A wonderfully dark and funny story of two young men from Leningrad during World War II. Lev, a teenage boy arrested for robbing a German soldier's corpse, is sent to prison. Kolya, a young solder with the Russian army, is arrested for desertion. The two become cellmates and then brought to a colonel who assigns them a mission to find one dozen eggs. The two main characters set out in a besieged Leningrad where food is so scarce people have resorted to eating glue from books and in some cases cannibalism. The novel is both a coming of age story and a war story. Kolya, intent on helping his new friend meet girls, is full of advice and snide comments throughout the book including a discussion on how ladies are attracted by "calculated neglect." In the midst of horrific cruelty and death the two characters grow to trust each other while outwitting and outrunning their enemies. An interesting plot with well written action scenes and dialogue make this a worthwhile read. ( )

What exactly does it take to become a New York Times bestseller? Of course, I know it is sales, but how do those occur? Maybe a better question – what does it take to get a good review in The Week (which is really a conglomeration of reviews)? The last is the better question for me because I picked this book up based on that review. It’s not that I’m disappointed; it’s just that, with those recommendations, I expected something more.

This tale is set during the siege of Leningrad when a young man (20) and an almost young man (17) are picked up (separately) by the police on charges that should have gotten them executed. However, a colonel within the city has a different plan and sends them off to find a dozen eggs within the starving city. Such an absurdity should lend itself to a vitriolic attack on the fools who exist within real battles. Nope, not what the author planned. Instead, he went with something that was a little closer to a war story. And, while he does manage to speak to the young man’s coming of age, he also manages to take an absurd situation, make it mundane, and then bring back the absurdity towards the end of the story in order to “make a point”. It really feels as if this is a book that was on the cusp of something great, and decided to just be good.

And, two quibbles with the book. First - one of the things I absolutely hated about Saving Private Ryan (a movie I really liked) was the way Spielberg felt he had to bookend the movie with current day events (the visit to the beaches). This book does the same thing by providing an introduction purporting to show the author’s grandfather is relating the story. Then, the book does not end with a revisit to the present. Great - a device I don’t like, and then there is no real closure. (Yes, I know it sounds a little like the old joke “The food was bad – and the portions were small”. But I stand by the fact that, if you are going to use a device [even if I don’t like that device], you should use it completely.) My second quibble is somewhat related. I won’t give a spoiler, but the end is far too cute. And maybe it’s an attempt to bring the present into the end of the story, but it just serves to make the entire experience too phony.

A perfectly fine book. A nice, quick read. But nothing that makes it stand out. If you’ve already picked it up, it won’t be a waste of your time. However, I wouldn’t rush out and get it if not. ( )

This dark comedy makes it mark with its original and absurd plot: a teenage Jew and a Red Army deserter pair up on a mission to find a dozen eggs in a starving, barbaric city with their lives at stake. This novel has very memorable characters and adventures to match. It will make you laugh only to wipe the smile off your with the horrors on every page. A resonant novel to be read by all. Benioff holds nothing back ( )

Graphic and honest telling of a young man going through a war. ( )

This is an excellent World War II story set in and around St. Petersburg (aka Leningrad) in 1942. Lev is arrested for looting a German corpse and Kolya is arrested for desertion. A colonel gives them a choice: die by execution or find him a dozen eggs for his daughter's wedding in four days. They choose the latter. The story is funny, horrble, suspenseful, heart-breaking and exciting. It draws you in completely and the writing has that effortless feeling. Great characters too. I really wouldn't want to tell you anything more. It's best to discover this story on your own. It's a quick read. ( )