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A review by nichebooks
Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad by M.T. Anderson
5.0
First off, this was such an excellent and detailed exploration of Shostakovich's life around the time of the Bolshevik Revolution through the end of WWII (and a bit beyond). The discussion of tyranny and how it impacts people, how desperation affects humanity, how music affects a national consciousness, and what war does to a nation was so well-researched, thorough, and powerful.
I LOVE THAT THIS IS FOR TEEN READERS. The content was high-level but with plenty of context and some pauses to discuss why something was significant. It expected teens to dig in with a spade in each hand, but it also provided tools for understanding. This is a book that reminds us that history is interesting, important, and accessible.
Highly, highly, highly recommended to both teens and adults. I learned so much from this that my history classes skimmed over!
I LOVE THAT THIS IS FOR TEEN READERS. The content was high-level but with plenty of context and some pauses to discuss why something was significant. It expected teens to dig in with a spade in each hand, but it also provided tools for understanding. This is a book that reminds us that history is interesting, important, and accessible.
Highly, highly, highly recommended to both teens and adults. I learned so much from this that my history classes skimmed over!