THE SIEGE

Few things are more affecting to read than the well-crafted war novel. THE SIEGE is especially harrowing because of its focus on civilian casualties, the people held captive during the siege of Leningrad in 1941. Jilly Bond follows the Levin family, first through its regular routine, then through its plunge into the devastation of WWII as it creeps toward them and changes their lives forever. Despite its brutal subject matter, this is a beautifully written novel with phrases that will haunt the listener with their subtlety. Bond's British accent proves a flexible, appropriate vehicle for this exceptional prose. L.B.F. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 03]