left and right (or monarchist) wing partisan groups that fought the Nazis. The same incessant replay of the events and arguments at home for years because I too had relatives who were on both sides of the Greek partisan resistance to the Nazis - monarchist, helped by the British; and left-wing. Luckily they survived the war and managed to emigrate to North America/USA.
This is a powerful graphic novel - with an ending that embodies the disintegration of the author's family and poignantly refers back to the beginning of the book, and the struggle to survive trauma psychologically even if one has survived physically.
August 14, 2017
My first graphic novel. A quick and very moving read about the author's father, his tragic upbringing in former Yugoslavia, and the detrimental effects from this upbringing on his family in Canada. Pleasantly, a lot of the work is focused on unraveling the history of former Yugoslavia, especially in the decade or two post-WWII. This fellow Serb definitely appreciated the history lesson, and I'm positive that any reader interested in Balkan history would as well.
January 1, 2018
The main thing I got away from this book is that there comes a time in everyone's life where they must reconcile not only their present with their past, but their family history with that of actual history.
In this case, I can't help but be disappointed at how much a main aspect of the latter type of history was misrepresented and/or falsified. If not for this aspect, I would have been able to appreciate the book much more.
In this case, I can't help but be disappointed at how much a main aspect of the latter type of history was misrepresented and/or falsified. If not for this aspect, I would have been able to appreciate the book much more.
May 13, 2024
孝褉邪谐褨褔薪邪 褨褋褌芯褉褨褟 褋褨屑鈥櫻� 袘褍薪褦胁邪褑.
袧械泄屑芯胁褨褉薪褨 褨谢褞褋褌褉邪褑褨褩, 褟泻褨 锌械褉械写邪褞褌褜 胁褋褞 褨褋褌芯褉褨褞 胁 薪邪泄泻褉邪褖懈褏 泻邪写褉邪褏.
袉褋褌芯褉褨褟, 褟泻邪 锌芯泻邪蟹褍褦 褟泻 胁懈褉褨斜 褌胁芯褩泄, 胁懈斜褨褉 斜邪褌褜泻褨胁, 胁锌谢懈胁邪褦 薪邪 褌械 写械 褌懈 蟹邪褉邪蟹.
袧械泄屑芯胁褨褉薪褨 褨谢褞褋褌褉邪褑褨褩, 褟泻褨 锌械褉械写邪褞褌褜 胁褋褞 褨褋褌芯褉褨褞 胁 薪邪泄泻褉邪褖懈褏 泻邪写褉邪褏.
袉褋褌芯褉褨褟, 褟泻邪 锌芯泻邪蟹褍褦 褟泻 胁懈褉褨斜 褌胁芯褩泄, 胁懈斜褨褉 斜邪褌褜泻褨胁, 胁锌谢懈胁邪褦 薪邪 褌械 写械 褌懈 蟹邪褉邪蟹.
February 6, 2017
Gorgeously illustrated family story.
First off, this is NOT a story about Germany. This cover and title totally makes me think Nazis, and that's not what this is about.
Instead, Bunjevac's cultural heritage is from Yugoslavia. She follows her own early life, which was partially lived in North America, as well as that of her parents, and her grandparents on either side. Most of her childhood was spent in Yugoslavia, while her father was still overseas, and her complicated understanding of his story is the dominant theme.
This book is large-scale - just bigger than 8.5x11. Most pages are split into four equal panels. This gives the reader room to marvel at the detailed crosshatching, shading, and textures of her story. Bunjevac does a lovely job of giving us room to breathe when the story calls for us, includes maps in all the right places, and gives us just enough of the political context of their story for it to make sense to amateur/ignorant eyes. At least mine. :)
Read with:
and sequels by
First off, this is NOT a story about Germany. This cover and title totally makes me think Nazis, and that's not what this is about.
Instead, Bunjevac's cultural heritage is from Yugoslavia. She follows her own early life, which was partially lived in North America, as well as that of her parents, and her grandparents on either side. Most of her childhood was spent in Yugoslavia, while her father was still overseas, and her complicated understanding of his story is the dominant theme.
This book is large-scale - just bigger than 8.5x11. Most pages are split into four equal panels. This gives the reader room to marvel at the detailed crosshatching, shading, and textures of her story. Bunjevac does a lovely job of giving us room to breathe when the story calls for us, includes maps in all the right places, and gives us just enough of the political context of their story for it to make sense to amateur/ignorant eyes. At least mine. :)
Read with:
and sequels by
April 8, 2021
Es cierto que el intento de explicar las ra铆ces del conflicto de la antigua Yugoslavia se queda corto (nada extra帽o por otro lado, dada la complejidad del asunto) y que en ocasiones la obra se pierde en los vericuetos de la genealog铆a de la propia familia de la autora. Aun as铆, el arte y sobretodo la capacidad de transmitir el dolor de una familia rota a trav茅s de lo que se muestra sin decir y de una impactante serie de vi帽etas al final de la obra, merecen todo el reconocimiento hacia este trabajo de Nina Bunjevac.
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