City of Thieves: A Novel by David Benioff
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Book Reviews of City of Thieves: A Novel
Book Review: Priceless
Summary: 5 Stars
A Jewish boy coming of age, who decided to stay behind when his mother fled the Siege of Leningrad, who under unfortunate circumstances is thrown into jail with a Red Army deserter. Their mission: to find a dozen eggs. I love historical fiction, especially tales that take place during WWII, but I sure wasn't expecting what I got when I decided to read this book!
This story not only describes the horrors of war, the horrors of all that went on during the Leningrad Siege, the awkwardness of a young teenage boy and the thinking of an army deserter, this book was downright funny and sad all rolled up into one rip roaring page turner.
Lev and Kolya, you have left a spot in my heart that I will never forget. I highly recommend this book to everyone!
Book Review: Excellent
Summary: 5 Stars
I picked this up and could not put it down, finishing it in one day. Lev and Kolya are a brilliant pairing, one chronically pessimistic, the other unrelentingly optimistic. They form a bond not only with each other, but with the reader. The horrors of the war, in particular the terrible privations of the siege of Leningrad, become almost bearable to read about, because these two somehow manage to keep on going. The author gives us rare insight into the character of the Russian people, both good and bad. Without romanticizing their history, we must never forget the devastating losses that they suffered during World War II.
This is one of the best books about the war that I've ever read, and one of the best novels I've read in a long time.
Book Review: city of thieves
Summary: 5 Stars
City of Thieves is a touching, funny and courageous story. When I ordered it from Amazon, I really wasn't sure I'd enjoy a book about a young Jewish boy in war ravaged Leningrad. When I got to the last page, I was overwhelmed - with the futility of the protaganists search and how much I came to care about them. It's been a good long time since I've so thoroughly enjoyed a story and an author's writing. There was nothing melodramtic or over-the top-silly in this book, just lovely writing, good character development and a sad, but funny tale. I rarely recommend books to people, but I gave this one to my husband who read it in two days - a record for him - and he enjoyed it as much as I did. I'd recommend this book to others in a heartbeat.Book Review: Terrifice Story
Summary: 5 Stars
The strength of this book is not in historical context or accuracy, even, as one reviewer has suggested, its big-screen cinematic opportunities. It's just a terrific story. I found it well conceived, beautifully written, tight and suspenseful, with masterful characterization. It's a guy book, sure, but at times it's sexy, even romantic, in ways all women will understand.I'm a little exhausted at one extreme with literary pretensions and at the other with books that simply try so hard to shock, confuse, or dazzle me with their complicated plots that I think I've signed on for a puzzle competition. Sometimes I just want a good story. This book has terrific balance. I think that makes it worth all its accolades. And well worth reading,Book Review: Eggs and The Siege of Leningrad...
Summary: 5 Stars
"City of Thieves" was our Book Club selection for the late Summer. Our choices flip around from classics to contemporary. A member suggested David Benioff's latest novel and we all agreed. Several weeks later on a Sunday afternoon we met over eggs and lox and all were in agreement that this was a sterling novel.The characters and story telling were superb, it involves the reader with every line, there are historical references to the 900 day siege over Leningrad. I visited St Petersburg several years ago and at novels end, I resolved to return to "Mother Russia". Myself and our Book Club in Santa Monica, California, extend Mr Benioff Four Stars or as a tip of the hat to the novel," City of Thieves"-we gave it "12 Eggs".