Rating: 
Summary: Very Good Effort
Review: It is hard to wipe off all the mud while the mudslinging takes place. Mr. Handke should be given a lot of credit for his effort. Although sometimes tiring, his understanding of the Serb, Croat and Muslim actions and american/french/german/british arrogance (or is it ignorance or both?), offers to the reader, specially in countries like united states that have been infected by the CNN/ABC virus, an opportunity to see the other side. Unfortunately, following some points requires a better knowledge of the events, players, and history -- which is not as common nowdays. The translation made the ideas a bit confusing at some points, but overall, this is a good book to read.
Rating: 
Summary: finely crafted magic
Review: Once again, Handke tackles a difficult issue with masterful language. Upon its publication, the book received numerous negative responses by many critics who clearly had not read the piece. This carefully constructed book never "sides" with anyone, instead it attempts to seek out questions rather than answers. It is a dense difficult piece that is made very accessible by Scott Abbott's fine translation. I strongly recommend it and urge you to read it with an open mind.
Rating: 
Summary: A SHORT work,thought provoking and yet.....
Review: Things work out strangely on ones journey through life. Picture me stranded with broken fan belt on the way home from work on my wife's birthday. That morass overcome,and truck in shop, I drove the family car to work on Thanksgiving morning, departing earlier than usual for whatever reason. On a sixty-five mile drive, what do I encounter but a broken down vehicle in the same exact spot I languished in just a few days before. Now only five minutes from my office and well ahead of schedule, I was transporting a brother and sister to a nearby apartment. They were fresh from Kosovo. Speaking little english, we bade each other farewell and they were in my thoughts often in the coming weeks. Christmas shopping for year 2000 led me to a discount bookstore where I found this work as well as a stack of others on the Balkans. I would rate this book more highly were it not for the price (...) It was admitted to by the author in the preface to the American edition:the text apeared on two weekends in the Suddeutsche Zeitung. It is a mere pair of clippings,granted.
On to the merits of the book: Handke states the war was the reason for his journey, and that he was "drawn" to the country (Serbia) of the disintegrating Yugoslavia "least known to me". In my impression, he observes and questions constantly all aspects of the situation. He has experienced, from Germany, through the slant of the media lens what he sees as distortion. Here he tries hard to gain a proper perspective during the short journey he has through the countryside. A worthy read and best read twice, as I am about to do.
Rating:
Summary: excellent
Review: This book should be read by everyone. Very brave of Peter Handke for reemphasizing that the truth isn't always black and white.
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