Oh, those Russians

Hey All,

David Benioff's City of Thieves is one remarkably well-told story.  That first chapter I mentioned in my earlier post was a great setup to the rest of the book.  Essentially, this is supposed to be the story of the Benioff's grandfather’s experiences over the course of a week in Leningrad during the Nazi occupation of Russia.  Sounds gloomy, I know.  It is.  It is also, however, pretty damned funny.
I don't know how many times I actually laughed out loud while reading City of Thieves, but it mostly occurred in very public places like the subway, or a restaurant. This is but one example of something that made me laugh, and the analogy makes me howl:

"I hadn't been with a girl in four months. My balls were ringing like churchbells." (p. 172)

City of Thieves is about a teenager named Lev, and his quest to find a dozen eggs for a Russian officer’s daughter’s wedding.  

Bah.  

I don’t want to tell you what the book is about.  You can find that online, if you wish.  I will just say this: excellent recommendation, Ann; I cannot put this book down.  I want to know what is going to happen next, at nearly every turn of a page.  I don’t know much about Russian culture, but books like this make me want to learn more.  

Ann didn't attach a specific mission to this book, like Sasha did for The Alchemist, mostly, I suppose, because City of Thieves just isn't that kind of book. It's entertainment, while also giving a little taste of history. I'm not saying it's accurate history, but still good history. We can call it historical fiction, if you like. I'm nearly done (probably about thirty more pages), so I should finish it today, or tomorrow, at the very latest.

Almost as important as finishing this book, though, is the decision I need to make on what book I should read next.  The Alchemist was pretty easy, and City of Thieves has been pure pleasure, so I’m up for a challenge.  Plus, I’m ahead of schedule, so I can start a longer or more difficult book and feel comfortable with it.  What’s more, though, is the fact that I need to get my hands on whatever book I choose.  I’m thinking of The Stranger, partly because I know it’s likely to be a tough read, and also because I can probably find it nearly any used bookstore in the city.  Or how about Of Human Bondage?  Any other suggestions?  

And how about the new blog?  Expect the look to change as I get into the nitty gritty of design.  I’ve already had some feedback about the look (the old one was better, I agree), but tumblr didn’t allow the same kind of easy functionality that Blogger does (such as allowing you, the readers, to comment), and WordPress is a little too complicated for me.  

-Bryan