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Days and Nights
So far as the publishers know, this is the first non-political serious novel to come out of the Soviet Union.
The characters are simple, believable human beings, whose souls belong neither to Dostoevsky nor Karl Marx, but to themselves and their country.
The setting is the massive and terrible struggle for Stalingrad, where Russia turned the Nazi tide and, possibly, won the war as much as any single battle won it.
The story is a simple one. It is the tale of seventy days and nights in which a young Red Army officer seized and held three apartment houses in Stalingrad, unmasked and killed a traitor, learned the skills of house-to-house fighting with heavy modern weapons, fell deeply in love with a Red Army nurse, and wrestled with the problems of leading men through defeat into heartbreakingly hopeless battle.
'Days and Nights' has sold more than 400 000 copies in Russia- Russians are hungry for the record of their swift, wartime emergence into greatness as a people. And this book, the first novel by Russia's most successful young reporter and playwright, is an attempt to describe, without propaganda stereotypes, the new sense of personal stature Russians have acquired during the war. It defines, as well, the subtle ways in which patriotism and a desire for happiness have taken first importance in the minds and hearts of many Russian men and women. It has been called by Russian critics the best novel of the Red Army and its long victorious war against the Germans.
The characters are simple, believable human beings, whose souls belong neither to Dostoevsky nor Karl Marx, but to themselves and their country.
The setting is the massive and terrible struggle for Stalingrad, where Russia turned the Nazi tide and, possibly, won the war as much as any single battle won it.
The story is a simple one. It is the tale of seventy days and nights in which a young Red Army officer seized and held three apartment houses in Stalingrad, unmasked and killed a traitor, learned the skills of house-to-house fighting with heavy modern weapons, fell deeply in love with a Red Army nurse, and wrestled with the problems of leading men through defeat into heartbreakingly hopeless battle.
'Days and Nights' has sold more than 400 000 copies in Russia- Russians are hungry for the record of their swift, wartime emergence into greatness as a people. And this book, the first novel by Russia's most successful young reporter and playwright, is an attempt to describe, without propaganda stereotypes, the new sense of personal stature Russians have acquired during the war. It defines, as well, the subtle ways in which patriotism and a desire for happiness have taken first importance in the minds and hearts of many Russian men and women. It has been called by Russian critics the best novel of the Red Army and its long victorious war against the Germans.
421 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1944
8 people are currently reading
403 people want to read
About the author
Konstantin Simonov
106 books25 followersKonstantin Mikhailovich Simonov was a Soviet author. He was best known as a poet who wrote a popular poem, "Wait for Me," about a soldier at the front asking his beloved to await his return. Simonov addressed the poem to his future wife, the actress Valentina Serova. The poem was immensely popular at the time and remains one of the best-known poems in the Russian language. Simonov wrote many more poems to Valentina, subsequently included in the collection With You and Without You.
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Константин Михaйлович Симонов, советский писатель, общественный деятель. Герой Социалистического Труда (1974). Лауреат Ленинской (1974) и шести Сталинских премий (1942, 1943, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1950). Заместитель генерального секретаря СП СССР. Член ВКП(б) с 1942 года
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Константин Михaйлович Симонов, советский писатель, общественный деятель. Герой Социалистического Труда (1974). Лауреат Ленинской (1974) и шести Сталинских премий (1942, 1943, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1950). Заместитель генерального секретаря СП СССР. Член ВКП(б) с 1942 года
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 3, 2019
Ένα εξαιρετικά αγωνιώδες χρονογραφήματα – αφήγημα για τις μέρες και τις νύχτες πριν την μεγάλη σοβιετική αντεπίθεση η οποία περικύκλωσε τους Γερμανούς και τους ανάγκασε να παραδοθουν Ναι ήξερα πάρα πολύ καλά τι θα γίνει στο τέλος παρόλαυτα δεν έπαψα να αγωνιώ ούτε στιγμή αγωνιούσα για τους ήρωες για το αν θα ζήσουν η θα πεθάνουν Για το αν θα προλάβουν να γιορτάσουμε την νίκη. Για το αν θα προλάβουν να δουν το τέλος του πολέμου και να ζήσουν μια ευτυχισμένη ζωή.
February 18, 2023
I read this book more than 50 years ago when I was an undergraduate taking a course entitled Soviet Literature in English Translation. That was a long time ago, but I remember that I was very impressed. If anyone is interested, this is a link to the story’s outline: http://www.sovlit.net/daysandnights/
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2024
(15 December, 2013)
This is a story of life in the besieged city of Stalingrad during WWII, specifically of Saburov and his battalion. It is also a story about beauty, of how it can still be present even in the most desperate situations.
The title is in every page, Simonov clearly tells us what time of day, or night, it is, brilliantly mirroring the happiness and despondency of Saburov and his comrades. In a world where all energies are spent in the pursuit of capturing the next building, the next few meters, something happens in the hearts of everyone there. Friendships are formed, love blossoms, even grief is seen as positive in the sense that it can be felt when a fellow soldier, often a stranger, falls.
‘Days and Nights’ is a celebration of the human spirit and of what it can endure, reading it was quite the experience.
This is a story of life in the besieged city of Stalingrad during WWII, specifically of Saburov and his battalion. It is also a story about beauty, of how it can still be present even in the most desperate situations.
The title is in every page, Simonov clearly tells us what time of day, or night, it is, brilliantly mirroring the happiness and despondency of Saburov and his comrades. In a world where all energies are spent in the pursuit of capturing the next building, the next few meters, something happens in the hearts of everyone there. Friendships are formed, love blossoms, even grief is seen as positive in the sense that it can be felt when a fellow soldier, often a stranger, falls.
‘Days and Nights’ is a celebration of the human spirit and of what it can endure, reading it was quite the experience.
May 12, 2015
Minden egyedisége mellett háborús regényként bizony kicsit csalódást keltő lett a végeredmény. A harcok embertelensége, szörnyűsége azért átjött benne, de a szerző nem használt látványos képeket ezek megörökítésére. Roppant furcsa módon – látszik, el vagyok kényeztetve a hollywoodi látványorgiákkal –, éppen ellenkezőleg! A lőttünk-visszalőttek-aztán-tizenöt-perc-múlva-újrakezdtük-a-tusakodást-majd-ez-folyt-még-nyolc-órán-keresztül-stílusban megírt jelenetek (ebben nincs túlzás, ez így konkrétan benne van, csak lusta voltam kikeresni egy pontosabb idézethez) nem valami érdekfeszítőek, bár a harcok monotonitása, a mindenbe belefásult katonák hősi erőfeszítése – egy rohadt jelentéktelen emeletes házat védenek hónapokig, azért mert onnan egy kicsit jobban belőhető a szomszédos ház előtti tér… – azért mindenhol érezhető a könyvben. De lassú, félálomszerű, kicsit mintha „begombázva” figyelnénk meg, ahogy mások tusakodnak. A mismásolásnak, elkenésnek, a harci szörnyűségek idealizálásának nyoma sincs benne, azt azért meg kell hagyni. A lövészárok-élet során kialakuló bajtársiasság bemutatása is teljesen korrekt.
Azok HC militáns arcok, akiket a katonai egységek szakasz-sereg-zászlóalj-kutyafüle felépítése, működése, a parancsnoki lánc, a fronton harcoló alakulatok kapcsolattartási problémái, megoldási módszerei behatóbban érdekelnek, ezzel a regénnyel kifejezetten jól járnak! Csak úgy repkednek a regényben a katonai szakkifejezések, igazából csuda érdekes ez a része, nekem nagyon tetszett. Ami a könyvben furcsa volt, az a nyugati seregekben nem (?) létező politikai tiszt (a komisszár) szerepe a seregben. Megvan a régi Sztálingrád (már ha jól emlékszem) film azon jelenete, amikor az orosz kiskatonákat puska nélkül, csoportosan küldik a német barikádokra és aki nem fut elég lelkesen előre, azt hátba lövik a barátságosnak épp nem nevezhető komisszárok? Nos, ha igen, akkor vélhetően ez a kép él bennetek is azóta róluk, esetleg még annyi, hogy mindenkit jelentettek, aki a sztálini rezsim ellen fel mert szólalni. A könyvben ilyennel nem fogunk találkozni. A politikai tiszt mindenki jó barátja, egy kedves nagybácsi, aki minden tiszt és kiskatona jólétét a sajátja elé helyez, satöbbi satöbbi. A két kép tehát éles ellentétben áll egymással, ezért itt meg is bicsaklott egy „kicsit” az a vágyam, hogy ebből a regényből aztán majd tényleg valami igaz dolgot tudok meg, nem valami propaganda-szöveget. Ezután nem is okozott nagy meglepetést, hogy Sztálin is kifejezetten megnyerő alak nyúlfarknyi szerepében… Mindenesetre érdekesnek ez még így is rohadt érdekes volt – pont ezért –, csak hát…
Bővebben a blogon:
http://profunduslibrum.blogspot.hu/20...
Azok HC militáns arcok, akiket a katonai egységek szakasz-sereg-zászlóalj-kutyafüle felépítése, működése, a parancsnoki lánc, a fronton harcoló alakulatok kapcsolattartási problémái, megoldási módszerei behatóbban érdekelnek, ezzel a regénnyel kifejezetten jól járnak! Csak úgy repkednek a regényben a katonai szakkifejezések, igazából csuda érdekes ez a része, nekem nagyon tetszett. Ami a könyvben furcsa volt, az a nyugati seregekben nem (?) létező politikai tiszt (a komisszár) szerepe a seregben. Megvan a régi Sztálingrád (már ha jól emlékszem) film azon jelenete, amikor az orosz kiskatonákat puska nélkül, csoportosan küldik a német barikádokra és aki nem fut elég lelkesen előre, azt hátba lövik a barátságosnak épp nem nevezhető komisszárok? Nos, ha igen, akkor vélhetően ez a kép él bennetek is azóta róluk, esetleg még annyi, hogy mindenkit jelentettek, aki a sztálini rezsim ellen fel mert szólalni. A könyvben ilyennel nem fogunk találkozni. A politikai tiszt mindenki jó barátja, egy kedves nagybácsi, aki minden tiszt és kiskatona jólétét a sajátja elé helyez, satöbbi satöbbi. A két kép tehát éles ellentétben áll egymással, ezért itt meg is bicsaklott egy „kicsit” az a vágyam, hogy ebből a regényből aztán majd tényleg valami igaz dolgot tudok meg, nem valami propaganda-szöveget. Ezután nem is okozott nagy meglepetést, hogy Sztálin is kifejezetten megnyerő alak nyúlfarknyi szerepében… Mindenesetre érdekesnek ez még így is rohadt érdekes volt – pont ezért –, csak hát…
Bővebben a blogon:
http://profunduslibrum.blogspot.hu/20...
March 21, 2017
In all honesty I have never heard of Konstantin Simonov, till I noticed his book translated in my language and read it some months ago. Its topic the battle of Stalingrad was always very interesting for me, I have watched many documentaries in tv, but never read about it something in fictional form. So, as apparent it is set in Stalingrad, WWII and especially during its siege, one of the most famous in world history, after the siege of Constantinople perhaps.
The story starts with the arrival of main hero, a young soldier, captain Shaburov in the besieged city, half occupied by Germans already, where he undertake his military duties, which more specifically are to defend a small key part of it, covered by three buildings and we follow the struggles of his and his men for that purpose. During all these days we are noticing also a romance growing up, between the captain and a young girl who helps the Russian army as a nurse, which is hopefully not melodramatic but beautiful and original.
Days and nights is clearly not a political novel, it is a war novel. For what is worth in my opinion, except the breathtaking war moments included in the pages, is that the author writes down a clearly honest text, perhaps not 100% objective, but leaving entirely out any sense of political propaganda. Simonov brilliantly exalts and praise the bravery and heroism of Russian army and Russian people as well, who gave all their strength for their country during the war, having no point at all to mention Stalin or any other political power. One other thing that gives points to the book as well is the empathy he shows to German soldiers, he treats them in his words with respect and not like the worst thing ever. The affair story included within pages, proves and shows one more time, that feelings and emotions can be developed in humanity, no matter of any kind of difficulties around, a big truth. Also the end of the book is very good, unlike someone could guess, it does not end with a glorious win, but with an air of hope, and a wave of optimism. A very good reading which I enjoyed so much.
The story starts with the arrival of main hero, a young soldier, captain Shaburov in the besieged city, half occupied by Germans already, where he undertake his military duties, which more specifically are to defend a small key part of it, covered by three buildings and we follow the struggles of his and his men for that purpose. During all these days we are noticing also a romance growing up, between the captain and a young girl who helps the Russian army as a nurse, which is hopefully not melodramatic but beautiful and original.
Days and nights is clearly not a political novel, it is a war novel. For what is worth in my opinion, except the breathtaking war moments included in the pages, is that the author writes down a clearly honest text, perhaps not 100% objective, but leaving entirely out any sense of political propaganda. Simonov brilliantly exalts and praise the bravery and heroism of Russian army and Russian people as well, who gave all their strength for their country during the war, having no point at all to mention Stalin or any other political power. One other thing that gives points to the book as well is the empathy he shows to German soldiers, he treats them in his words with respect and not like the worst thing ever. The affair story included within pages, proves and shows one more time, that feelings and emotions can be developed in humanity, no matter of any kind of difficulties around, a big truth. Also the end of the book is very good, unlike someone could guess, it does not end with a glorious win, but with an air of hope, and a wave of optimism. A very good reading which I enjoyed so much.
December 16, 2020
I read this book unexpectedly.
In a period of grief, I pulled it from a shelf. At first, it gave me an excuse to cry. But over the weeks I was drawn into it's powerful narrative, that of Russian officers and soldiers struggling through the horrors of Stalingrad.
Used to a cultural sphere that portrays war as Hollywood action, the sparse yet vivid prose of Simonov was a breath of fresh air. There is fighting, and men die in the book as they did in real life, yet there is no excess to this, no exaggeration, no poetry, and no special effects. Rather, it is gripping and raw. The scene in the middle of the book is especially poignant in this regard.
Simonov shows us the life of a commanding officer, his decisions and his relationship with his inferior and superior comrades, who all of them glow with a realism, each having their quirks, their pasts and their hopes shrouded as they are by war. The novel has love and betrayal, chaos and calm conversations, despair and hope. The book is nationalistic, yes, but more than this it is human.
What to say? It was an unexpected read which glowed, as much as is possible, with the true experience of war for all its horrors and insights. For example, Simonov depicts beautifully the upswing of victory to come, and yet within it is such feeling for all that was lost and for all the hardships yet to come. The result is a perfect juxtaposition of human trials and successes, an image of the dual nature of our both blessed and cursed world. This novel is a great work. May there be more Simonovs in this world, and may there never again be a Stalingrad.
In a period of grief, I pulled it from a shelf. At first, it gave me an excuse to cry. But over the weeks I was drawn into it's powerful narrative, that of Russian officers and soldiers struggling through the horrors of Stalingrad.
Used to a cultural sphere that portrays war as Hollywood action, the sparse yet vivid prose of Simonov was a breath of fresh air. There is fighting, and men die in the book as they did in real life, yet there is no excess to this, no exaggeration, no poetry, and no special effects. Rather, it is gripping and raw. The scene in the middle of the book is especially poignant in this regard.
Simonov shows us the life of a commanding officer, his decisions and his relationship with his inferior and superior comrades, who all of them glow with a realism, each having their quirks, their pasts and their hopes shrouded as they are by war. The novel has love and betrayal, chaos and calm conversations, despair and hope. The book is nationalistic, yes, but more than this it is human.
What to say? It was an unexpected read which glowed, as much as is possible, with the true experience of war for all its horrors and insights. For example, Simonov depicts beautifully the upswing of victory to come, and yet within it is such feeling for all that was lost and for all the hardships yet to come. The result is a perfect juxtaposition of human trials and successes, an image of the dual nature of our both blessed and cursed world. This novel is a great work. May there be more Simonovs in this world, and may there never again be a Stalingrad.
August 23, 2019
Το βιβλίο “Μέρες και νύχτες στις φλόγες του Στάλινγκραντ” (καλοκαίρι του 1942) έρχεται σε συνέχεια του αριστουργηματικού “Ζωντανοί και νεκροί” του ίδιου συγγραφέα που αφορούσε το "Μεγάλο Πατριωτικό Πόλεμο" στη Σοβιετική Ένωση, όταν οι γερμανικές, ναζιστικές δυνάμεις απείλησαν τη Μόσχα το χειμώνα του 1941.
Πολλοί βλέπουν στη γραφή του Σιμόνοφ επιρροή από το Τολστόι και ίσως να έχουν δίκιο καθώς στο “Μέρες και νύχτες” δεν παρουσιάζονται μόνο οι στρατιωτικές επιχειρήσεις, αλλά και οι φιλικές και ρομαντικές σχέσεις των ηρώων. Το συνιστώ ανεπιφύλακτα σε όλους αναγνώστες, (όχι μόνο τους άντρες) που θέλουν να ανακαλύψουν τα πανανθρώπινα μηνύματα του έργου.
Πολλοί βλέπουν στη γραφή του Σιμόνοφ επιρροή από το Τολστόι και ίσως να έχουν δίκιο καθώς στο “Μέρες και νύχτες” δεν παρουσιάζονται μόνο οι στρατιωτικές επιχειρήσεις, αλλά και οι φιλικές και ρομαντικές σχέσεις των ηρώων. Το συνιστώ ανεπιφύλακτα σε όλους αναγνώστες, (όχι μόνο τους άντρες) που θέλουν να ανακαλύψουν τα πανανθρώπινα μηνύματα του έργου.
December 4, 2019
Simonov, a distinguished war correspondent who was in Stalingrad during the battle, draws from actual events of the battle and conditions of the siege for his novel. I read it first in the 1960s, and have read it again since, always in English translation (my Russian is very limited). In outline, the story follows the experiences of a reserve officer thrown into the battle midway, to stiffen the resistance to the German advance, through the steady reduction of the city until, for a climax, the opening of the Soviet counter-offensive. The writing is clear, mostly unsentimental, an easy and enjoyable read. I recommend it.
April 24, 2020
Set during the Battle of Stalingrad, this is a dramatic, intense, yet lyrical novel that follows Captain Saburov during the struggle to prevent the Nazi invaders from capturing a crucial strategic stronghold which was also a key route for supplies on the Volga River. Simonov, who was a war journalist on the front lines, brings living, breathing characters to life, moving and unforgettable. This book should be known.
March 13, 2021
A very detailed work. The characters have strong personalities and are described in such manner and depth, that you can imagine their movements and emotions through the book.
It was a pleasant, sad, and emotive tour through the moments of the soldiers lives, defending their land, the Mother land.
Just as the good old Russian classics, a beautiful piece of art.
It was a pleasant, sad, and emotive tour through the moments of the soldiers lives, defending their land, the Mother land.
Just as the good old Russian classics, a beautiful piece of art.
January 19, 2013
A book written from the POV of a Soviet soldier in the battle of Stalingrad. Really quick read and very engrossing. Days and Nights is a day by day recitation of the horrors of war. Contains a lot of small details that illustrate the lives of those soldiers.
January 30, 2017
A novel about the battle of Stalingrad (published in 1945) written by one of the top Soviet war correspondents (a rival of Vasily Grossman). Good, straight-forward war story; key figures are a battalion commander, an old soldier, and a very young nurse.
Want to read
March 24, 2021This book was released as an Armed Services Edition to the troops during WWII.
April 29, 2024
Η πολιορκία του Στάλινγκραντ μέσα από την ερωτική ιστορία του λοχαγού Σαμπούροφ που φτάνει στο Στάλινγκραντ το Σεπτέμβρη του 42 και της Άννας που είναι νοσοκόμα στο μέτωπο. Το μυθιστόρημα τελειώνει με την αρχή της αντεπίθεσης του κόκκινου στρατού στις 17 νοέμβρη 42
"Ξαφνικά θυμήθηκε τα λόγια της κοπέλας στο μικρό ποταμόπλοιο του Βόλγα. Του είχε πει ότι εκείνη φοβάται πιο πολύ το θάνατο, γιατί δεν είχε αγαπήσει, ενώ εκείνος δεν έπρεπε να τον φοβάται αφού ήταν μεγάλος στην ηλικία και κατά συνέπεια θα έχει αγαπήσει μέχρι τώρα."
"Οι άνθρωποι πάντοτε νομίζουν ως αυτό που κάνουν ακίνη τη στιγμή δεν είναι το πιο ενδιαφέρον και ότι αυτό που είναι άξιο προσοχής έχει γίνει η πρόκειται να γίνει."
"Είχε πειστεί για τα καλά πια στον πόλεμο πως οι άνθρωποι που παίρνουν μέρος σε αυτόν έγιναν πιο απλοί, πιο ξεκάθαρο, πιο έξυπνοι. Στην ουσία ίσως να έμειναν τέτοιοι που ήταν. Έπαψαν όμως να κρίνουν τα πράγματα με πολλά και όχι καθαρά κριτήρια."
"Το αίσθημα του κινδύνου που άλλοτε τον κυρίευε σε δύσκολες στιγμές τώρα είχε εξαφανιστεί. Τόσο μόνιμος και συνεχής ήταν ο κίνδυνος."
"Ξαφνικά θυμήθηκε τα λόγια της κοπέλας στο μικρό ποταμόπλοιο του Βόλγα. Του είχε πει ότι εκείνη φοβάται πιο πολύ το θάνατο, γιατί δεν είχε αγαπήσει, ενώ εκείνος δεν έπρεπε να τον φοβάται αφού ήταν μεγάλος στην ηλικία και κατά συνέπεια θα έχει αγαπήσει μέχρι τώρα."
"Οι άνθρωποι πάντοτε νομίζουν ως αυτό που κάνουν ακίνη τη στιγμή δεν είναι το πιο ενδιαφέρον και ότι αυτό που είναι άξιο προσοχής έχει γίνει η πρόκειται να γίνει."
"Είχε πειστεί για τα καλά πια στον πόλεμο πως οι άνθρωποι που παίρνουν μέρος σε αυτόν έγιναν πιο απλοί, πιο ξεκάθαρο, πιο έξυπνοι. Στην ουσία ίσως να έμειναν τέτοιοι που ήταν. Έπαψαν όμως να κρίνουν τα πράγματα με πολλά και όχι καθαρά κριτήρια."
"Το αίσθημα του κινδύνου που άλλοτε τον κυρίευε σε δύσκολες στιγμές τώρα είχε εξαφανιστεί. Τόσο μόνιμος και συνεχής ήταν ο κίνδυνος."
November 22, 2019
Писать во время войны о войне… должно быть тяжело. Сообщать о том, что происходит сейчас — в данный момент — не где-то там, а буквально за окном, есть невозможное к осмыслению действие. Как представить, что рвутся бомбы, враг силится продвинуться вперёд, а силы родного для тебя государства всё больше увязают, отчаянно не желая уступать и пяди земли? А Симонов писал. Не выдавал для читателя сухую хронику, сообщая о передвижениях войск. Нет, он созидал памятник отчаянью рядовых солдат и полевых командиров, пытающихся отстаивать здание за зданием, не представляя, к чему это приведёт в итоге. На данном фоне развивалась история любви двух молодых сердец, должных научиться существовать рядом друг с другом, неизменно сохраняя понимание необходимости отстоять Отечество от вторгнувшегося противника.
(c) Trounin
(c) Trounin
May 17, 2020
I guess I translated 20%, which is pretty cool, but then gave up and just finished reading. Good book, a little overboard on some of the pathos maybe, but to be fair it was written in 43-44. I enjoyed it. Some real touching moments, good ending, uplifting.
October 7, 2019
Классика. Серьёзная литература. А вообще тяжко читать.
September 17, 2022
"Özlem ve acıların zamanın akışını yavaşlattığı söylenir." s. 391
June 24, 2023
"... asıl mutluluk buydu işte; bilinmeyendi ve kim bilir ne kadar güzel bir şeydi."
sf. 260
sf. 260
January 11, 2024
Beautifully vivid. Masterful character-building. Love set against war. Years later, I have scenes from this in my head.
May 21, 2019
Simonov, tiene el don particular de sumergirte en lo más eterno de su lectura. Días y noches es, para mi, un homenaje a todos aquellos que ante la inminente muerte desbordaron su valentía para defender, sea cual sea el costo, sus sueños y sus tierras.
April 21, 2014
Stalingrad WW2 ... Fantastic read ...
Read
October 13, 2018Fuck I haven't started reading yet
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews