This is a multi-generational family saga set in the Balkans starting with the years under Tito then Slovenian independence and then the Bosnia wars up to the present day. The book begins with the story of the grandfather as his family gathers together when he dies. He continues with stories of the other family members as the grandson tries to understand his family and himself. The book covers events in Slovenia, Croatia, and Bosnia and provides the reader with new insights into the complex history and culture of the Balkans.

I have very mixed feelings about the book. Although the book provides some in depth perspectives on the book's characters, at the end of the book, I felt that their characterizations were really so superficial that I did not know much about the characters. That said, the portrait of the grandmother's growing dementia is very touching. The book is also full of invectives against Bosnians. Finally, the way the book is structured is a challenge. The book switches from first person to first person without really making it clear who the chapter is about. Similarly, it jumps from time period to time period. This made the book more trouble than it was worth. ( )