During the Nazis' brutal seige 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.

I bought this book on a recommendation of a person who said it was so funny. I must have missed the funny parts in all the war and death and stuff. That being said, it was a good story.

Sharing with BethanieKay - hope you enjoy the book & your visit to Rapid City!

Handed off to me from RCLoriH tonight as we had dinner and chatted while I'm in her neck of the woods for a weekend trip :)

The synopsis of this book does sound interesting, and I love reading unique stories that are set in foreign countries. Will definitely read and/or release. thanks!

What a great book. When I received this from RCLoriH, I thought it sounded mildly interesting when I put it on my shelf. Then last week, a colleague of mine recommended it out of the blue, so I decided to pull it off the shelf and read it. It took me about 24 hours to finish it -- not only because it's somewhat of a short read, but because it was such an interesting read.

The premise of the book itself is unique, and I just couldn't help wanting to get to the end to figure out how it all played out. I actually loved the characters; especially Kolya's charisma, charm and likeability, and Lev's smothering self-doubt and good heart. What an unlikely pair, yet such an amazing bond they formed in such a short time. I also liked some of the others they came across in their quest, especially Sonya and Vika. I had an inkling of who Vika would turn out to be, and was pleasantly surprised to learn I was right :)

Although most of the war images were gruesome, they were also somewhat fascinating. The thought that those kinds of things actually happened (happen) in a country torn by war and famine area just amazing and heart-wrenching (gut-wrenching, too). I've been to St. Petersburg, so it was difficult to try and reconcile the present-day city with that of the Leningrad/Piter that was described in the story.

Overall, a really good read. I think I'm going to send this to aetm -- she likes books that are more on the 'gritty' side, and I have an inkling she'll enjoy this one.

Book is on its way to aetm --- read and/or release and/or ring-ray it :)

The book is safely in Austin (despite USPS's attempts to get it lost on the way) :)
Hm... I hope this doesn't make me want to release it in Leningrad (St Petersburg). If it does, I'll need to find someone for doing that... (or at least I can then find someone a bit closer to Leningrad as a next reader) :)
I think this one screams to be read after a not-so-satisfactory gruesome detective or thriller when I can't make up my mind whether it'll be some tragic or some comic reads next.

A fast read, and the location seemed interesting, and the story promising. Some characters were interesting. But I think it didn't really feel like St Petersburg/Leningrad by the places or people, and there could have been more thrill. Interesting enough to follow to see how the story ended.

Safe journey little book - I hope you'll make many new friends on your travels!

"Don't ever apologize to an author for buying something in paperback, or taking it out from a library (that's what they're there for. Use your library). Don't apologize to this author for buying books second hand, or getting them from bookcrossing or borrowing a friend's copy. What's important to me is that people read the books and enjoy them, and that, at some point in there, the book was bought by someone. And that people who like things, tell other people. The most important thing is that people read... "
— Neil Gaiman

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Well, the book wanted to get free somewhere a bit nicer and warmer than any of the places mentioned in the book, and it did seem rather happy to get out to hang on the coffee table of the coffee shop of Marriott. It should make something nice and different for a beach read :) enjoy the book and the holiday, whoever the book finds next ;)