BKMT READING GUIDES
I, Putin: A Novel
by Jennifer Ciotta
Paperback : 210 pages
2 clubs reading this now
0 members have read this book
Grab your copy of the fast-paced, thrilling novel about Russia's president instantly!
Vladimir Putin, the enigmatic, controversial president of Russia, is faced with a decision so harrowing, it changes him ...
Introduction
Multi-Award-Winning, Original Novel about Vladimir Putin - Historical Fiction
Grab your copy of the fast-paced, thrilling novel about Russia's president instantly!
Vladimir Putin, the enigmatic, controversial president of Russia, is faced with a decision so harrowing, it changes him forever. It's the year 2000. Newly elected President Putin is embattled after the Kursk submarine explodes and spirals into the abyss. 118 submariners are trapped. Outwardly, Putin seems not to care, but behind the scenes is another story. Meanwhile, the Russian people yearn for a response from their leader. Mass protests ignite across Russia. Does Putin save the sailors and unite his beloved motherland, or does he lose everything?
Discover what motivates the man behind Russia. Is he the cold, ruthless leader you know, or is he...human?
Winner of Honorable Mentions at the New York Book Festival & Hollywood Book Festival
Entertaining and original, I, Putin is also well researched, and the author has an extensive background in Eastern European studies. Author Jennifer Ciotta received a master’s degree in creative writing and Russian studies from the Gallatin School at New York University. She was a Peace Corps volunteer in Estonia, a main setting of the novel, from 2000 to 2002.
Fast-Paced, Thrilling, and Unique...Instantly read Industry Reviews
“Brilliant glimpse inside the Russian soul.” Francis McGovern, publisher of Literary Traveler
“Very engaging storytelling.” Doug Noll, The Doug Noll Radio Show
“It's a novel that resembles the Russian president in many ways. It’s controversial in many ways, yet a lot of the things deserve nothing but admiration." Review Harbor
Unlock the mystery of who this leader is and how he's remained in power for so many years...
Written from the perspective of a first-person Putin and his fictional personal aide Gosha, this novel is entertaining and unique...and informative. The author's goal was to provide a different view of the man behind Russia, because the Western media often provides a bias view of him. Read this intriguing novel and come to your own conclusions.
Scroll up and grab your copy today!
Excerpt
In my childhood, the rats were my friends. My parents were not aware but I fed them every day after school. If my mother and father had known I was squandering food for my rodent friends Krushy and Peter when food itself was scarce, I would’ve been reprimanded, so I kept it to myself. The first time I brought dinner to the rats, they scurried over to me as if they already knew what was coming. I liked the sound of their feet pattering across the cement and the sight of their pink noses twitching at the scent of meat. Dropping the gristly beef on the floor, I would back away as they pounced on it with glee and gorged on their wet, soggy meal. Meanwhile, my mouth would start to water and my stomach would growl as I’d think to myself, the rats dined better than the people in my country. They looked hungry when I’d come home every day, hovering in the darkness under the stairwell of my apartment building’s lobby. I’d begun this ritual one day at school lunch by stuffing the meat from my goulash into my coat pocket. They kept getting thinner and thinner, so I dedicated myself to making them healthier, stronger. The goulash in my pocket stunk all day long, which caused my classmates to sniff at the area around me, asking, “Vladimir Putin, is that you that stinks?” Another boy added, “Goulash Pants—his new nickname—Goulash Pants.” A third said, “What about Mr. Goulash Pants?” In the end I was called “Goulash Pants,” but I didn’t care; they weren’t my friends. I hadn’t any of those. And when they taunted me from then on, my hand would close around the slimy beef, thinking, I HATE YOU. On weekdays, I left my apartment building at seven, walking the streets of Piter to go to school. I looked down into the canals at the murky water, which did not stir. Sailors strolled by in their navy uniforms and I thought to myself, a sailor’s life is the best, waking up early, walking in peace along the street, no one bothering you. I’ll never forget one morning in particular. Ten minutes into my walk, I rounded the corner of the Church of the Savior on Blood. I grew panicked and looked from left to right. I saw no one and continued walking. Then I heard several footsteps from behind me. I walked faster, soon jogging then trying to run. Suddenly someone grabbed me and wrapped his thick fingers around my neck. Another pair of hands gripped my bony triceps while my books clattered on the pavement. I started to scream but a fist came out of nowhere and smashed into my cheekbone as a knee jabbed me in the groin. I doubled over, fell to the ground and began to wheeze. They gave up when the wheezing began. They released me and ran off in another direction. I lifted my head and saw the golden onion dome of the Church, the sun reflecting off it, making it appear more gold and majestic. I wanted to be on top of that dome, high in the sky so no one could get to me. I would sit up there and look out over all of Piter like a king on his throne. The wind would lift me up and guide me over my kingdom. At that moment, it sounded nice and I smiled through the pain in my face, pushing myself off the ground and gathering my books. I continued on my way to school—bruised, scraped, bleeding—and went to class after class, yet the teachers never questioned my appearance, which was routine. They probably assumed it was a family matter, that my father was an alcoholic. Other boys came to school with black eyes and welts on a regular basis. I wasn’t anyone special. view abbreviated excerpt only...Discussion Questions
1) How close do you think this Vladimir Putin character is to the real Putin? How is he the same or different?2) Do you think the West, Americans in particular, have an accurate view of Putin? Why or why not?
3) Did Putin make the right decision about the Kursk tragedy, or was there another solution?
Book Club Recommendations
Recommended to book clubs by 1 of 1 members.
Book Club HQ to over 88,000+ book clubs and ready to welcome yours.
Get free weekly updates on top club picks, book giveaways, author events and more