“Death in The White House” A BOOK REVIEW

Recommended *** Theater and dining are my main ingredient in bringing Chicago to you, but, on occasion, I do review a book. I just finished reading a book written by one of my clients, Mirsad Causevic, who is the CEO of a HVAC contractor/repair company in Chicago. The book, however has little to do with what he does, but deep down WHY he does become evident. Now that he is moe “American”, he uses Mike instead of his Bosnian name, so I will do likewise. The title of the book is “Death in the White House” and has absolutely nothing to do with our President’s home. The story is not really a story, BUT , “his” story.

Mike was a young Bosnian in 1992, becoming educated and as is the rule, serving his time in the army. In May, the Serb forces closed in on his village of Hambarine and so Mike and his two brothers decided to get out while they could, in hopes that at least one of them would survive to tend to the rest of the family. This is the story of Mirsad/aka Mike and his plight to remain alive. The White House in the title of this book is in reality the main building in the Omarska concentration camp, where he was beaten daily by his captors. The other camp, Manjaca was another place where he endured before the International Red Cross came in to release him.

This book is an easy read, but a hard read as well. Reading “his story” is difficult in knowing that he was forced to do things that no man should have to do. Not knowing anything about his family, being starved, beaten, dehydrated and more, what can one do? Mike tells us what they did to make their lives tolerable during this period of his life ( probably better to say, existence, because this was not a life).

The story is written from the heart and soul of the man  who endured the torture and while it is not written in the best of ways, the story is indeed one that will grab you and hold your interest. Once I started, ZI had a problem putting it down, wanting to know his thoughts as each situation took place. What happened to this man is a story of powerful drams, but a story of faith and hope as well as dreams and bringing these dreams to reality. We learn of his coming to America with his mother and father and being placed in a small apartment. Mike found work and went to school saving where he could to reach goals that he had set for himself. We feel his emotions as he enjoys little successes and hope that the next one will be even greater. It is!

This is truly a story that needs to be told and while it is a smaller version of the stories that we still re-tell from Hitler’s days, we see that the world has not learned from the past ( as it should) and that there are still people out there that will do whatever it takes to be victorious. Mike’s story proves that there is also victory for those who have been victimized and that even his book is not for him to profit from. The proceeds of his book are for the survivors of his town and the monument that he intends to build as a memorial to those who suffered and died. While his “old home” country will not allow for same, it is his hope that here in Chicago ( second only to St. Louis in Bosnian residents) will find the perfect space to build this monument.

Mike is happily married with two children living in Chicago. He is working hard to “give back” to his community, here and his homeland.

The book can be ordered online through Amazon or for your Kindle.