Journal Entry 1 by jesmondgirl from Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Amazon.co.uk Review
The final words of Helen Dunmore's The Siege--"No, I shall not wholly die..."(Alexander Pushkin)--respond to the stark threat with which the novel begins: "Re: The future of Leningrad ... The Führer has decided to have Leningrad wiped from the face of the earth". In this powerful work of fiction, Dunmore writes through her fascination with one of the most remarkable, and painful, episodes in Russian history: the siege of Leningrad through the winter of 1941 during which untold thousands perished of cold and starvation.
The Siege is a type of memorial, a literary document to an experience in which, as Dunmore writes, "being dead is normal". People die in the streets, in their beds; whole families are frozen, "bodies piled up by the Karpovka canal, or outside the cemeteries". What does it take to survive? Dunmore explores that question through the powerful characters--Anna Levin, Kolya (her child-brother) and Andrei (her lover)--who people this novel, conjuring the contest with death that becomes the daily existence of the Leningraders, their belief in a world beyond the siege. The Siege is itself part of that world, stricken by memory and the question of what it means for a novel (and a novelist) to take on the "flesh of all those other Leningraders who died of hunger in silent, frigid rooms". This is part of the wager, and accomplishment, of Dunmore's extraordinary book and confirmation of the extraordinary skill and sensitivity, of her writing. --Vicky Lebeau --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Synopsis
Leningrad, September 1941. German tanks surround the city, imprisoning those who live there. The besieged people of Leningrad face shells, starvation, and the Russian winter. Interweaving two love affairs in two generations, THE SIEGE draws us deep into the Levin's family struggle to stay alive during this terrible winter. It is a story about war and the wounds it inflicts on people's lives. It is also a lyrical and deeply moving celebration of love, life and survival.

 

Journal Entry 2 by jesmondgirl from Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Sunday, January 07, 2007

After I have read this for my book reading group this copy is reserved for Safrolistics. 

Journal Entry 3 by jesmondgirl from Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Tuesday, January 16, 2007

This vividly brought to life the struggle for existance during the siege of Leningrad though told from the privileged standpoint of two families who had at least produce from their Dacha to help them get through. Their life was still one of unimaginable hardship and one glimpsed what those less fortunate had to resort to to survive. This was a tale worth telling and well told.At my book group meetup this gave us lots to talk about. Instead of 30 minutes talking about a book and the rest gossiping we spent an hour and a half discussing the book. It really affected some of the group one of whom said she went to bed feeling cold and hungry the book had made it so vivid. Now going on to Safrolistics. 

Journal Entry 4 by Safrolistics from Newbiggin-By-The-Sea, Northumberland United Kingdom on Saturday, February 03, 2007

Received in the post today, thankyou. 

Journal Entry 5 by Safrolistics from Newbiggin-By-The-Sea, Northumberland United Kingdom on Monday, May 17, 2010

Really enjoyed reading this book, thankyou for sharing. 

Journal Entry 6 by Safrolistics at Controlled release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Monday, May 17, 2010

Released 3 yrs ago (5/17/2010 UTC) at Controlled release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Passed on to a friend to read. 

Journal Entry 7 by annikapannika at Coventry, West Midlands United Kingdom on Sunday, August 01, 2010

picked it up from ssafrolistics before she fled town....will bring to Italy as holiday read. 

Journal Entry 8 by annikapannika at Coventry, West Midlands United Kingdom on Saturday, August 21, 2010

loved the story and the matter of fact way it was told. the sort of unsentimental account of history that hollywood would have a field day with...and totally spoil.a worthy read to honour the less celebrated and remembered victims of war - those who just go about their business in harsher and harsher conditions. survival is hard work and pot luck - lest we forget.

anyway - thought the book should travel wide and far so left it at Nice airport.