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4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
This is one of the best books I believe I've ever read. It is at once humorous and terrifying. The pacing is perfect.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A short but beautiful adventure that anyone can enjoy
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
challenging
dark
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is not typically the genre of books I go for, but I thoroughly enjoyed this! It was very interesting especially being from the Russian perspective. I have read books that were set during the time of WW1 and WW2 but always from the American perspective. I think this provided me with some more perspective on the era.
As a reader I am someone who really values well built characters and dialogue and I didn’t expect that to be extremely strong in this book considering the fact that it has such an action packed premise and only 250 pages. I was proven wrong. The characters and dialogue drove this book so much more than I expected. David Benioff managed to keep me interested with action on every page but also wrote incredibly interesting and even relatable characters with some hilarious dialogue! I loved it.
In there end there definitely needed to be a tear jerking moment but we also needed a win. I don’t think I could have asked for a better ending.
As a reader I am someone who really values well built characters and dialogue and I didn’t expect that to be extremely strong in this book considering the fact that it has such an action packed premise and only 250 pages. I was proven wrong. The characters and dialogue drove this book so much more than I expected. David Benioff managed to keep me interested with action on every page but also wrote incredibly interesting and even relatable characters with some hilarious dialogue! I loved it.
In there end there definitely needed to be a tear jerking moment but we also needed a win. I don’t think I could have asked for a better ending.
adventurous
hopeful
tense
4.5 stars. A book about two boys trying to find eggs in war-torn Russia. This is a wonderfully written book. I love the humour and the thought provoking statements. The characters were well developed and the plot fascinating. A quick read but the characters and story last a lot longer than that.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Excellent journey through war torn Russia. Ironic almost.
City of Thieves is a surprisingly great little novel. I have such a backlog of books I want to read that if it wasn't a gift from my daughter, I may not have read it.
The story begins as an envelope story (although it never returns to that at the end, except for one line about the grandmother never cooking) with a 34-year-old man asking his grandfather about the war, and after a little persuasion, he gets his grandfather to talk about the war. The story, however, focuses on one year in 1942, whe Lev, the grandfather who is barely 17, is arrested, thrown in with another young man assumed to be a deserter, and sent on a mission to acquire a dozen eggs as their get-out-of-jail card. During the next week, there is a running constipation joke, cannibals, extreme poverty, graphic violence, sex, and suffering-- the perfect backdrop for Lev's transition into manhood.
Rating: 4.5 stars, because I don’t think it will go down in history, but it’s a great story nonetheless.
My personal review ratings are based upon the following: 1 Star, “I did not like it and wasted my time or couldn’t finish it”; 2 Stars, “I think it is just Ok, but I’ll never think about it again”; 3 Stars, “I think it is an entertaining , enjoyable book, and I’ll think about it again”; 4 Stars, “I really love this book, and I may read it again”; and 5 Stars, “I think this book is excellent, I will read it again, and it will stand the test of time.”
The story begins as an envelope story (although it never returns to that at the end, except for one line about the grandmother never cooking) with a 34-year-old man asking his grandfather about the war, and after a little persuasion, he gets his grandfather to talk about the war. The story, however, focuses on one year in 1942, whe Lev, the grandfather who is barely 17, is arrested, thrown in with another young man assumed to be a deserter, and sent on a mission to acquire a dozen eggs as their get-out-of-jail card. During the next week, there is a running constipation joke, cannibals, extreme poverty, graphic violence, sex, and suffering-- the perfect backdrop for Lev's transition into manhood.
Rating: 4.5 stars, because I don’t think it will go down in history, but it’s a great story nonetheless.
My personal review ratings are based upon the following: 1 Star, “I did not like it and wasted my time or couldn’t finish it”; 2 Stars, “I think it is just Ok, but I’ll never think about it again”; 3 Stars, “I think it is an entertaining , enjoyable book, and I’ll think about it again”; 4 Stars, “I really love this book, and I may read it again”; and 5 Stars, “I think this book is excellent, I will read it again, and it will stand the test of time.”