What do you think?
Rate this book
The Undesirables
In the winter of 1941–1942, Leningrad is under siege, and Karen Hamilton, a seventeen-year-old American musician, finds herself trapped and struggling to survive. Throughout the city, people are dying of starvation and frostbite, and Karen knows that if she doesn’t escape immediately, she will share their fate. If she has any hope of leaving Russia and reuniting with her fiancé, Bobby, in New York, she must do the cross enemy lines and then stow away. On her harrowing journey, Karen encounters Petr, a young conscripted Russian soldier. She isn’t sure she can trust him―he is equally wary of her. But as the two join forces in order to stay alive, an unexpected romance takes root. Now, as Karen gets closer to the reality of escape, she has a choice to Will she return to a safe life in America with Bobby, or remain in war-torn Russia with Petr?
368 pages, Paperback
First published October 18, 2016
364 people are currently reading
1152 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
November 24, 2016
Winter 1941 - 1942
Leningrad is under siege
Karen had first noticed the old woman a week and a half ago, and at the time she hadn’t even realized the woman was dead. The old woman lay at the base of an ornate fountain sculpture. Her face was as pale as the white granite of the statues she was crumpled against, and at first Karen thought she was part of the stone sculpture. Karen saw the woman’s cadaver every day on the way to the bakery. And she couldn’t help but stop and stare.
Then one day the old woman’s corpse was gone…………
Karen is a seventeen year old American cellist who has followed her father to Leningrad where he has been collaborating with the famous Russian composer Shostakovich. That is until Shostakovich fled and now her father is dead and Karen does not know how to bury his body so it does not suffer the same fate as the old woman. And here she is all alone, hungry, freezing and trapped in a city under siege.
Petr was 19 years old when he was drafted from a little village east of Moscow. These days the Russian army considered him a hero, but that was not how Petr saw it. He was simply tired of marching, marching, retreating, marching and retreating again. It seemed to Petr that he had marched all the way across Russia and now the Germans were intent on making him march all the way back. Something had to be done.
Petr’s dog was named Duck. He was an 84 pound Alsatian wolf dog, larger than most mine dogs. The military had requisitioned Duck after he had lived with a family for three years. The Red Army agent did not tell them that Duck would be strapped to a bomb and trained how to blow himself up. Problem was, Petr liked Duck.
Bobby Campbell first met Karen in New York City in the winter of 1939. He was attending a concert that complimented his music history class. That week’s subject was Russian composers and the concert was Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring. He had never heard music quite like this before but he liked it. He was also drawn to an impassioned cello player, who was both beautiful and talented, so once the concert was over Bobby took his date home and returned to the backstage door of the concert intent on meeting the beautiful cellist. Theirs was a whirlwind romance and by the summer of 1940, before Karen departed for Leningrad they became engaged.
This is the first WWII book that I have read that focuses on the German invasion of Russia and as such it was an eye opening experience for me. Among the many things I learned about were: the Land-Lease route from Alaska to Siberia, the female Russian pilots who flew the planes to the front lines and the Russian use of mine dogs to blow up German tanks. Told from the perspective of the above noted characters the viewpoint moves from America to Moscow to Leningrad, from survivor to soldier, to ally. The ravages of war laid bare before my eyes as I read and learned more about the fates of these three people.
The siege of Leningrad lasted from September of 1941 to 1944. More than 1.5 million residents lost their lives. Human losses exceeded those of the atomic bombings of both Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
My thanks to Lake Union Publishing, NetGalley and Chad Thumann for an opportunity to read this book.
This is Chad Thumann’s first novel and I have no hesitation recommending it.
Leningrad is under siege
Karen had first noticed the old woman a week and a half ago, and at the time she hadn’t even realized the woman was dead. The old woman lay at the base of an ornate fountain sculpture. Her face was as pale as the white granite of the statues she was crumpled against, and at first Karen thought she was part of the stone sculpture. Karen saw the woman’s cadaver every day on the way to the bakery. And she couldn’t help but stop and stare.
Then one day the old woman’s corpse was gone…………
Karen is a seventeen year old American cellist who has followed her father to Leningrad where he has been collaborating with the famous Russian composer Shostakovich. That is until Shostakovich fled and now her father is dead and Karen does not know how to bury his body so it does not suffer the same fate as the old woman. And here she is all alone, hungry, freezing and trapped in a city under siege.
Petr was 19 years old when he was drafted from a little village east of Moscow. These days the Russian army considered him a hero, but that was not how Petr saw it. He was simply tired of marching, marching, retreating, marching and retreating again. It seemed to Petr that he had marched all the way across Russia and now the Germans were intent on making him march all the way back. Something had to be done.
Petr’s dog was named Duck. He was an 84 pound Alsatian wolf dog, larger than most mine dogs. The military had requisitioned Duck after he had lived with a family for three years. The Red Army agent did not tell them that Duck would be strapped to a bomb and trained how to blow himself up. Problem was, Petr liked Duck.
Bobby Campbell first met Karen in New York City in the winter of 1939. He was attending a concert that complimented his music history class. That week’s subject was Russian composers and the concert was Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring. He had never heard music quite like this before but he liked it. He was also drawn to an impassioned cello player, who was both beautiful and talented, so once the concert was over Bobby took his date home and returned to the backstage door of the concert intent on meeting the beautiful cellist. Theirs was a whirlwind romance and by the summer of 1940, before Karen departed for Leningrad they became engaged.
This is the first WWII book that I have read that focuses on the German invasion of Russia and as such it was an eye opening experience for me. Among the many things I learned about were: the Land-Lease route from Alaska to Siberia, the female Russian pilots who flew the planes to the front lines and the Russian use of mine dogs to blow up German tanks. Told from the perspective of the above noted characters the viewpoint moves from America to Moscow to Leningrad, from survivor to soldier, to ally. The ravages of war laid bare before my eyes as I read and learned more about the fates of these three people.
The siege of Leningrad lasted from September of 1941 to 1944. More than 1.5 million residents lost their lives. Human losses exceeded those of the atomic bombings of both Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
My thanks to Lake Union Publishing, NetGalley and Chad Thumann for an opportunity to read this book.
This is Chad Thumann’s first novel and I have no hesitation recommending it.
November 11, 2016
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free, electronic ARC of this novel.
“The Undesirables” is the first novel by author Chad Thurmann. This historical fiction novel is set during the Second World War, in the Russian town of Leningrad. Karen is an American living in Leningrad with her father, a renowned composer, desperately looking for a way to return to her fiancée in America. After her father is killed, Karen heads out into the war torn country, practically starving, with the hopes of escaping and finding a better life. What she finds instead is Petr, a Russian soldier, and the two of them (along with Duck, the dog) make the quest to safety together, through the dangerous Russian countryside.
This novel is very historical, and not so much romantic fiction. The story focuses primarily on the state of the world and society in both America and Europe (primarily Russia), and if a reader has a great interest in this era in history, than this novel would be interesting. I took interest in this novel for that reason (my ancestors being from Russia, I was intrigued by their plight during this time) however I do not see this novel being exciting to the common reader. The love triangle between Petr, Karen and Bobby is a great story and is told well, but it is intermixed with historical elements and irrelevant characters that make the novel less appealing.
I would’ve loved to read a whole novel on the love triangle aspect alone. All three characters are charming, passionate and brave. Karen, especially, is someone who is completely relatable and shines as the novel’s protagonist. However, Thurmann interrupts her plot line with stories from others during that time, who are nowhere near as alluring. A focus on the romantic elements would have made the story read less like a history textbook.
Thurmann is definitely a writer though, as his writing style is smooth and consistent, with creative transitions and understandable language. If nothing else, this novel provided me with a bit more knowledge than I had before- and there’s never anything wrong with learning a thing or two. The novel had a bittersweet ending, which helped wrap up the plot in a very satisfying and succinct way. I will definitely try and read Thurmann again, as it is evident that the underlying talent is there. I am a fan of historical fiction in general, but I hope Thurmann’s next work will be more exciting and dramatic and less historical.
(On a side note, I post this on Remembrance Day, and I would like to send a very special thank you to all of our Canadian and ally troops, here or away, past or present. Lest We Forget).
“The Undesirables” is the first novel by author Chad Thurmann. This historical fiction novel is set during the Second World War, in the Russian town of Leningrad. Karen is an American living in Leningrad with her father, a renowned composer, desperately looking for a way to return to her fiancée in America. After her father is killed, Karen heads out into the war torn country, practically starving, with the hopes of escaping and finding a better life. What she finds instead is Petr, a Russian soldier, and the two of them (along with Duck, the dog) make the quest to safety together, through the dangerous Russian countryside.
This novel is very historical, and not so much romantic fiction. The story focuses primarily on the state of the world and society in both America and Europe (primarily Russia), and if a reader has a great interest in this era in history, than this novel would be interesting. I took interest in this novel for that reason (my ancestors being from Russia, I was intrigued by their plight during this time) however I do not see this novel being exciting to the common reader. The love triangle between Petr, Karen and Bobby is a great story and is told well, but it is intermixed with historical elements and irrelevant characters that make the novel less appealing.
I would’ve loved to read a whole novel on the love triangle aspect alone. All three characters are charming, passionate and brave. Karen, especially, is someone who is completely relatable and shines as the novel’s protagonist. However, Thurmann interrupts her plot line with stories from others during that time, who are nowhere near as alluring. A focus on the romantic elements would have made the story read less like a history textbook.
Thurmann is definitely a writer though, as his writing style is smooth and consistent, with creative transitions and understandable language. If nothing else, this novel provided me with a bit more knowledge than I had before- and there’s never anything wrong with learning a thing or two. The novel had a bittersweet ending, which helped wrap up the plot in a very satisfying and succinct way. I will definitely try and read Thurmann again, as it is evident that the underlying talent is there. I am a fan of historical fiction in general, but I hope Thurmann’s next work will be more exciting and dramatic and less historical.
(On a side note, I post this on Remembrance Day, and I would like to send a very special thank you to all of our Canadian and ally troops, here or away, past or present. Lest We Forget).
April 2, 2017
This book was pure boredom. Boring boring boredom. So full of it that I think it was not built of words, but boring bricks of boredom.
I like the sound of that. Let's go over it brick by brick:
- I'm sure there's nothing wrong with the writing. If this was a non-fiction book. I can't point out anything wrong in particular! Except that it was supposed to be emotional and gripping,and yet it found me yawning.
- the romance was utter killing boredom. How do you even make romance that dull, I mean?
So maybe it's just me, but meh. If you want a dull book, read this.
P.S. If I'm honest, I would say that most of the historical research was done well. Apart from some little things. For example, I'm pretty sure there was no such thing as creamed corn in Soviet Russia. My country was in the Soviet Union and the first time I heard about creamed corn was like 25 years after its fall. I still had to Google what it even is. We just don't have that thing in these regions.
For that matter, I don't think crackers were a thing either. I only found out about those like 10 years after our country left the Union.
P.P.S. The part when Karen says "My name is Inna Kerensky". Yeah, maybe if you're transgender it is. Kerensky is a strictly male version of the surname (the female version is Kerenskaya). I mean, if you're hiding the fact that you're American in wartime Russia, maybe, just MAYBE introducing yourself with a mistake in your surname is just not the way to go..? Lack of research, I guess.
I got this book through NetGalley in exchange for a review, but I suppose you can see the opinions are my own and it didn't quite work out too well for the publisher, huh. For some reviews of better books, head on to my blog at http://avalinahsbooks.space.
I like the sound of that. Let's go over it brick by brick:
- I'm sure there's nothing wrong with the writing. If this was a non-fiction book. I can't point out anything wrong in particular! Except that it was supposed to be emotional and gripping,and yet it found me yawning.
- the romance was utter killing boredom. How do you even make romance that dull, I mean?
So maybe it's just me, but meh. If you want a dull book, read this.
P.S. If I'm honest, I would say that most of the historical research was done well. Apart from some little things. For example, I'm pretty sure there was no such thing as creamed corn in Soviet Russia. My country was in the Soviet Union and the first time I heard about creamed corn was like 25 years after its fall. I still had to Google what it even is. We just don't have that thing in these regions.
For that matter, I don't think crackers were a thing either. I only found out about those like 10 years after our country left the Union.
P.P.S. The part when Karen says "My name is Inna Kerensky". Yeah, maybe if you're transgender it is. Kerensky is a strictly male version of the surname (the female version is Kerenskaya). I mean, if you're hiding the fact that you're American in wartime Russia, maybe, just MAYBE introducing yourself with a mistake in your surname is just not the way to go..? Lack of research, I guess.
I got this book through NetGalley in exchange for a review, but I suppose you can see the opinions are my own and it didn't quite work out too well for the publisher, huh. For some reviews of better books, head on to my blog at http://avalinahsbooks.space.
February 3, 2017
Duck was hands down the best character. Hands down.
October 29, 2016
I would like to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishers for the ARC of "The Undesirables" by Chad Thurmann. I enjoyed and would recommend this historical fiction with romantic overtones as an intriguing read. The plot of the story takes place around 1941-1942 In Leningrad at the time of Stalin. The story starts in American when Bobby, one of the characters meets Karen a cellist., and they connect and promise to be together although they are young. Karen leaves with her father a composer to Russia,where he is working in Leningrad on a compositional piece of music.Karen's father dies, and conditions in Leningrad have become bleak and dismal. Karen meets Petr, a young Russian soldier, who is regarded as a hero. In an attempt to survive, Karen and Petr avoid the oncoming Germans, and the stark Russian conditions, and travel together. Meanwhile Bobby is flying planes for the AirForce,and is headed to Alaska. Karen's goal is to get back to America. The three characters do meet, and there is an opportunity to possibly fly Karen to America. There is a hint of a triangle in the relationships,as well as conflict. Karen loves both Bobby and Petr, Does Karen go with Bobby or stay and fight with Petr? War makes for difficult times and decisions. I did find the historical history and descriptions very interesting
November 5, 2016
Exciting, non-stop action, romance and suspense are highlights of this free Kindle Goodreads giveaway. Karen is a gifted cellist, her father is a composer. They move to Leningrad to write a symphony with another well know composer.. They enure the horrors of the German blockade of Leningrad. Karen meets Petr, a Russian soldier and his trained soldier-dog, Duck. She still remembers her American fiance whom she hasn't seen in a very long time. After they travel, she begins to care for Petr and Duck. This was a great and wonderful historical yard. You will love it.
September 13, 2016
The Undesirables by Chad Thumann is the historical romance/coming of age story that I've been searching for.
Karen is a beautiful girl, with dark hair and brown eyes. She's an American, but speaks Russian fluently without a trace of an accent. Her mother was a Russian ballerina, who passed away when Karen was only ten-years-old, and her father, an American musician/symphony conductor. She is a renowned celloist, and finds herself in love with Bobby- two years her senior. She accepts his marriage proposal shortly after they begin dating, and is excited about her future with him.
Everything changes when Karen's father decides to follow his love of music and moves to Leningrad, taking Karen with him. Russia's Leningrad falls under the control of German soldiers, and the brutal cold weather brings famine, desperation and death.
As conditions deteriorate inside Leningrad, Karen is forced to forge and plan her escape on her own. Along the way she meets a Russian soldier Petr, and forms an unlikely friendship with him as they continue to pursue their shared goal of survival. She struggles internally as her feelings for Petr begin to grow, all the while knowing she has left a promise to Bobby back home in the United States.
I loved the detailed writing and separate accounts given from the views of the different characters. I would say this book is not solely based on the romance aspect of the story, but mainly to be focused on each character's desire for survival...a beautifully nuanced telling of a girl's journey from innocence to adulthood, and coming to terms with life during wartime.
Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to review this book in advance in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.
Karen is a beautiful girl, with dark hair and brown eyes. She's an American, but speaks Russian fluently without a trace of an accent. Her mother was a Russian ballerina, who passed away when Karen was only ten-years-old, and her father, an American musician/symphony conductor. She is a renowned celloist, and finds herself in love with Bobby- two years her senior. She accepts his marriage proposal shortly after they begin dating, and is excited about her future with him.
Everything changes when Karen's father decides to follow his love of music and moves to Leningrad, taking Karen with him. Russia's Leningrad falls under the control of German soldiers, and the brutal cold weather brings famine, desperation and death.
As conditions deteriorate inside Leningrad, Karen is forced to forge and plan her escape on her own. Along the way she meets a Russian soldier Petr, and forms an unlikely friendship with him as they continue to pursue their shared goal of survival. She struggles internally as her feelings for Petr begin to grow, all the while knowing she has left a promise to Bobby back home in the United States.
I loved the detailed writing and separate accounts given from the views of the different characters. I would say this book is not solely based on the romance aspect of the story, but mainly to be focused on each character's desire for survival...a beautifully nuanced telling of a girl's journey from innocence to adulthood, and coming to terms with life during wartime.
Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to review this book in advance in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.
December 2, 2018
The Undesirables by Chad Thumann is an exciting, suspenseful book which is set during the Siege of Leningrad. Karen is a young cellist who is trapped in Leningrad because her father is working with a famous Russian composer. She is determined to find a way out.
The book is one of shifting perspectives between Karen, Petr, a young Russian soldier and Bobby an American pilot.
This is a good book but not a great book as much as I enjoyed reading it. I rated it down one half point because, it clearly is in need of a sequel and the author promises one, but it hasn't yet been published.
The book is one of shifting perspectives between Karen, Petr, a young Russian soldier and Bobby an American pilot.
This is a good book but not a great book as much as I enjoyed reading it. I rated it down one half point because, it clearly is in need of a sequel and the author promises one, but it hasn't yet been published.
October 26, 2016
I would like to thank Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to review this incredible historical fiction novel "The Undesirables" by Chad Thumann. The story of an American musician, trapped in the invaded Leningrad in WWII, and her tale of survival, difficult to put down. I highly recommend this book, which is a beautifully told story, as well as educational one, of the many fronts and circumstances of this time era.
December 29, 2017
I’m a huge fan of WW2 fiction, and can’t get enough of this period of time, especially if the setting is not the one that is mostly used in WW2 literature. The Eastern front setting of The Undesirables was definitely one of the reasons why I loved this story so much. Life in besieged Leningrad and people’s desperation was described with such feeling and attention to detail that it made me feel like I was actually there, and it’s a great accomplishment for any author. The descriptions of war-time Leningrad and battle scenes were masterfully executed, and historically accurate, and for this, I would love to say huge thanks to the author. There were a few historical inaccuracies concerning the lifestyle itself in the Soviet Union (e.g. Petr couldn’t possibly be a fan of American Westerns due to the fact that American movies were prohibited in the Soviet Union; there were no bill collectors in the Soviet Union - the landlord, or “upravdom,” as those people were called, handled unpaid bills; Dimah - or Dmitry - is a strictly male name and can’t be used for a female, unlike Sasha; there were no folding metal chairs in the squares of Moscow - it’s a Western thing; doctors could not charge their patients anything because there was no such thing as private practice. Doctors worked only in State hospitals and were paid by the government, not by the patients; there was no such thing as “donations” even for cultural organizations - they were considered bribes; Inna would introduce herself as Inna Kerenskaya and not Kerensky - Russian last names, just like most Slavic last names, change their ending due to the male or female gender, etc.) but these things are minor and would be known only to the people who are familiar with the culture firsthand or studied it for a long time. I noticed them, but they definitely won’t take any regular fiction lover’s pleasure from reading such a riveting novel. Also, I really loved the ending, which made me respect both Petr and Karen even more, and I’m really hoping that there will be a book two that will continue to follow their story. Overall, it was a very enjoyable read, and I highly recommend it to all fans of the genre.
February 7, 2017
I don't really know how to start this review so I guess I'll just dive right in. I downloaded this book because it was based during WWII and during the Russian part of the war. I enjoy learning and reading books about WWII so I was pretty excited about this book.
I guess I still am in a way. This book didn't scream out to me like The Gender Game but I didn't hate it either. It was just kind of meh. I enjoyed the characters and the plot was decent enough. I think what my problem was was the amount of flashbacks and backstories that I was got. I feel like every single chapter had at least 5 pages of a history of some sort. I love stories that give histories of the characters so I know what to expect, but it got to be almost too much.
Speaking of the characters, the author did a really cool thing that I wanted to share. There were three main characters: Karen, Petr and Bobby. Karen's chapters were called "The Cellist" because she was a cellist that had moved to Russia with her dad, a famous composer. Petr's chapters were called "The Organ-Grinder." This was because we first met him in the field firing rockets that grinded and made terrible noises. The noises were called Stalin's Organ-Grinders (or something similar to that. Silly me forgot to write it down). Bobby's chapters were called "The Choirboy." I'm not sure why his was called that because he wasn't a choirboy. He was actually a very smart gifted pilot.
The introduction the side characters were done in this same way. There was Oster who was "The Goatherd", Krouse who was "The Troublemaker", Danil was "The Subversive" and Nadia was "The Conductor." These characters only got one chapter but they made an impact on Petr and Karen's journey across Russia. I thought this idea was really cool and it kept things from getting too confusing. It also helped to keep the story focused on the three main ones.
Overall, I was happy I picked out this book. It was a nice read after Pretty Little Dolls . I needed something familiar and WWII is very familiar to me. I guess I just wasn't super wowed with the story or the plot. I think what saved this book from me giving it a three star rating was the characters and how the author brought in the secondary characters.
I guess I still am in a way. This book didn't scream out to me like The Gender Game but I didn't hate it either. It was just kind of meh. I enjoyed the characters and the plot was decent enough. I think what my problem was was the amount of flashbacks and backstories that I was got. I feel like every single chapter had at least 5 pages of a history of some sort. I love stories that give histories of the characters so I know what to expect, but it got to be almost too much.
Speaking of the characters, the author did a really cool thing that I wanted to share. There were three main characters: Karen, Petr and Bobby. Karen's chapters were called "The Cellist" because she was a cellist that had moved to Russia with her dad, a famous composer. Petr's chapters were called "The Organ-Grinder." This was because we first met him in the field firing rockets that grinded and made terrible noises. The noises were called Stalin's Organ-Grinders (or something similar to that. Silly me forgot to write it down). Bobby's chapters were called "The Choirboy." I'm not sure why his was called that because he wasn't a choirboy. He was actually a very smart gifted pilot.
The introduction the side characters were done in this same way. There was Oster who was "The Goatherd", Krouse who was "The Troublemaker", Danil was "The Subversive" and Nadia was "The Conductor." These characters only got one chapter but they made an impact on Petr and Karen's journey across Russia. I thought this idea was really cool and it kept things from getting too confusing. It also helped to keep the story focused on the three main ones.
Overall, I was happy I picked out this book. It was a nice read after Pretty Little Dolls . I needed something familiar and WWII is very familiar to me. I guess I just wasn't super wowed with the story or the plot. I think what saved this book from me giving it a three star rating was the characters and how the author brought in the secondary characters.
December 22, 2016
This story is during a war. This story evolves around three characters in the story Bobby, Karen and Petr. These events changed them during the times they grew up. I enjoyed reading this tale and a must read for all who love a good story.
March 3, 2020
I listened to the audio of this. I admit, I am not a good listener to audio books and I tend to get lost. But this one held my interest, partly because it was a different look at WWII than most. This is takes the look from the Russian side, as a inhabitant of Leningrad during the Siege of 1941.
The story starts in the Siege of Leningrad. It follows the story of American cellist, Karen, during the horrible days of starvation, cold, and fighting between the Germans and the Russians. Karen was determined to get out, get back to America. Her Russian was fluent, most didn't believe she was American. She also wrote daily to her fiance, Bobby, back in the United States of what was happening and how life was with no food, no warmth, no protection. When her friend was killed, Karen, decided to take her identity, thinking it would get her farther to safety. She then met Petr, who was fighting in the Russian Army. They form a friendship, he helping her get to safety. With the rise in the war, America comes to Russia, and Bobby who is a fighter pilot is now on Russian soil and the hope to save Karen.
This was a good book, some places I got a little lost. The narrator was good, a little monotone in places. I enjoyed the story from the inside of Russia during a terrible time of history and how horrible it must have been for the people there to literally starve and freeze to death. I enjoyed the characters of Karen and Petr, Bobby seemed a little out in left field. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy WWII fiction, because it is a different look than the usual.
The story starts in the Siege of Leningrad. It follows the story of American cellist, Karen, during the horrible days of starvation, cold, and fighting between the Germans and the Russians. Karen was determined to get out, get back to America. Her Russian was fluent, most didn't believe she was American. She also wrote daily to her fiance, Bobby, back in the United States of what was happening and how life was with no food, no warmth, no protection. When her friend was killed, Karen, decided to take her identity, thinking it would get her farther to safety. She then met Petr, who was fighting in the Russian Army. They form a friendship, he helping her get to safety. With the rise in the war, America comes to Russia, and Bobby who is a fighter pilot is now on Russian soil and the hope to save Karen.
This was a good book, some places I got a little lost. The narrator was good, a little monotone in places. I enjoyed the story from the inside of Russia during a terrible time of history and how horrible it must have been for the people there to literally starve and freeze to death. I enjoyed the characters of Karen and Petr, Bobby seemed a little out in left field. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy WWII fiction, because it is a different look than the usual.
October 23, 2016
I loved the Undesirables. The story is set during World War II, alternating between Russia and the United States. The plot centers on the lives of three young adults Karen, Bobby, and Petr. The three come of age and are changed by the austere and unforgiving experiences of war. Karen, an American trapped in Leningrad holds on to her commitment to Bobby, an American pilot she fell in love with before the war. However, as the story opens Karen and Bobby could not be living in more disparate realities. Karen, near starving is trying to escape Leningrad, a shell of a city full of the dead and dying. Back in the U.S., before deployment Bobby holds near celebrity status as a fighter pilot. He’s conception of war is idealistically fueled by American patriotism. That changes as the book goes on. When Karen makes the decision to leave Leningrad, a series of events lead her to Petr, a Russian war hero. Karen is strong, ingenious, and brave. Her strategic thinking enables her to survive the worst existential conditions. Karen and Petr become unlikely partners as they navigate their way out of Leningrad through German infested woods.
I was thoroughly engaged in the plot and development of the characters. I was also struck by the beautiful prose. At times I had to sit back and linger on the imagery and action. The author’s knowledge of WW2 history and tactical military operations was impressive. The Undesirables is a well-written, fascinating story. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys literary fiction, historical fiction, and WW2 novels. Amazing!
I was thoroughly engaged in the plot and development of the characters. I was also struck by the beautiful prose. At times I had to sit back and linger on the imagery and action. The author’s knowledge of WW2 history and tactical military operations was impressive. The Undesirables is a well-written, fascinating story. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys literary fiction, historical fiction, and WW2 novels. Amazing!
December 30, 2016
The Undesirables is a captivating portrayal of the struggles that civilians and soldiers faced in Russia during the Second World War. From the opening chapter, I was drawn into the bleak yet fascinating world where Karen Hamilton, an American living in Russia with her survival challenged father who is finishing a symphony even though his collaborator has long escaped desolate Leningrad. The lengths people will go to get food and survival are heartbreaking and the world Thumann creates is almost a character in itself.
The book also features Bobby, Karen's fiancé who joins the military as a pilot in an effort to get closer to Karen. His experiences show the relationship between the United States and Russia as allies and offer quite a contrast to Karen's experience.
Petr, the third major character, is a soldier in the Russian army, who unlike many of his follow soldiers, doesn't always flee from danger. I found his reflections on the battles, strategies and his actions very interesting and was rooting for him till the end.
I really appreciated the research and passion that went into this work. Having the three perspectives along with some others like the German soldier who joined the army to avoid persecution for his homosexuality showed a variety of experiences that enrich the atmosphere.
I would highly recommend the book for its rich world building, attention to detail, and fascinating storyline. I'm looking forward to the sequel.
The book also features Bobby, Karen's fiancé who joins the military as a pilot in an effort to get closer to Karen. His experiences show the relationship between the United States and Russia as allies and offer quite a contrast to Karen's experience.
Petr, the third major character, is a soldier in the Russian army, who unlike many of his follow soldiers, doesn't always flee from danger. I found his reflections on the battles, strategies and his actions very interesting and was rooting for him till the end.
I really appreciated the research and passion that went into this work. Having the three perspectives along with some others like the German soldier who joined the army to avoid persecution for his homosexuality showed a variety of experiences that enrich the atmosphere.
I would highly recommend the book for its rich world building, attention to detail, and fascinating storyline. I'm looking forward to the sequel.
October 20, 2016
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.com. I could not put it down!! Considering this is the first book by author Chad Thumann, I was impressed at the complex characters, general flow and plot twists.
Karen is an American teenager who travels to Leningrad, Russia with her father in the late 30's to work with Russian composers. She is a successful cellist and learns to love living in Russia and performing music. Petr is a young Russian who is drafted into the Red Army and works to defend his country against the great German campaign in the winter of 1941-42. Bobby is Karen's fiance, left behind in America. He enters the Army and becomes a pilot; always thinking that he will be able to find Karen one day and bring her home.
As Karen is struggling to survive the seige of Leningrad, Petr is struggling for his own survival. Often times while reading this book, I stopped to think about the fact that these characters were teenagers. Both characters took the opportunities needed to survive against unthinkable odds; and also found a way to save each other. The author weaves stories together by chapter, creating an urgency by the reader to keep going to hear what will happen next. I loved reading the story from different points of view.
I am a lover of historical fiction, and this book did not disappoint.
Karen is an American teenager who travels to Leningrad, Russia with her father in the late 30's to work with Russian composers. She is a successful cellist and learns to love living in Russia and performing music. Petr is a young Russian who is drafted into the Red Army and works to defend his country against the great German campaign in the winter of 1941-42. Bobby is Karen's fiance, left behind in America. He enters the Army and becomes a pilot; always thinking that he will be able to find Karen one day and bring her home.
As Karen is struggling to survive the seige of Leningrad, Petr is struggling for his own survival. Often times while reading this book, I stopped to think about the fact that these characters were teenagers. Both characters took the opportunities needed to survive against unthinkable odds; and also found a way to save each other. The author weaves stories together by chapter, creating an urgency by the reader to keep going to hear what will happen next. I loved reading the story from different points of view.
I am a lover of historical fiction, and this book did not disappoint.
January 20, 2017
Awesome book.
I'm usually not inclined to write a review. I just point at a number of stars and then move on to my next book. Not this time.
This book transcends my genre ridden shelves and I am more inclined to place it next to the area I reserve for classics. On the surface this is a story about survival in war torn Russia. It's a coming of age story on two fronts. It is historical war fiction, or is it? As a World War 2 history buff I loved this books perspective and research. This is not just a military fiction story. The historical backdrop does not overshadow the characters in this story. This is a story about the human spirit with all it's strength and flaws and a journey to find courage through love. It speaks to a belief that we do not have to lose our humanity and can find hope and love in even the most desperate and dire of times. The story forced me to look within myself to see if I had in me what they have. I looked for their journey in me. I learned something about myself I had forgotten. This is what I value in great stories. This book was much more than just great historical military fiction.
I'm usually not inclined to write a review. I just point at a number of stars and then move on to my next book. Not this time.
This book transcends my genre ridden shelves and I am more inclined to place it next to the area I reserve for classics. On the surface this is a story about survival in war torn Russia. It's a coming of age story on two fronts. It is historical war fiction, or is it? As a World War 2 history buff I loved this books perspective and research. This is not just a military fiction story. The historical backdrop does not overshadow the characters in this story. This is a story about the human spirit with all it's strength and flaws and a journey to find courage through love. It speaks to a belief that we do not have to lose our humanity and can find hope and love in even the most desperate and dire of times. The story forced me to look within myself to see if I had in me what they have. I looked for their journey in me. I learned something about myself I had forgotten. This is what I value in great stories. This book was much more than just great historical military fiction.
November 16, 2018
Good read, but a bit shallow
Chad Thumann’s first novel is a fun read and a fast read - I literally couldn’t put it down - but in essence it’s a love story set in the early days of WWII.
Thumann shifts the point of view between Petr, the young soldier in the Red Army; Bobby, the young Columbia grad who enlists in America’s Army Air Corps; and Karen, the love interest of both. Yes, it’s your basic love triangle.
There’s a lot of war action along the way, and some very stark depiction of the siege of Leningrad. Thumann is a screenwriter by trade, and his talent in writing dialogue is obvious. His descriptions of war action and shell-damaged Russian cities and villages are vivid enough that you can see what he’s describing.
The overall plot, however, is a little trite. I won’t give away the ending, but most readers will be able to see it coming from a couple chapters away. That’s why I couldn’t give the book five stars.
Chad Thumann’s first novel is a fun read and a fast read - I literally couldn’t put it down - but in essence it’s a love story set in the early days of WWII.
Thumann shifts the point of view between Petr, the young soldier in the Red Army; Bobby, the young Columbia grad who enlists in America’s Army Air Corps; and Karen, the love interest of both. Yes, it’s your basic love triangle.
There’s a lot of war action along the way, and some very stark depiction of the siege of Leningrad. Thumann is a screenwriter by trade, and his talent in writing dialogue is obvious. His descriptions of war action and shell-damaged Russian cities and villages are vivid enough that you can see what he’s describing.
The overall plot, however, is a little trite. I won’t give away the ending, but most readers will be able to see it coming from a couple chapters away. That’s why I couldn’t give the book five stars.
January 26, 2017
The undesirables
This book is about 1941 to 1942 Russia in the Leningrad area but a young American girl who was a Cellist musician, who studied in Russia, a boy who was a soldier and a boy back home in America who loves the girl . They are all about 17 to 20 years old and the story is about how the girl escapes Leningrad with the soldier ends up falling in love with him about the boy in America who joins the Air Force so we can someday find her in Russia. When they do finally meet up in Russia , and how she's wanted all along was to escape Russia and come back to America, things are not what they seem.
good but easy-to-read hoping now that there's a second part to this because I kind of just ends abruptly
This book is about 1941 to 1942 Russia in the Leningrad area but a young American girl who was a Cellist musician, who studied in Russia, a boy who was a soldier and a boy back home in America who loves the girl . They are all about 17 to 20 years old and the story is about how the girl escapes Leningrad with the soldier ends up falling in love with him about the boy in America who joins the Air Force so we can someday find her in Russia. When they do finally meet up in Russia , and how she's wanted all along was to escape Russia and come back to America, things are not what they seem.
good but easy-to-read hoping now that there's a second part to this because I kind of just ends abruptly
October 16, 2016
I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was one of the most beautifully crafted novels I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. The characters grow and develop as human beings, with flaws and virtues, as the events of the world around them transpires. As war settles in and their lives are transformed, each narrator has to decide what parts of themselves they hold to be true in the name of surviving and what they will forego to live to see another day. Ideas that those of us blessed to grow up in peace find utterly revolting is seen as a necessary task to keep on going one foot in front of the other.
This was one of the most beautifully crafted novels I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. The characters grow and develop as human beings, with flaws and virtues, as the events of the world around them transpires. As war settles in and their lives are transformed, each narrator has to decide what parts of themselves they hold to be true in the name of surviving and what they will forego to live to see another day. Ideas that those of us blessed to grow up in peace find utterly revolting is seen as a necessary task to keep on going one foot in front of the other.
December 10, 2016
I won a copy of this on my kindle in a goodreads giveaway. I really enjoyed this story. I've always enjoyed reading books about WWII and this one was refreshing as it mostly takes place in Russia and most of the ones I've read take place in Germany. I thought Karen was a wonderful character who truly did all she could to try to survive through this horrible time in a foreign country. I also fell in love with Duck and was glad he made it home to his family. He was such a wonderful character in his own right. Wonderful book.
February 27, 2017
Dramatic Story
I was captured immediately by this story which took place in Russia in 1941 and 1942. The German's attack of Russia. A young American girl finds herself and trapped in Leningrad. Karen. She grew up trying to escape and found Petr who became her love. Their love causes enormous results. We get horrible scenes of battle and cruelty. We meet some of our first pilots and the results of some of their first flights. A "dogfight". A flight over a sand storm. This book has it all. A great read.
I was captured immediately by this story which took place in Russia in 1941 and 1942. The German's attack of Russia. A young American girl finds herself and trapped in Leningrad. Karen. She grew up trying to escape and found Petr who became her love. Their love causes enormous results. We get horrible scenes of battle and cruelty. We meet some of our first pilots and the results of some of their first flights. A "dogfight". A flight over a sand storm. This book has it all. A great read.
March 20, 2017
I was worried from the cover and the description that this was going to be a romance novel, but not at all. Once I started, I didn't want to stop reading. The story moved along very fast with characters who were interesting and complex. We learned enough about them to be interested in their choices but no so much that we could predict what they were going to do. There is the added bonus of learning about the horrible choices people were forced to make in Leningrad in 1941. Definitely worth reading.
March 29, 2017
This is a well researched and worthy piece of historical fiction which might occasionally strain credulity vis a vis certain things with Karen and Bobby and Karen and Bobby but which never loses sight of the horrors of the siege of Leningrad. There have been other recent novels of Americans stuck in the USSR; this one stands square among them. The characters, especially Karen, are nicely written and while more emotion might have elevated it, the book is fine as it is. THanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Try this one if you like this genre.
November 9, 2016
A story that catches your heart
I really enjoyed reading this book, it's quite a wake up call with the heartbreak that these people endured because of war . It was just to awful, starvation,military brutality , the horrible cold .You wonder if dying would be easier than staying alive. But they endured at least some of them.A well written story.
I really enjoyed reading this book, it's quite a wake up call with the heartbreak that these people endured because of war . It was just to awful, starvation,military brutality , the horrible cold .You wonder if dying would be easier than staying alive. But they endured at least some of them.A well written story.
June 17, 2017
So I think the author was going for something different than how it came across to me. One minute I am disgusted by the details of human cannibalism due to the horrible conditions then the next is sappy sappy young love. I listened to this while doing my walks so it worked to keep my interest but way better war stories.
January 10, 2023
I really enjoyed this book, because the history was so realistic. The choices the characters made were tough ones - unbelievable ones - but the right ones. The history of WW2 is often taught (in US schools) from the standpoint of Americans and who the heroes were. But to learn about what Russia experienced, even what the dogs experienced - hard to comprehend the loss of lives.
November 6, 2016
I absolutely fell in love with this book and all the characters! If you love history and a little mix of romance then this book is definitely for you. Its the type of book you immediately get right into and don't want to put down!
November 21, 2016
Received the book from a Goodreads giveaway and thoroughly enjoyed the tale. Unlike several readers, I enjoyed the battles scenes, the sense of desperation, the characters' strengths and flaws, and other imagery. Definitely will look for other work by this author!
December 6, 2016
A great story .
The author knows a lot about guns war and history of world war 2. Orr else he did a good deal of research. By doing so, he has written a great story, with a very surprising ending. His characters were warm,wise and believable. Enjoyed it very much.
The author knows a lot about guns war and history of world war 2. Orr else he did a good deal of research. By doing so, he has written a great story, with a very surprising ending. His characters were warm,wise and believable. Enjoyed it very much.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews