I, Putin

A Novel

By: Jennifer Ciotta

Narrated by: Paul Burt

Length: 6 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's Summary

What happens when Vladimir Putin is faced with a decision so harrowing it changes him forever? 118 submariners spiraling into the abyss, a country in chaos, and a president who seems not to care. Through the eyes of a first person Vladimir Putin, and his personal aide Gosha, discover what motivates the man behind Russia. Is he the cold, ruthless Vladimir Putin we know, or is he...human?  

Honorable Mentions at New York Book Festival & Hollywood Book Festival

“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) 

Jennifer Ciotta received her Master 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 book.

©2012 Jennifer Ciotta (P)2020 Jennifer Ciotta

Interesting Listen

This book kept my attention. It floated between different POVs; I especially enjoyed following Putin and the sailor trapped on the sunken submarine. Great narration by Paul Burt. I especially liked his portrayal of Bill Clinton.

Bringing Putin's life alive

I am an avid reader. I tried a few audio books but was not impressed. When I learned that I, Putin was on audio, I decided to try again. I am glad I did. This book opened my eyes to what an audio book can do. It provided more levels of experience than just reading does. Certainly, the author of this book contributed much in understanding the life of Putin. And it contributed much understanding of the event she described. I would have enjoyed the reading the book, remembering the event and the feelings of dread that I felt at time when the explosion of the submarine happened. I would have learned much about Putin and Russia. But listening to the ‘voice’ of Putin and the father of the captain of the submarine took the experience to a new level. It brought the ‘I’ of I,Putin to life in a way that the book alone could not. I will certainly be looking for other audio books that allow me to feel that experience again.

I Putin

I loved listening to Paul Burt, a very good narrator.

I knew little about this former KGB operative, now, president of Russia. This is a thrilling story based on the biggest challenge to Putin's power: the disaster of the Kursk, the atomic submarine as big as two jumbo jets that sunk in 2000. Though British and Norwegian ships nearby offered to help rescue the men, Russia initially declined and all 118 sailors and officers aboard the Kursk perished. I remember this in the news, brought it all back... very interesting.

"I will never be weak again. "

Jennifer Ciotta has written an intriguing novel crafted around the outer viewed and inner felt personality of the long time leader in Russian politics, Vladimir Putin. Based, as I understand it, on an autobiographical series of articles which appeared in the press, and using as the fulcram of his life direction the traumatic incident of the explosions on board the submarine, Kersh, which sank it and it's crew to the depths of the ocean. Without the means to rescue any possible survivors, Putin had to face the ire of the whole world as well as the Russian people or accept international aid to save them.r

Part written in the first person, but switching between Putin's perception and that of several others, including his Personal aid, President Bill Clinton, and the parents of one of the officers trapped aboard the submarine and the man himself, the text also moves backwards and forwards in time. This can cause the reader momentary difficulties in understanding. But it is this very movement which enhances the addictive and thrilling pace of the book. And it is thrilling, even if the reader knows what will happen.
The book is nicely written, giving a panoramic view of a brief slice of time and some of the major players. It is also very well read. Paul Hart has a pleasant voice with good intonation and a brisk delivery but even his performance cannot always prevent some initial confusion as chapters shift between first person perspective and third party observation.

My thanks to the rights holder of I, Putin, who, at my request freely gifted me with a complimentary copy via Audiobook Boom. How accurate is the portrayal of Putin, so frequently vilified in the British press, I do not know. But the story is engrossing and works well as a simple piece of fiction. Well worth reading.