I like travel narratives (but only ones where things go wrong). I also enjoy David Greene's reporting for NPR so when I saw his book "Midnight in Siberia: A Train Journey in the Heart of Russia" I knew I had to read it. And since this is a book about Russia, I suspected a few things might go wrong (spoiler alert: they do).
Former Moscow NPR Bureau Chief Greene took the Trans-Siberian Railway on a 6,000 mile journey from Moscow to Vladivostok. Take a look at the book cover. Looks like fun, right?
Along with battling the cold, Greene and his translator and friend Sergei visit interesting towns and sights, but his focus is the people he meets and their stories. In a nutshell: Russians are a complicated bunch.
I
suggest reading it in front of a warm fire with a glass of vodka and a
plate of Salo (basically pickles with pig lard). If you're looking for yummy Russian recipes, this might not be the book for you. However, Greene's insight and humor makes this great choice for anyone looking for a nuanced and thoughtful look at Russia and its people.
You can find "Midnight in Siberia" in the new nonfiction section: 914.704 Gre.
In 1938 Hazel Frome and her 23-year-old daughter, Nancy, took a road trip across Texas. The women never reached their destination and were later found dead in the Sierra Diablo desert - apparently victims of a robbery gone wrong.
At least that's what everyone assumed until certain facts came to life. Such as ....
- The women had been tortured but were not sexually assaulted or robbed.
- While stranded in El Paso for a few days awaiting minor car repairs, a mysterious envelope was delivered to them. The contents are unknown but they caused the women to rush out of town.
- Hazel was the wife of a high-level executive of a San Fransisco explosives company - a fact she was not shy about telling everyone she met.
- Several known Nazi spies and con men were operating in the area.
- In 1938 the Nazis were very interested in Mr. Frome's explosives company. In fact, they were quite eager to find a way to get to him.
The case was botched from the beginning. The crime scene was trampled by gawkers and a mysterious stranger assisted the coroner. Law
enforcement agencies fought for jurisdiction, refused to cooperate or share evidence. Eventually the case went cold and
the Texas Rangers - who having won the fight to have control of the physical case files decided to shred them.
Seventy-five years later journalist Clint Richmond gathered what evidence remained, investigated old leads, and published his conclusions in the new nonfiction book Fetch the Devil: The Sierra Diablo Murders and Nazi Espionage in America.
If you like meticulous true crime nonfiction, this is a top-notch book. Richmond investigates each angle thoroughly (in some cases to an exhaustive length, dragging down the narrative). However, he's greatly hampered by the fact that the investigators and witnesses have now died and the complete set of files were destroyed. While his conclusion makes sense given the evidence he puts forth, it stretches thin in some places.
Read it yourself and comment below on this blog with your conclusions. You can find Fetch the Devil in the adult nonfiction section under 364.152 Ric.
If you're in the mood for a simple, feel-good story, watch Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side and steer clear Michael Lewis' book The Blind Side: Evolution of the Game. The book lets pesky little things like real life interfere with the Hollywood story.
Both the book and movie explore the relationship between Michael Oher, a black child born into poverty and a dysfunctional family (at one point Michael has a hard time remembering the names of all his siblings - most of whom have different fathers) and the Tuohys, the rich, white Republican family who takes him under their wings and help him reach success in the NFL.
The story of Micheal's ascent to the NFL is truly amazing and inspirational. But it's the complicated relationship between Michael and the Tuohys that make this story interesting. The Tuohy's are neither as innocent of ulterior motives as their fans assert nor as self-serving as their critics claim but are instead a natural combination of both.
[Although they truly love Michael, one has to wonder if their influence in steering him to sign with their alma mater, Ole Miss, was really in Michael's best interest. Clearly, playing for the University of Iowa would have been a much better choice - but maybe I'm biased].
My one complaint about The Blind Side is that Michael remains a mystery. His thoughts, motives, and personality are unknown even though the story is ostensibly about him. Still, it's a great book, and I really enjoyed it.
You can find The Blind Side at the Indianola Public Library in the nonfiction shelves under the number 796.332 Lew.
