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Black Butterflies
- Narrated by: Rachel Atkins
- Length: 6 hrs and 46 mins
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Summary
SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2023
SHORTLISTED FOR THE RSL ONDAATJE PRIZE 2023
SHORTLISTED FOR THE AUTHORS’ CLUB BEST FIRST NOVEL AWARD 2023
‘A moving, compelling, deeply human novel about love, hope and resilience in a city under siege. Everyone should read it’ Emma Stonex, bestselling author of The Lamplighters
Sarajevo, spring 1992. Each night, nationalist gangs erect barricades, splitting the diverse city into ethnic enclaves; each morning, the residents – whether Muslim, Croat or Serb – push the makeshift barriers aside.
When violence finally spills over, Zora, an artist and teacher, sends her husband and elderly mother to safety with her daughter in England. Reluctant to believe that hostilities will last more than a handful of weeks, she stays behind while the city falls under siege. As the assault deepens and everything they love is laid to waste, black ashes floating over the rooftops, Zora and her friends are forced to rebuild themselves, over and over. Theirs is a breathtaking story of disintegration, resilience and hope.
What listeners say about Black Butterflies
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- Elsie
- 23-05-23
Beautiful and so human
Brutally beautiful story about war, art and storytelling, and the mindlessness and importance of it all. The main characters are real people to me now.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 21-07-23
Loved this
This great performance and writing captured perfectly the desent of everyday life into one of hopelessness through war.
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- Scarlett Trotman
- 22-02-24
Poignant and Sad
Poignant read as history repeats itself a decade later across the world. A love story, a story of war, of fighting for life, normality… very good.
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- Celia
- 17-05-23
Astonishingly, heartbreakingly good.
This book is one of those that will shape readers' understandings of war. Beautifully depicting an older woman as a complex, interesting artist with a deep love for her home of Sarajevo, working out how to survive a devastating, inexplicable siege. Read it, you won't regret it.
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- E. Owen
- 11-12-23
Deeply moving and compelling
Very well written and flawlessly performed by Rachel Atkins. It brings vividly to life the human stories of people enduring the hardest of situations. It resonates long after the books final moments.
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- fictionfreak
- 29-06-24
gripping, superb storytelling
Engages the senses so you feel transported into Zora's experiences. Written mainly in present tense, often the scenes begin at a certain moment then later reveals what led up to that moment. The story-within-the-story of the walled up woman as narrated by Meera Saad to Zora had a sinister intimacy. Love how all the characters came to life. Very well researched in recreating the earlier horrors of the Siege of Sarajevo.
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- Michele M
- 31-05-23
Haunting
A haunting & heartbreaking story of the horror and brutality of war, alongside the comfort and strength brought about by the relationships forged in the war torn city of Sarajevo.
An intense and moving read, highly recommended and enhanced by the wonderful narration.
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8 people found this helpful
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- Shopper, viewer and reader
- 28-07-23
Fantastic new author
Morris tells the story of the city of Sarajevo seized in the war.
The shock as the war spreads, impact and aftermath beautifully told.
It’s a wonderful debut novel from a talented new author.
Highly recommended!
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- D. Maggs
- 15-03-24
Compelling
Excellent story that builds and builds. Full picture of humanity at it's best in a desperate situation. Stunning performance by the reader
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- Heather Nesom
- 19-12-23
Tender, vibrant & alive.
I loved this book, it’s just so human and so beautifully read. I could not stop listening, my mind keeps on wondering back to what might have been and where characters ended up.
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