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Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite
Bridge Between Two Worlds: From Sarajevo to London by Dr. Serge Mac, or Srđan Macanović, is the memoir of his childhood in Sarajevo into adulthood, shaped by war and displacement. He grew up in Grbavica in a family anchored by routine and familiarity. Later, as a medical student, his life narrows around training, until the siege of Sarajevo abruptly removes the separation between study and practice. Shelling forces him into taking direct responsibility for the wounded as civilian life fractures around him. The pressure of survival escalates when the military conscription looms near, and Srđan’s passage into exile begins. An interim life in Belgrade ultimately transitions into immigration to London, where he must start from scratch to rebuild a life where, while the past is physically distant, the memories are permanently present.
When I began From Sarajevo to London by Dr. Serge Mac, I was immediately struck by the comfortable, conversational style of writing. This works well against a really traumatic backdrop, and the reader connects to Srđan's plight organically. For me, when the order arrived, calling young men to report for military service, the book became impossible to put down. Srđan understands that his future in medicine cannot coexist with that demand. It's such a moment of strength, and it defines what follows, including nights spent discussing his departure and the careful preparation of his documents by candlelight. Later, when he reaches London and sits alone, studying for medical examinations after long work shifts, the same steady sense of responsibility governs his days. He writes of a life carried forward through decisions honored over time, and that belief fleshes the book out beyond a typical memoir. Very highly recommended.
