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City of Thieves
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
From the critically acclaimed author of The 25th Hour and When the Nines Roll Over, 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 daughters 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.
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RedCurly
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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Pickpick

A college of mine recommended me this book and I am nor disopponited at all. It is wuite funny but so real about the war.

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BookishTrish
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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Pickpick

How did I sleep on this one for so long? It‘s a thoroughly entertaining read about two unlikely comrades on an even unlikelier quest set against the backdrop of WWII Russia.

Ruthiella I liked this a lot too and only first read it last year. 👍 7mo
47 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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Blueberry
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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1. Persuasion
2. Lonesome Dove
3. City of Thieves

#TLT #ThreeListThursday
@Dabbe

dabbe 1 and 2: have been on my TBR--must get to them! 3: A new one for that never-ending TBR! Thanks for sharing. 💚🩷💚 8mo
Blueberry #'s 2 and 3 are very high on my all-time favorites. 8mo
34 likes2 comments
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saritaroth
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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“You have never been so hungry; you have never been so cold.”

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eris404
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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Pickpick

In WWII Leningrad, a looter and a deserter are given a reprieve by an officer to complete a ridiculous task (I don‘t want to spoil what it is). These two boys go on an Odyssey—and yes, there are obvious parallels to that story—that takes them through a starving and bombed out city to behind German lines. There are several harrowing moments and I actually shouted at a particularly intense scene, but it never feels completely bleak or humorless

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Suet624
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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I feel I did this book a disservice when reviewing it this week. I was comparing it to another book & not looking at it for its own merits. This photo is my library copy-read by many-the back looks even worse. I downloaded the library‘s audiobook too so I could listen in the car. The audio was great. During the siege of Leningrad by the Germans two young men are arrested. The only way they will survive is if they can find eggs for the …. 🔽

Suet624 colonel who oversees the prison. This is a nearly impossible task as people in Leningrad are living in terrible conditions & starving. This story is of their quest to make it through the Germans and return to the colonel. It‘s a story of war & friendship & horrid conditions & yet also has a humor running through it. I grew to truly care about the characters. Lots of TW here. I”m sure to remember many of the individual events that took place. 2y
58 likes1 comment
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Suet624
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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Pickpick

I love A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra. Recently I listened to a talk he gave where he praised this book & said he liked the humor/tragedy/history of this one and used the same style when writing Constellation. So I had to check it out. Benioff writes of Leningrad battling the Germans and we follow two main characters as they try to obtain eggs for a Colonel. Lots of TW. Definitely enjoyed this one but Marra‘s is better.

57 likes1 stack add
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jenniferw88
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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Pickpick
Librarybelle Hooray!! 2y
46 likes1 comment
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Andrew65
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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#AlphabetGame #LetterC

Could easily have chosen one of my all-time favourite books, Charlotte‘s Web, but instead (as always nominate that) I‘ve gone for City of Thieves by David Benioff. this was truly an excellent read and the ending had quite the impact.

@AlwaysBeenALoverOfBooks @CBee @MaGoose @Eggbeater @Rubyslippersreads @BookJunkie57

erzascarletbookgasm Very good read, I liked this! 2y
CBee This looks good, stacked! 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you for playing! 2y
61 likes1 stack add3 comments
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SanjanaGhosh
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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Mehso-so

Cannot review this book without giving out spoilers :/

Twainy Great narration by Ron Perlman! 3y
21 likes1 comment
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BaBaBaBillyAndTheBooks
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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Pickpick

Kolya can talk his way out of anything: a jail cell, the den of a cannibal killer, a prison camp — not because he‘s a con artist but because he tells a good story and knows how to connect with people. He‘s a writer. Our best authors, like Kolya, like Lev the poet, like Benioff, weave a tale that — no matter how farfetched — brings light and hope to our darkest, most brutal times, where there‘s no food, no peace, and no happy ending in sight.

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NikkiKey94
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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Pickpick

I received this book in my Literati Book Club box and I honestly didn‘t think I would like it. However, I read this book in one day! Once I got started I just couldn‘t put it down! I really enjoyed that there was some humor mixed in and it made for a great read!

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Kelican17
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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Mehso-so

I liked parts of the book. 🙂 I didn‘t like parts of the book. 🙁 I thought some parts were pointless, or off track (?). 🙄Some of it was funny.😂 Some of it was difficult subject matter.😬🥶 I would love a book about Lev, Kolya, and Vika‘s lives after the war. 😍 That would be something to read. 👏🏻🤓📚

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Blueberry
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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1. The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto
2. The Lonesome Dove series
3. The author Catherine Ryan Hyde
4. Slumdog Millionaire (aka Q&A)
5. City of Thieves

#SundayaSoapBox @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@NataliePatalie

Bookzombie I have read LD and Streets of Laredo and they are two of my favorites. I‘m planning to read the other two this year. 3y
Nebklvr I love City of Thieves 3y
sherrisilvera Loved Lonesome Dove, liked the other 3. City of Thieves was excellent too! 3y
54 likes4 comments
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Kimzey
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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1. City of Thieves was an enjoyable book club read, set in the snow during the siege of Leningrad. ❄️
2. Since I listen to so many audiobooks, but my TBR shelves are overflowing, I plan to read at least one “book on paper” each month. 📖
3. Grateful for Litsy and for my book club! 📚🍷

@Eggs #wondrouswednesday

Eggs Great goal❣️ 3y
33 likes1 comment
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Amiable
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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1. Not sure if it‘s my favorite, but this book immediately came to mind.
2. Working in healthcare, I honestly can‘t even think about career goals right now—I‘m just trying to keep my head above water. It‘s difficult to think/plan more than a day at a time. Personally, I‘m hoping my husband and I can take a postponed vacation.
3. Grateful to be working from home today. It‘s the little things!

Thanks for the tag, @Texreader and @Butterfinger

Prairiegirl_reading Rest/vacation is a good goal. I hope you stay well. Take care 💜 3y
Amiable @Prairiegirl_reading Thank you! You too. 💚💛 3y
Eggs Work/life balance - sometimes only an illusion…thanks for joining in 💙💙 3y
Amiable @Eggs Especially in the middle of a global pandemic! 😬 3y
44 likes5 comments
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The_Literary_Jedi
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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Mehso-so

📚📚 for second book of July. This took 5 days and it‘s only 258 pages. Weak character development, low reader engagement, weak finish. Set in WWII Leningrad with two guys sent on a ridiculous mission. I was thinking daring adventure and got bad jokes about shit & sex. About as great as his GoT finale writing (I said what I said 🐉)

Twainy Ron Perlman narrated this which made it enjoyable. It was definitely more of a fluff read than a literary masterpiece. 3y
26 likes1 comment
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akfreeborn
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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Pickpick

I have owned this for a decade and it always got pushed back on my list. Finally, I read it this weekend. It is really a masterpiece, a great wartime book built around relationships and good storytelling and surviving through hunger, cold, and violence. There are some very disturbing scenes. Benioff is the best kind of storyteller. Highly recommend if you have put this one off like me.

Jas16 This has been sitting unread on my shelves for years too. Someday... 4y
Desha I‘ve done the same thing with this book 😂. Thanks for the push to read it! ☺️ 4y
28 likes2 comments
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Ahrabs
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
Pickpick

*****

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Christinak
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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I really enjoyed this book. The subject matter is harsh but it is written so well. I look forward to other novels in the future.

#literaryladies

callielafleur Love this mug 4y
monalyisha Yes! Great mug! 4y
ShananigansReads Great mug 4y
Gissy Love the mug!😍❤️❤️❤️ 4y
31 likes4 comments
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starlight97
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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Pickpick

Kolya and Lev, a young soldier and an even younger boy are brought together by fate in besieged Leningrad. They have a seemingly simple task: bring twelve eggs to the colonel for his daughter's wedding cake.
David Benioff, screenwriter of Game of Thrones masterfully sprinkles humor into a story of hard survival in German-occupied winter Russia.
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

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Addison_Reads
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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Pickpick

I haven't been doing so well with my #ReadingEurope2020 but this makes my third finished read. Bonus is that it's another off my bookshelf that was there too long, and I've already passed it on to a lovely lady in my local book club. 💚

Although this book has heartbreaking moments, it also has hopeful moments of kids simply being kids and growing up in a terrible time in history while trying to make the best of it.

@Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

Librarybelle It always feels good to read a book that has been on your shelf for awhile! 5y
39 likes1 comment
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Bookish_B
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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Pickpick

I didn‘t know very much about this book going into it and because the protagonists are teenagers (or at least one is) I did not expect it to be as heavy as it was. I also thought because it was so small it might be a fast read but I found it wasn‘t the kind of story I could tear through. I needed to take time to digest what I was taking in. It is really good, heartbreaking and beautifully written but definitely not a light read.

HollyQ A great book. Fun to read (mostly), yet layered with meaning and a real eye-opener if your grasp on what was going on in Russia during WWII is a little hazy. 5y
37 likes1 comment
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SiriuslyWeasley
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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I love this cover. The wee hen in the distance cracks me up! 🐓

Blueberry LOVE this book ♡ 5y
Follow.my.read This was a GREAT BOOK!!!! 5y
34 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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Aims42
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
Pickpick

I‘m proud of myself for not only finishing this book, but for also enjoying it! I love historical fiction about WWII, but am squeamish with really gory details. Well, this book is not for the squeamish, BUT I pushed through and am so glad I did 👍🏻 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 stars

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CaitlinR
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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Pickpick

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel.

Two young men are given an absurd quest. If they can deliver one dozen eggs to an insane Colonel during the siege of Leningrad, their lives will be spared. The Germans are brutal and the Partisans cruel. Russian citizens are eating sawdust and each other, dogs are being used as weapons, but the friendship formed on the quest becomes beautiful.

Not for the faint of heart, but great storytelling.

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ashsbookmarks
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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Cinfhen
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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#SoaringScores #ANationOfThieves This book, set in Leningrad during WWII is the story of two boys tasked with procuring a dozen fresh eggs for the Czar‘s chef in order to bake a wedding cake for his daughter‘s upcoming wedding. It‘s a really great read. Clever and well constructed.

Texreader I agree. This is a good book 5y
cathipink You know he's one of the creators of the Game of Thrones tv series too, right? 🙂 5y
CrowCAH Ah, thieves of eggs 🥚! Neato 5y
Cinfhen I am aware @cathipink and I‘m pretty sure fans personally blamed him for the disastrous final season of GOT 🙄 I think he‘s working on a Star Wars script now. He‘s a good writer @Texreader I think City of Thieves would translate well to film @CrowCAH 5y
Mdargusch I have read this and really liked it too! 5y
84 likes2 stack adds5 comments
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Beccacraft
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
Pickpick

This book was set in Russia during WWII and told the story of the a boy‘s harrowing days during the Leningrad Siege. It was gripping, beautifully written, and interspersed with comic relief despite the terrible nature of the events in that time. I loved the characters and truly felt invested in their outcomes.

ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Love this book!! I was completely captivated by it. 5y
3 likes1 comment
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JenniferP
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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#7Days7covers Day 7 #covercrush Loved this challenge!

ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled One of my favorites ever. 🥚 5y
JenniferP @ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled I also loved this book! And I think the cover really fits. 5y
28 likes2 comments
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bookandbedandtea
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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#7covers7days #covercrush Day 7
I tag everyone! If you want to play, please do!

Buechersuechtling Definitely a book to remember. 5y
27 likes1 comment
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Bookwormjillk
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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I decided to finish #bfcr3 with a bang today. A hike plus yard work have me counting down the minutes until I can get into bed with my book. It‘s been a good week- I was sick as a dog last weekend but am bouncing back with some healthy eating and self care.

Out of the eight books I listened to while active this round the tagged book is by far my favorite.

Stay well bfcers. See you next time!

wanderinglynn So glad to hear you‘re feeling better. And great job! Way to go! 🙌🏻 5y
sudi Glad you're feeling better 💕 and great job 👏👏👏 5y
39 likes2 comments
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Bookwormjillk
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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Pickpick

This book is grim and violent but also stunningly funny. I was so attached to the characters by the end. An excellent audiobook- I did so much laundry today just so I could see how this ended.

Hazel0303 This is one of my all time favorite books. 5y
thebluestocking I loved this book too!! 💙 And I hope I can find such a book this week to help me with the piles of laundry! 5y
erzascarletbookgasm I loved this book! 5y
Bookwormjillk @Hazel0303 I think it‘s going to be up there for me too 5y
Bookwormjillk @thebluestocking haha good luck! 5y
39 likes2 stack adds5 comments
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toofondofbooks
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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LiterRohde
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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“‘Stalin goes to visit one of the collectives outside of Moscow. ‘Tell me, comrade, how did the potatoes do this year?‘ ‘Very well, Comrade Stalin. If we piled them up, they would reach God.‘ ‘But God does not exist, Comrade Farmer.‘ ‘Nor do the potatoes, Comrade Stalin.‘‘”

#ColorMePretty | 11: #Red

📷: Made with Typorama

BookishTrish Nicely played! 5y
53 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Becker
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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Pickpick

The brutality of war laced lightly with moments of absurd humour. An unusual book is some ways but I found the story quite gripping.

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erzascarletbookgasm
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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I loved reading this thrilling coming-of-age story set during the Siege of Leningrad, written by the author who also co-create the HBO‘s GoT.

#WanderingJune #Russians

Cinfhen This was a very good novel 5y
74 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Creadnorthey
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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Mehso-so

There is not much that is earth shattering here: plot is consistent, characters are dynamic enough to keep it all interesting, and the setting is the real star here. This reads as a great primer for WWII‘s eastern front brutality, but self admittedly not a comprehensive overview.

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Yesmynameistable
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff

“The loneliest sound in the world is other people making love.” Pg 76

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Yesmynameistable
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff

“I‘ve always envied people who sleep easily. Their brains must be cleaner, the floorboards of the skull well swept, all the little monsters closed up in a streamer trunk at the foot of the bed.” Pg 24

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Catmat
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
Bailedbailed

Excellent vacation read.

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readordierachel
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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For some reason today's prompt made me think of this cover/book, which I have yet to read. Two prisoners in Nazi-occupied Russia on a literal egg hunt, tasked to find a dozen eggs for the wedding cake of colonel's daughter, making their way through "the dire lawlessness of Leningrad." Anyone read it?

#boulevardofbrokendreams #musicalnewyear
@Cinfhen @vivastory

vivastory I read it. I thought it was worthwhile. 6y
Amiable I really liked this one. 6y
Swe_Eva It was a really good read! 👍 6y
See All 14 Comments
Samreamer I love this book! I even got my husband to read it (he usually is only a non-fiction person), and he really liked it. 6y
cariashley It‘s so so good. Audio is fantastic. 6y
Cinfhen This book surprised me. It was well done and a different take on WWII which I enjoyed. 6y
erzascarletbookgasm I‘ve read it and liked it :) 6y
Reggie This sounds pretty good. Stacked. 6y
zezeki This is my tbr too. Heard only good things. 6y
minkyb I remember really liking this! 6y
readordierachel @BookNerd9906 @reggie @zezeki It sounds interesting, right? 👍🏽😊 6y
BookNerd9906 @readordierachel Definitely! Lmk what you think. 6y
106 likes6 stack adds14 comments
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Jen2
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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Pickpick

Great story but some really brutal scenes.

erzascarletbookgasm I really liked this! 6y
Crazeedi Love this pic! 6y
106 likes2 comments
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bookandbedandtea
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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I loved going back through my lists to find my #18in2018 as I had forgotten about a few of these despite how much I loved them. 😯

JaclynW So many great ones! 6y
bookandbedandtea @JaclynW It was a good reading year! 6y
bookandbedandtea @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Thanks! I really enjoyed these. 6y
20 likes4 comments
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Thousand-Lives
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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Pickpick

Loved this one! Although a bleak WWII tale, it also manages to be charming and funny. I miss the characters and that‘s always the mark of a great book for me.

Do be warned that it is violent and the dialogue can be crude.

Amiable I really liked this one, too. 6y
68 likes1 comment
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Thousand-Lives
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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I started this one on my Kindle, but realized I also own a paper copy. Had to switch over when I realized how nicely the cover coordinates for the holiday season. 😆🌲

Amiable Ha! It really does! 😀 6y
77 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Thousand-Lives
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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A little hotel reading this morning. My husband and I were able to get away last night for his work holiday party. Enjoying these (rare) quiet, child-free moments with coffee and a book!

Has anyone read this one? It‘s been on my Kindle for a long time.

callielafleur I adore this book. Extremely well-plotted and very funny. 6y
cariashley I listened to this on a bit of a whim and was blown away. Absolutely loved it. 🖤 6y
Notafraidofwords Love this book ! 6y
66 likes3 comments
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SarahMillerBooks
City of Thieves: A Novel | David Benioff
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