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A review by bhsmith
Midnight in Siberia: A Train Journey Into the Heart of Russia by David Greene
4.0
Truth be told, the likelihood of me picking up a book about Russian culture and politics is pretty slim. However, a perfect storm of sorts came together for Midnight in Siberia. First, I read a short but glowing review of the book (in Traveler magazine, perhaps?) as an engaging travelogue through wild, snow-covered Russia. Then, I noticed that a familiar voice - David Greene from NPR's Morning Edition - was the author. Those two reasons put the book on my "To Read" list, and I'm glad they did.
There are certainly points in this book where the history of the Russian government is piled on pretty thick, and there is a lot of discussion about Russian history and culture over the past decades. But, the book is far more charming than any of that would lead you to believe. Greene decides to step on to the Trans-Siberian railroad for a journey across the country - from one end to the other - in search of stories about Russians. Not stories about Russia, but stories about Russians. Each stop along the way, and even while aboard the train, he meets some very interesting people with remarkable backgrounds and stories to tell.
Common threads certainly weave through each story, no matter how similar or different from the last. Greene paints the people and the nation as being pretty beaten down and worn out, having to fight just to survive and very unsure of what the future holds for them. In fact, besides the train, this theme really holds the entire book together.
Greene's writing is personable and approachable. His introductions to each person in the book are usually pretty quick, but the conversations are meaningful and provide some great insight into their lives.
So, sure enough, I really enjoyed a book about Russian history and culture and politics precisely because of the two reasons this book made my "To Read" list: it was an amazing travelogue starring the people of Russia, and it was told by the truly engaging voice of David Greene.
There are certainly points in this book where the history of the Russian government is piled on pretty thick, and there is a lot of discussion about Russian history and culture over the past decades. But, the book is far more charming than any of that would lead you to believe. Greene decides to step on to the Trans-Siberian railroad for a journey across the country - from one end to the other - in search of stories about Russians. Not stories about Russia, but stories about Russians. Each stop along the way, and even while aboard the train, he meets some very interesting people with remarkable backgrounds and stories to tell.
Common threads certainly weave through each story, no matter how similar or different from the last. Greene paints the people and the nation as being pretty beaten down and worn out, having to fight just to survive and very unsure of what the future holds for them. In fact, besides the train, this theme really holds the entire book together.
Greene's writing is personable and approachable. His introductions to each person in the book are usually pretty quick, but the conversations are meaningful and provide some great insight into their lives.
So, sure enough, I really enjoyed a book about Russian history and culture and politics precisely because of the two reasons this book made my "To Read" list: it was an amazing travelogue starring the people of Russia, and it was told by the truly engaging voice of David Greene.