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370 reviews for:
Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad
M.T. Anderson
4.39 AVERAGE
370 reviews for:
Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad
M.T. Anderson
4.39 AVERAGE
At first I could tell this was written for YA, but I soon forgot. The wording wasn't dumbed down, but the storytelling was a little simplified. But I got sucked into the story, much of which I did not know, and enjoyed it tremendously. I especially liked the weaving together of the history and the symphonies--I had previously not loved the 7th. But it meant more to me on listening to it again as I read. Terrific book--hope we can get some teens to read it!!!
This book was a tough read. Not because it wasn't well written, but because the subject matter was a tough one and because the text is pretty dense. I really enjoy learning new things and I am particularly fascinated by World War II. Symphony for the City of the Dead gave me both of those things. I always think it is kind of sad that American students don't learn a lot of Asian/Eastern European History, especially in regards to WWII. I know so little about that part of the world and feel very uninformed about the history of half the world. This book was an eye-opening one in regards to the atrocities committed both by the Germans and by the Stalin regime.
The book is about Dmitri Shostakovich and his Seventh Symphony about Leningrad, but it is really about so much more. It is about what the Russian people had to do to survive both the war and Stalin. It is about the politics of the time. It is about just how little Stalin thought about his people. The end of the book talks about just how many people died in Russia during WWII. I was astounded to learn that 27 million Russian people died. That is over half of all who died during the war (54 million). It does not break down how many of those were killed by the Germans and how many were killed by the Russian government.
There were so many points in this book that just made me cringe I can't recite them all here. The fact that Stalin had hit squads who would kill any soldiers deserting. The fact that the Russian soldiers liberated from the German concentration camps were killed because they allowed themselves to be captured. The fact that the Russian government wouldn't inform the people of the true dangers of the Germans and allowed so many (2.5 million) to stay in Leningrad and starve. The fact that the Allies (US and England) sent aid to Russian basically to keep them fighting the Germans so they wouldn't have to yet. The fact that Stalin killed so many indiscriminately. He basically wiped out his military because they thought he should prepare for the Germans and then was mad at the survivors because they weren't prepared.
Reading about Stalin actually reminded me of how disgusted I was when I read [b:The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia|18691014|The Family Romanov Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia|Candace Fleming|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1387147384s/18691014.jpg|26537337]. Czar Nicholas was so clueless about the political situation and the world around him that he fell victim to the Bolsheviks and led to his family's murders. Stalin was so self-absorbed and oblivious that he couldn't believe Hitler would betray him. He was a true monster, which seems to have been white-washed a bit from history.
Dmitri Shostakovich's story is an interesting one. What I found particularly interesting was the fact that historians are not sure how much of his story is actually his own. How much was propoganda of the NKVD? How much was Shostakovich playing the part that kept him and his family alive? How much was actually the man himself? It is a fascinating story and an interesting look into a very different time of history.
The book is about Dmitri Shostakovich and his Seventh Symphony about Leningrad, but it is really about so much more. It is about what the Russian people had to do to survive both the war and Stalin. It is about the politics of the time. It is about just how little Stalin thought about his people. The end of the book talks about just how many people died in Russia during WWII. I was astounded to learn that 27 million Russian people died. That is over half of all who died during the war (54 million). It does not break down how many of those were killed by the Germans and how many were killed by the Russian government.
There were so many points in this book that just made me cringe I can't recite them all here. The fact that Stalin had hit squads who would kill any soldiers deserting. The fact that the Russian soldiers liberated from the German concentration camps were killed because they allowed themselves to be captured. The fact that the Russian government wouldn't inform the people of the true dangers of the Germans and allowed so many (2.5 million) to stay in Leningrad and starve. The fact that the Allies (US and England) sent aid to Russian basically to keep them fighting the Germans so they wouldn't have to yet. The fact that Stalin killed so many indiscriminately. He basically wiped out his military because they thought he should prepare for the Germans and then was mad at the survivors because they weren't prepared.
Reading about Stalin actually reminded me of how disgusted I was when I read [b:The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia|18691014|The Family Romanov Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia|Candace Fleming|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1387147384s/18691014.jpg|26537337]. Czar Nicholas was so clueless about the political situation and the world around him that he fell victim to the Bolsheviks and led to his family's murders. Stalin was so self-absorbed and oblivious that he couldn't believe Hitler would betray him. He was a true monster, which seems to have been white-washed a bit from history.
Dmitri Shostakovich's story is an interesting one. What I found particularly interesting was the fact that historians are not sure how much of his story is actually his own. How much was propoganda of the NKVD? How much was Shostakovich playing the part that kept him and his family alive? How much was actually the man himself? It is a fascinating story and an interesting look into a very different time of history.
Not an easy book to read, but well worth it!
Shostakovich led such a difficult life - the events that went on in Russia during his lifetime were mind boggling, and all of this effected his music. This was fascinating. It is unbelievable that he was able to be so incredibly prolific despite his surroundings.
The music elements of this book are enlightening and riveting. However, the even more incredible tale was the story of Russia during this time. I’ve read a lot about Russia, but this details much more information than I have encountered before. I was aghast: the revolution, Stalin’s purges, WWII, the Cold War.
So very interesting. I might reread this one day.
Shostakovich led such a difficult life - the events that went on in Russia during his lifetime were mind boggling, and all of this effected his music. This was fascinating. It is unbelievable that he was able to be so incredibly prolific despite his surroundings.
The music elements of this book are enlightening and riveting. However, the even more incredible tale was the story of Russia during this time. I’ve read a lot about Russia, but this details much more information than I have encountered before. I was aghast: the revolution, Stalin’s purges, WWII, the Cold War.
So very interesting. I might reread this one day.
I can't possibly rave about this book enough.
I'll be honest: when I checked it out from the library, I didn't realize this was a YA book. When I got home and saw that it was, I nearly returned it. Only the rave reviews on Goodreads convinced me to give it a go. For that, I cannot thank my fellow Goodread-ers enough.
Ostensibly, this book is a biography of Dmitri Shostakovich, specifically, how he came to write his Symphony No. 7, the Leningrad Symphony. He is, indeed, the connecting thread of the book. But to say that this is solely a biography is inaccurate. For me, it was a fabulous primer in Russian (and world) history, particularly WWII.
If you're already well-versed in Russian and world history circa WWII, this book may not hold much interest for you. But if you're like me, an adult who somehow never learned about this stuff in school, this book is utterly fascinating. Because it's a YA book, the author assumes no knowledge. He starts at the beginning and explains everything, but--most importantly--without ever talking down to the reader.
The personal story of Shostakovich and his symphony was the connecting thread of this book, though. Not only was his story fascinating in and of itself, but it also added a personal element to the overall story of WWII. Sure, it's one thing to know vaguely that Stalin was "really bad" (which was about the extent of my own knowledge), but to see how his insanity and cruelty played out in just one person's life made it that much more "real." (Yes, I realize how ridiculous that sounds. I'm not a stupid woman, I swear.)
I loved this book. Again, if you're an adult who is already knowledgeable about WWII, this book may not be for you. But for the young adult (say 15+) with a burgeoning interest in WWII or for the adult who, like me, just didn't learn much about WWII in school, this book is a well-written, engaging starting place.
I'll be honest: when I checked it out from the library, I didn't realize this was a YA book. When I got home and saw that it was, I nearly returned it. Only the rave reviews on Goodreads convinced me to give it a go. For that, I cannot thank my fellow Goodread-ers enough.
Ostensibly, this book is a biography of Dmitri Shostakovich, specifically, how he came to write his Symphony No. 7, the Leningrad Symphony. He is, indeed, the connecting thread of the book. But to say that this is solely a biography is inaccurate. For me, it was a fabulous primer in Russian (and world) history, particularly WWII.
If you're already well-versed in Russian and world history circa WWII, this book may not hold much interest for you. But if you're like me, an adult who somehow never learned about this stuff in school, this book is utterly fascinating. Because it's a YA book, the author assumes no knowledge. He starts at the beginning and explains everything, but--most importantly--without ever talking down to the reader.
The personal story of Shostakovich and his symphony was the connecting thread of this book, though. Not only was his story fascinating in and of itself, but it also added a personal element to the overall story of WWII. Sure, it's one thing to know vaguely that Stalin was "really bad" (which was about the extent of my own knowledge), but to see how his insanity and cruelty played out in just one person's life made it that much more "real." (Yes, I realize how ridiculous that sounds. I'm not a stupid woman, I swear.)
I loved this book. Again, if you're an adult who is already knowledgeable about WWII, this book may not be for you. But for the young adult (say 15+) with a burgeoning interest in WWII or for the adult who, like me, just didn't learn much about WWII in school, this book is a well-written, engaging starting place.
Astonishing. Tore through two-thirds, but had to put it down for days to recover from reading about horrors upon horrors. My favorite part was the analysis and exposition of the fifth symphony, which brought it to life in ways I never would have been able to experience otherwise.
The story of Russian composer, Shostakovich, and interwoven with WWII and the siege of Leningrad. Shostakovich was a boy genius who had to endure Stalin who could love you on one day and kill you the next. Then the Nazi's decide to attack and Stalin is totally unprepared partially because he had killed any of the competent military leaders to prevent a coup. Leningrad had to withstand 3 years of bombings and starvation. (the starvation part is the tough part to read about) Shostakovich lives through some of this and is eventually taken out. He writes part of his 7th symphony there. His music brings people hope.
Really well-told YA story. There are some hard parts like cannibalism and eating pets. This had been languishing on my TBR for about 5 years -- I should've read it sooner. In American history, you see WWII though American eyes and sometimes European eyes so you never learn the extent of horror in Russia.
Really well-told YA story. There are some hard parts like cannibalism and eating pets. This had been languishing on my TBR for about 5 years -- I should've read it sooner. In American history, you see WWII though American eyes and sometimes European eyes so you never learn the extent of horror in Russia.
I love every M.T. Anderson book I’ve read: Feed, Landscape with Invisible Hand, and Yvain: The Knight of the Lion, but, as they all have fantasy elements, I was worried I might not like him as much at a straightforward nonfiction book. It was actually very good and had me listening to classical music again to see just what music could have pissed off Stalin so much or have compelled starving Leningraders to forgo food for symphony tickets. The description of the besieged city filled with frozen and frequently cannibalized corpses was more horrifying than any horror movie.
dark
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced