Set before and after the Kosovo civil war the novel recounts the story of two young men who are students at university. Arsim is Albanian while Milos is Serbian and they live in a community contested by both nationalities. Arsim is recently married when he meets Milos in a cafe. Their relationship develops and Arsim finds himself living two lives which becomes complicated when his wife discovers that she is pregnant.
Eventually Arsim and his family leave Pristina to live in a safer community while Milos joins the Serbian army. Many years later Arsim and Milos meet again but Milos' life has been destroyed by war and Arsim is attempting to establish a new life alone in Pristina. There are only memories.
Entwined throughout the novel is the legend of Bolla a snake like creature who appears once a year and devours everything in its path. Arsim writes a version of the story where a blind girl meets the Bolla and they agree to meet each year.
Kosovo conflict - Britannica
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