Published in 2008.
Audiobook read by Ron Perlman.
I enjoyed this unique story set in Russia during the infamous siege of Leningrad - providing me with another view of World War II, about which I've been reading quite a bit this year.
Author David Benioff gives us two incredible characters in Lev and Kolya, young men who meet for the first time in a jail cell, imprisoned on dubious charges. Given a reprieve from their impending executions if they can locate a dozen eggs for the colonel's daughter's wedding cake, they head out on an incredible adventure.
I laughed. I cried. I don't think I'll ever forget Kolya and Lev.
The novel contains some crude and uncomfortable language and situations, but given that it is the story of two young men in war time, I didn't find it gratuitous or offensive.
City of Thieves was a Salt Lake County Reader's Choice pick for July through October 2009, with a blog post here. The book's webpage is here. Britt (Confessions of a Book Habitué) reviewed it here.
2010.30
Me at Yallfest!
2 months ago
Read by Ron Perlman? Interesting....
ReplyDeleteI liked it, but the whole "did this really happen" thing was driving me nuts. lol
The siege of Leningrad is one of my favourite settings to read about (although that sounds so bad given the terrible humanitarian tragedy that it was). Other books I have read in this setting include The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simon, Madonnas of Leningrad by Debra Dean and The Siege by Helen Dunmore
ReplyDeleteBritt: I enjoyed Ron Perlman's narration.
ReplyDeleteMarg: I'll have to check out the titles you mentioned.