Bluebird: A Memoir

Description

Vesna Maric left Bosnia the beginning of the war, at the age of 16, on a convoy of coaches carrying refugees to Penrith, in the north of England. Bluebird is Vesna's funny, vivid and immensely readable memoir of the experience, from the beginning of the war through to her eventual return to Bosnia, years later. Unlike many books on Bosnia, and refugees in general, Bluebird is never self-pitying, never grave. It's refreshing to read an account of these experiences filtered through the eyes of a teenager with attitude - written with brilliant comic timing, and a great storytelling gift.

Vesna Maric was born in Mostar, in 1976. She left Bosnia-Herzegovina and went on to work for the BBC World Service and now writes Lonely Planet travel guides and a variety of journalism. She lives in London.

'Her confident, beguiling voice, her refusal to be pitied or patronised, reminds us that young people caught up in war have their own perspectives, their own stories to tell. I'm sure it is a voice we will hear more of in the future' Guardian "Maric is an exquisite, careful writer. Her sparse memoir, made up of a series of illuminating short stories, skewers Britain through a newcomer's eyes - With a linguistic talent remarkable for someone who began regularly speaking English only at the age of 16, Maric conveys the unsettling, often magical experience of losing her roots' Sunday Times Culture 'Told with humour and defiance, this is the inspiring tale of a brave young woman' Belfast Telegraph 'A powerful story' Independent on Sunday 'A wonderful, bittersweet memoir - A gifted, original writer - we are lucky to have her' Observer