Episode 20: City of Thieves

Drawing the first season of Booked and Banned to a close,host Naomi welcomes Jennifer to discuss David Benioff’s 2008 historical fiction novel, City of Thieves. Jennifer, who studied Russian language and literature and lived in St. Petersburg, shares her personal connection to the setting and her curiosity about why this celebrated book has faced censorship. Set during the grueling 872-day Siege of Leningrad during World War II, the story follows seventeen-year-old Lev and a charismatic army deserter named Kolya. To escape execution, they are sent behind enemy lines on an absurd, high-stakes mission to secure a dozen eggs for a Soviet colonel's daughter's wedding cake. The discussion explores the emotional landscape of the book, the historical realities of the blockade, and how the novel uses dark humor and gritty realism to depict human survival during a period of total societal collapse. Heroism and Character Dynamics The conversation focuses on the striking contrast between the quiet, sheltered Lev and the older, more experienced, and talkative Kolya. Jennifer and Naomi discuss how Kolya acts as a protector figure, using his sharp ability to read people to help them navigate chaotic situations where traditional military and social structures have devolved. They also reflect on the role of sheer luck andwillpower in the characters' journey. The Absurdity of the Mission Naomi notes that the hunt for the twelve eggs functions as a classic MacGuffin, a plot device that drives the characters into danger. Jennifer highlights specific heartbreaking and surreal encounters from their quest, such as an emotional scene involving a dying boy and a chicken, which emphasizes the absolute desperation of theblockade. Historical Realities of the Siege The episode addresses the brutal facts of the Leningrad blockade, where over one millioncivilians died from cold and starvation. Jennifer and Naomi discuss how the fast-paced narrative forced readers to confront the lack of mercy in wartime blockades. Jennifer draws parallels to how American schools teach the survivalchoices of the Donner Party to contextualize why the book’s depictions of cannibalism reflect historical desperation rather than gratuitous shock value. Tonal Shifts and Human Resilience Naomi connects the book's atmosphere to the zeitgeist of “complete disintegration” felt by citizens during the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s. Jennifer shares how the sudden shifts between severe tragedy and dark humor humanize the story, showing how people endure prolonged trauma by finding small victoriesamidst widespread despair. Power, Privilege, and the Target of Censorship In analyzing the end of the quest, Jennifer expresses the profound anger felt when Lev encounters the Colonel, who casually inventories abundance and extra resources in front of starving people who repeatedly risked their lives. The host and guest conclude that the very elements for which the book is challenged—including crude language and mature themes—are exactly what make the portrayal of wartime survival authentic and realistic. Booked and Banned will take a short break. The podcast willreturn in August for Season 2 with a discussion centered on The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers.