Title: City of Thieves
Author: David Benioff
ISBN: 9780340822319
Publisher: New English Library
Pages: 310
Source: Private Copy
During the Nazis’ brutal siege of Leningrad, Lev Beniov is arrested for looting and thrown into the same cell as a handsome deserter named Kolya. Instead of being executed, Lev and Kolya are given a shot at saving their own lives by complying with an outrageous directive: secure a dozen eggs for a powerful Soviet colonel to use in his daughter’s wedding cake. In a city cut off from all supplies and suffering unbelievable deprivation, Lev and Kolya embark on a hunt through the dire lawlessness of Leningrad and behind enemy lines to find the impossible.
By turns insightful and funny, thrilling and terrifying, City of Thieves is a gripping, cinematic World War II adventure and an intimate coming-of-age story with an utterly contemporary feel for how boys become men.
Official Summary
Throwback Thursday
26 September 2024
I have decided to re-do my old reading journal, a massive task that is taking a lot longer than I expected it to, but it has proved to be a lot of fun. I am re-looking at the books I have read dating back to the late nineties. It has been awesome to remember the books I loved and to see how my reading preferences have changed over the years.
City of Thieves by David Benioff is a captivating blend of dark humour, historical tragedy, and a moving coming-of-age story. Set during the harrowing siege of Leningrad, the novel follows Lev, a shy and insecure teenager, and Kolya, a confident, eccentric deserter. Thrown together in a seemingly impossible mission to secure a dozen eggs in a city suffering starvation and chaos, their journey quickly becomes a mix of absurdity and real danger.
The book strikes an impressive balance between moments of humour and the stark realities of war. Lev and Kolya’s banter, full of wit and irony, offers much-needed levity in an otherwise bleak setting. Their dynamic drives the story, and as they face peril, the bond that forms between them feels genuine and touching. The quest for eggs, initially seeming like a humorous adventure, soon reveals the desperation of a city stripped of necessities, and Benioff immerses the reader in the bleakness of war-torn Leningrad.
What sets City of Thieves apart is how it transforms this quest into a much deeper exploration of survival, morality, and friendship. The novel’s pacing is brisk, and its vivid descriptions make the dangers the characters face feel immediate and real. The novel also doesn’t shy away from the horrors of war, yet it manages to balance the grimness with a sense of hope and resilience.
Benioff’s writing is sharp and cinematic, with a mix of thrilling adventure, emotional depth, and darkly comedic moments. This is a novel that feels both historical and timeless, delivering a deeply human story within the chaos of war. It’s a gripping and unforgettable read that will linger with you long after you’ve finished it.
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
David Benioff worked as a nightclub bouncer in San Francisco, a radio DJ in Wyoming and an English teacher/wrestling coach in Brooklyn before selling his first novel, The 25th Hour, in 2000.
He later wrote the screenplay for Spike Lee’s adaptation of 25th Hour starring Edward Norton and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. In 2005, Viking Press published Benioff’s collection of short stories, When the Nines Roll Over.
Benioff’s screenwriting credits include Troy (2004), directed by Wolfgang Petersen, and Stay (2005), directed by Marc Forster, The Kite Runner (2007). Jim Sheridan produced Benioff’s screenplay Brothers, and Hugh Jackman reprised his role as the clawed mutant in Benioff’s Wolverine. He is also screenwriter and executive producer of Game of Thrones, HBO’s adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series of novels.
Viking published his most recent novel, City of Thieves, in May 2008.
Benioff is married to actress Amanda Peet; the couple has three children.
I am aiming to make Throwback Thursday a regular feather on the blog. I have read so many wonderful books over the years and they all deserve a mention. I would love to post reviews of all the books I have read, and perhaps in time, I will get there.
Thank you for visiting the blog and reading my review. I hope you enjoy my throwback reviews and that it inspires you to look back at some of the books you loved. Until next time…. Happy Reading!
