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4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
3.5 stars. I had a hard time getting through the middle of this one.
Exactly what you want out of a good, hard-working, 250-page novel: well defined characters, a straightforwardly entertaining plot, and plainly elegant prose with just enough poetic bang for your buck. Two Russian survivors have to find a dozen eggs during the German siege of Leningrad or they’ll be killed. Sold. And I’ll be darned if those two crazy kids don’t come of age a little bit along the way!
(If you’re thinking, “There’s no way one of the guys responsible for the last season of Game of Thrones wrote a good novel,” you’d—surprisingly—be wrong!)
(If you’re thinking, “There’s no way one of the guys responsible for the last season of Game of Thrones wrote a good novel,” you’d—surprisingly—be wrong!)
A very impressive novel, I thought. The story was simple, but by no means predictable. The characters were very well written, their relationships believable and engaging, and their arcs subtle and effective. In a certain way, this was really a coming of age / buddy / road novel, but completely going beyond any of those genres. The mentorship / friendship between the main characters is particularly effective and evocative of male friendships at that age. The historical setting (the Siege of Leningrad) is rich and very well presented without intruding at all on the human story. Not profound, but a terribly engaging read. Highly recommended.
This was easily the best book I've read in a long time.
I wish I’d liked it more. It just felt a little too predictable for me, I think.
Amazing how the author combines downright hilarity with brutal imagery in the span of a few sentences. One of those books where you fall in love with the characters and want them to be real. Loved it.
Reread this and it’s still a favorite. So tragic yet funny. Beautiful writing. Wonderful characters. 10/10
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Cannibalism, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Violence, Cannibalism
Minor: Sexual assault
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes