S. by Slavenka Drakulic was one of the most powerful books I have ever read. The style that she used in writing this work really brings the story to life and pulls the reader into the work like none other I have ever read. While there are quite a few works out there that give fictional accounts of men's lives in prison camps, this work's focus on women in prison camps shines a light on an aspect that is too little written about.
The strength of this book lies in its unabashed honesty. S. forces the reader to not only see the darkest sides of humanity but actually makes the reader feel almost complicit in the sadistic torture and brutalization of these poor women. I felt as if I were actually there witnessing these atrocities occur as I stood helpless to do anything about them. This is the power of this book; it doesn't read as a fictional account and of course it isn't really since thousands of women endured similar hardships.
Drakulic does an amazing job showing how the human psyche is quickly broken down when survival becomes no longer a given but something one has to work for. As the basic amenities of life are stripped away and basic necessities such as shelter and food become scarce people begin to lose their humanity and become a baser self. As one begins to think of nothing more than the attempt to survive through another day, hour, minute or even the next few seconds' then morality becomes ambiguous and the survival instinct takes hold. Victims can find themselves becoming the victimizer in this constant struggle to stay alive.
One of the main things that struck me throughout this works is the anonymity of the characters involved. The reader only knows the main character by the initial S. Soldiers come and go throughout without the reader knowing them nor the victims for that matter. This is a very important aspect of the work. The anonymity of the victims is what allows a soldier to savage their victims. These women are not "people"; they are not human beings with families and children, with real lives and dreams. They become something else which allows them to victimize without conscience.
The soldiers also become detached from reality for the victims. They are no longer human beings either. They are nothing more than objects of their torment. They are tools to be avoided or, if possible, manipulated when the opportunity arises. Nothing matters but to endure. There is no future anymore but only moments some painful, others numb, while others are excruciating and will never be overcome, and here and there are some moments of peace and fleeting connections made through common pain.
The story is haunting and it is one that I haven't gotten over or likely ever will. Even as I have been writing this review just thinking about parts of this book has given me cold chills. I see so few reviews for this book that I am afraid it may fall into obscurity if it hasn't already, and that would be a shame for a work such as this. If my reviewing here on Amazon does nothing more than get one more person to read this book then my posting on this site has been worthwhile.
The strength of this book lies in its unabashed honesty. S. forces the reader to not only see the darkest sides of humanity but actually makes the reader feel almost complicit in the sadistic torture and brutalization of these poor women. I felt as if I were actually there witnessing these atrocities occur as I stood helpless to do anything about them. This is the power of this book; it doesn't read as a fictional account and of course it isn't really since thousands of women endured similar hardships.
Drakulic does an amazing job showing how the human psyche is quickly broken down when survival becomes no longer a given but something one has to work for. As the basic amenities of life are stripped away and basic necessities such as shelter and food become scarce people begin to lose their humanity and become a baser self. As one begins to think of nothing more than the attempt to survive through another day, hour, minute or even the next few seconds' then morality becomes ambiguous and the survival instinct takes hold. Victims can find themselves becoming the victimizer in this constant struggle to stay alive.
One of the main things that struck me throughout this works is the anonymity of the characters involved. The reader only knows the main character by the initial S. Soldiers come and go throughout without the reader knowing them nor the victims for that matter. This is a very important aspect of the work. The anonymity of the victims is what allows a soldier to savage their victims. These women are not "people"; they are not human beings with families and children, with real lives and dreams. They become something else which allows them to victimize without conscience.
The soldiers also become detached from reality for the victims. They are no longer human beings either. They are nothing more than objects of their torment. They are tools to be avoided or, if possible, manipulated when the opportunity arises. Nothing matters but to endure. There is no future anymore but only moments some painful, others numb, while others are excruciating and will never be overcome, and here and there are some moments of peace and fleeting connections made through common pain.
The story is haunting and it is one that I haven't gotten over or likely ever will. Even as I have been writing this review just thinking about parts of this book has given me cold chills. I see so few reviews for this book that I am afraid it may fall into obscurity if it hasn't already, and that would be a shame for a work such as this. If my reviewing here on Amazon does nothing more than get one more person to read this book then my posting on this site has been worthwhile.
