Publisher: Little Brown and Company Page Count: 144 Fiction Genre: Historical, Russia, WWII Dates Read: May 26, 2015 Summary A fictional story based on history. When German troops surround Leningrad in the fall of 1941, they cut off all food supplies. It wasn't expected to last the 900 days it did. Within the city of Leningrad you'll find the Institute of Plant Industry. While the residents are boiling bark and licking moss off of stones for food, the scientists in the institute vow to do everything they can to protect the rare plants and seeds in their care, even though they could provide food for all the city's residents. Hunger is told from the perspective of one of the scientists as he describes what some of his colleagues, including his wife, will do to uphold that vow, while others take to more destructive measures. Review This book was just downright awful! I felt deceived by the author's synopsis of this book. This story was supposed to be about a group of scientists surviving when the Nazi's cut off food supplies. It was supposed to be centered around these people who vowed, at all costs, to protect their rare and precious seeds and plants taken from around the world. Under no circumstances would these seeds and plants be used as food, even though everyone is starving. In the great game of bait and switch, what this book turned out to be was basically a philandering journal of one of the scientists. He spoke about how much he loved his wife, a fellow scientist at the institute, while having affairs with other female scientists. It was about his dishonest and dishonorable behaviors. Him breaking his vows to his wife, to colleagues, and to his precious plants. He shows how truly desperate a human being can get in the time of war and drastic measures are needed, but also how awful humans can be to each other under normal circumstances. Maybe this scientists true nature actually made this a beautiful story. 2 out of 5 stars.
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