Tolog Review: The City of Thieves

The City of Thieves
by David Benioff
reviewed by Chloe Walters-Gudino 

The City of Thieves by David Benioff is a novel that defines courage and determination. This novel is told from David as an interpreter of the memories of his grandfather that lived through the Nazi time. David visited his grandfather urging him to tell the stories of his experiences of his youth. 

As the “real story” began, a seventeen-year-old named Lev Beniov who lives in the town of Leningrad, otherwise known as “Piter”. Leningrad is a town that is suffering from starvation. As the plot develops, Lev is arrested for looting. To Lev’s surprise, he was not put to death immediately, but he was given a “gift” with his cellmate, Koyla Vlasov. Koyla was a soldier in the army who was arrested for abandoning his unit. Koyla and Lev were taken to Colonel Grechko of the NKVD who offers them with a deal. Colonel Grechko’s daughter is to be married within that upcoming Friday, but her wedding cake is in need of a dozen eggs. It was her dream to have a “perfect, “normal” wedding. The task was if the two were to bring forth a dozen eggs, Colonel Grechko would grant them their freedom. If the two don’t collect a least ten eggs, Colonel Grechko’s men will come to find them, and kill them.

I first thought that the novel was a little slow, but Benioff gave out very well written descriptions. I thought it was really intense, but it will catch your eye. Benioff words kept me wanting to read more. If you like a historical story that gives you a sense of what life was like in the war, than this is the book for you. It will help you understand how people went through great lengths to survive. The expression of survival of the fittest was definitely something that you will not forget while reading this novel. I would definitely say that I would recommend this novel to anyone because you realize what people had to do just to succeed your dream of your perfect wedding cake. You also understood how people had their life on the line for crimes that do not need to be taken into the extremes. I will definitely never forget reading this novel.