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4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
It's hard to say you enjoyed a book that has so many terribly depressing aspects to it. Still, the writing is excellent, allowing you to experience shocking circumstances, feel you know the characters, and learn a little history at the same time. I knew next to nothing - actually, nothing - about the siege of Leningrad, and the experience of the Russian people during WWII; and though it probably was not the author's intent, I found myself worrying (again) about what could happen to us in the US right now, comparing our attitudes to those of the Russians at that time.
I couldn't stop reading, though I found myself longing for some amusing Chick Lit as I read myself to sleep each night. Recommended for others who feel they need a periodic wake-up call over how soft we've become.
I couldn't stop reading, though I found myself longing for some amusing Chick Lit as I read myself to sleep each night. Recommended for others who feel they need a periodic wake-up call over how soft we've become.
Four (conflicted) stars. We read this for book club at my behest and had I known how crass it would be, maybe I wouldn't have pushed for it. However, this was a very incredible tale, though I wish the absurd amount of horniness, was left out.
I loved Kolya in all his silliness and bravery and quick wit.
Though this is a work of fiction, I know that most of the surrounding landscape is accurately taken from what actually happened in Russia during the war. I cannot imagine the despair and tragedy during this time. The library candy, the cannibals, the bombings and starvation.... Any time I read historical fiction from this time period, regardless of what country it is based in, I am astounded by the resilience of human beings. How they mange to live and carry on when to do so seems utterly hopeless. We are blessed for how we all are currently living.
I loved Kolya in all his silliness and bravery and quick wit.
Though this is a work of fiction, I know that most of the surrounding landscape is accurately taken from what actually happened in Russia during the war. I cannot imagine the despair and tragedy during this time. The library candy, the cannibals, the bombings and starvation.... Any time I read historical fiction from this time period, regardless of what country it is based in, I am astounded by the resilience of human beings. How they mange to live and carry on when to do so seems utterly hopeless. We are blessed for how we all are currently living.
Sometimes when I am not completely sure of a book purchase I read one 5 star and one 1 star review on GR. However in this case I found it near impossible to find a bad review.
The poverty, hunger and suffering of the Russian people during WW2 does not get explored enough in historical fiction so any books on this really grabs my attention.
The City of Thieves not only showed the levels to which some people will go to survive but also how quickly one gets used to the most abject circumstances. This made some parts very graphic and hard to read but not once did I want to stop reading.
The dialogue between the two main characters, Lev and Kolya, were at times funny, sometimes full of vulgarity about sex and always always about food – typical of most young men.
This is a unique story based on rich characters and the only reason I did not give this a higher rating is that at times the plot felt a little thinly stretched but I still loved it.
I recommend this with no reservation and if you enjoyed [b:Child 44|2161733|Child 44 (Leo Demidov, #1)|Tom Rob Smith|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1326549060s/2161733.jpg|2167258] you will also like this one.
The poverty, hunger and suffering of the Russian people during WW2 does not get explored enough in historical fiction so any books on this really grabs my attention.
The City of Thieves not only showed the levels to which some people will go to survive but also how quickly one gets used to the most abject circumstances. This made some parts very graphic and hard to read but not once did I want to stop reading.
The dialogue between the two main characters, Lev and Kolya, were at times funny, sometimes full of vulgarity about sex and always always about food – typical of most young men.
This is a unique story based on rich characters and the only reason I did not give this a higher rating is that at times the plot felt a little thinly stretched but I still loved it.
I recommend this with no reservation and if you enjoyed [b:Child 44|2161733|Child 44 (Leo Demidov, #1)|Tom Rob Smith|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1326549060s/2161733.jpg|2167258] you will also like this one.
An adventure, a true love story, a quest, a beaut.
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Es ist schon sehr unglaubwürdig, was da angeblich innerhalb weniger Tage passiert ist. Und dabei soll es sich ja um eine wahre Geschichte handeln...
Allerdings fand ich das Buch sehr eindrücklich und es war für mich komplett neu, den Zweiten Weltkrieg aus Sicht der Russen zu erleben.
Von daher bekommt das Buch von mir eine Empfehlung.
(Das Hörbuch ist übrigens auch super eingesprochen.)
P.S. Habe jetzt ein bisschen Recherche betrieben und dieses Buch ist anscheinend doch komplett fiktional... Ich weiß nicht, wie ich jetzt darüber denken soll. Denn so ist das Buch halt doch komplett unglaubwürdig und eigentlich auch schlecht gemacht, weil das nie nie nie so hätte ablaufen können...
Allerdings fand ich das Buch sehr eindrücklich und es war für mich komplett neu, den Zweiten Weltkrieg aus Sicht der Russen zu erleben.
Von daher bekommt das Buch von mir eine Empfehlung.
(Das Hörbuch ist übrigens auch super eingesprochen.)
P.S. Habe jetzt ein bisschen Recherche betrieben und dieses Buch ist anscheinend doch komplett fiktional... Ich weiß nicht, wie ich jetzt darüber denken soll. Denn so ist das Buch halt doch komplett unglaubwürdig und eigentlich auch schlecht gemacht, weil das nie nie nie so hätte ablaufen können...
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
This is a really enjoyable novel that also happens to contain a lot of horrible events, taking place as it does during the siege of Leningrad during WWII. It is funny and heartfelt, the dialogue is particularly crisp. Overall, it manages to take a ridiculous and awful situation and turn it into a somewhat unbelievable adventure between two new friends.
Not the biggest fan of historical fiction but this is a beautiful tale that weaves back into a perfect circle.