City of Thieves

The backdrop for this historical fiction novel is the siege of Leningrad during WWII. Wartime is tough, and as we follow the journey of the two lead characters, the author vividly depicts starvation, suffering, and the constant state of fear Russians live with. The plot is not complex; the depth of character development and the excellent, heartwarming relationship between Lev and Kolya are what make it rich.

This storyline of male camaraderie and bonding makes for an engaging read; it is the heart of the book. One young man is charismatic and outspoken, the other is insecure and quiet. They are behind enemy lines and surrounded by devastation, and the result is an unusual mix of funny, sad, horrifying, and touching. In short, a nicely paced novel that, although not totally believable, is a very entertaining read.

From the critically acclaimed author of The 25th Hour and When the Nines Roll Over and co-creator of the HBO series Game of Thrones, a captivating novel about war, courage, survival - and a remarkable friendship that ripples across a lifetime.

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, the New York Times bestseller 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.

David wants to hear about his grandfather's experiences firsthand. Why is it important for us to cultivate and preserve our oral histories? Do you have a relative or friend whose story you believe should be captured for posterity?

Lev's father is taken - and almost certainly killed - by the NKVD, yet Lev himself stays behind to defend Leningrad. How do you think he reconciled his patriotism with his love for his father?

In the midst of a major historical moment, Lev is preoccupied with thoughts of food and sex. What does this tell us about experiencing history as it unfolds?

From the cannibals in the market to the sex slaves in the farmhouse, there are numerous illustrations of the way in which war robs us of our humanity. In your opinion, what was the most poignant example of this and why?

Kolya tells Lev that the government should "put the famous on the front lines" (p. 67) rather than use them as spokespeople for patriotic propaganda. Do you agree or disagree? Can you think of any contemporary instances of this practice?

Aside from the sly pride that Lev notices, are there any other clues that give Kolya away as the true author of The Courtyard Hound?

Do you think Markov's denouncer should have remained silent about the partisan's presence? Did either of them deserve to die?

Even moments before Lev pulls his knife on the Sturmbannfuhrer, he thinks: "I had wanted him dead since I had heard Zoya's story . . . but I did not believe I was capable of murdering him" (p. 228). Do you think everyone - given the right motivation - is capable of killing another human being? Could you?

Lev takes an instinctive dislike to Kolya yet comes to consider him his best friend. What was the turning point in their relationship?

Lev says that Vika "was no man's idea of a pinup girl" (p. 149), but he is instantly infatuated. Would he have been drawn to her had they met in different - safer - circumstances?