The siege of Leningrad; I knew before starting this book that it was going to upset me, and it did. I don't know why this period in history fascinates me, but I keep coming back for more. This was a great story, but if you're looking for something with a happy ending, this isn't the book for you. However, in stories such as this, you look for and learn to appreciate the few happy and upbeat moments when you encounter them. The suffering and the heartache of the characters were expected, but I didn't expect the humor from the character of Kolya. He was the bright spot in the midst of what was ultimately, an extremely depressing story. He was realistic, yet almost optimistic in his outlook of the war and life in general.
While this book didn't quite measure up to "The Nightingale" by Kristin Hannah, or "All the Light We Cannot See," by Anthony Doerr, it is still well worth reading. Though heavy on content, it is a quick read, and once the action starts, it doesn't let up until the end.
City of Thieves is available through Inter-Library Loan at the SCCC Library.