City of Thieves: A Novel by David Benioff
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Book Reviews of City of Thieves: A Novel
Book Review: Flat-out Awesome
Summary: 5 Stars
I read the introduction, wherein Benioff talks about why he had written the novel after interviewing his grandfather and discovering a story far more powerful than anything he had previously written, and I was hooked. If you are on the fence about reading this, just take a look at the intro -- that will convince you either way.
Benioff is a superior writer. Rare is the novel where you feel devastated on one page (reading about the chaos, brutality and absurdity of wartime Russia) and then just a few pages later, you're laughing out loud at the goofiness of the characters (especially Kolya). Normally, this dichotomy might feel incongruous, but Benioff finds a way to mix the two elements so well you don't even think about this narrative accomplishment until halfway through the book.
The novel is at once heartbreaking, thought-provoking and wildly entertaining. It's everything I want from a novel. Like so many other reviewers I couldn't put it down and can't recommend it highly enough.
Book Review: Great Read Even if You're Not Into History
Summary: 5 Stars
I usually won't read about history or WWII, but this book was recommended to me by a friend. It is a great tale, that packs it all in there. It's short and sweet, and it's amazing how so many details are in this short novel. I really related to the two main characters (Lev and Kolya), it made me nostalgic, and brought me back to my youth when so many things were new to me. The characters (especially Kolya) are a riot and developed nicely. The setting of this book is in a very cold, wintry atmosphere. This book kind of reminded me of the film "Inglorious Basterds" and I love that movie because it says to hell with the history books, write some fiction about WWII already! This book is: fun, interesting, adventure, quick.
Overall, this is an excellent book, read it! I would love to see this adapted into a film, and David Benioff is the man to do it! It's also nice to see a screenwriter who really enjoys the craft of writing by writing for more than one medium.
Book Review: They could've been me
Summary: 5 Stars
I am a picky reader. I don't often care for many best sellers. I am not impressed when a book reads like the author is "writing". When the language is too flowery or the dialogue feels too planned and purposeful, I am no longer entertained. If the characters seem like people that don't or can't exist, I lose interest. Now David Benioff's book, City of Thieves, is the opposite of all that. His characters are real people. They have real thoughts, the way real people have them. They found humor in awful things, like real people must for survival. Most importantly, the way in which Mr. Benioff articulated his character's conversations and actions was where the impact was for me. I felt I knew Lev and Koyla personally. Their friendship existed because of their circumstances - we all have formed friendships based on particular circumstances we find ourselves in. They could've been me at a different time, a different place. This book was a breath of fresh air.Book Review: Excellent Reading!
Summary: 5 Stars
As a half-Russian Jew literature major, I want to declare my absolute adoration for this book.
It's historically quite well written, and the author lists some very well reputed historical sources. You can tell he read up on Piter's siege. The characters are what really blew me away. They're amazingly and beautifully written, with outer layers of sociopolitical influence and the bitterness of hard lives, but with undersides that are at once tender and infuriating. Lev is revealed beautifully, peeled back with every passing page, but it's Kolya and Vika who steal the show. I won't reveal more, but the book is beautifully infused with dark and light humor, the gentle passage of age, and the troubles and hardships of war. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone wanting a good read, whether or not they're a fan of Russian history or WWII or anything related. This book is, at the most base level, an excellently written book and a great read.
Book Review: A True Gem: Funny, Fast-Paced, Literary and Evocative
Summary: 5 Stars
The incredibly compelling tale of two Russians dealing with life in Leningrad during the German siege of WWII. A city where starvation was the norm--more than half of Russia's men between 16-40 would die in the war--yet the Russian spirit survived undaunted.
"City of Thieves" is an incredible, yet totally real, story of two men whose lives are worth less than a dozen eggs. Literally. Their journey is classic buddy comedy meets suspense thriller; an unusual and intriguing combo that somehow works, producing an unforgettable novel.
Fast-paced, sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, yet hauntingly (and disturbingly) descriptive of the time--it is based in part on the stories the author's Russian grandfather told him as a child--it's a page turner I read in one sitting, yet can still recall certain passages vividly almost a year later.
A fantastic story, I've put this author on my must-read list.