Sunday, January 9, 2011

Travels in Siberia

It's ironic that the Sunday Salon has
this lovely picture of a nice, warm sun as its icon.

I did not see much sun during the past few weeks.
I've been in Siberia.

I've been reading Travels in Siberia by Ian Frazier.


I discovered there is more to Siberia
than the terrible cold and the terrible prisons:

1. It can be quite warm and horribly mosquito-ey in August.

2. People throw trash everywhere. Even in camping areas.

3. There is a lot of drinkingDrinking and throwing up.
Drinking and passing out. Even children.

4. Cars break down a lot in Siberia. Like every day.

5. It's pretty common to get cholera and food poisoning.

Despite all these terrible things,
Ian Frazier loves Siberia.
And, because he was my guide 
on my first visit to Siberia,
I love it, too.

What have you been reading this week?

18 comments:

  1. Gosh, Deb, but I loved this post. I lived in the Balkans for two years where the mentality is much like what you posted in Siberia. Got a Kindle for Christmas (yay) and am going to read this book. Thanks for a great tip! (It's really cold outside, hub's down with the flu, I need a good read.)

    ReplyDelete
  2. You will love it, Kittie. It was an eyeopening read.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Even the kids get drunk?! If you love this book, I know I will too.

    ReplyDelete
  4. What an interesting book! I enjoyed your post!

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a creative post! BTW, love your sun logo...I think I'll grab it! LOL

    Thanks for stopping by my blog.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love travel writing, but it's so hard to find well written stuff. I'm putting this one on my wishlist :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great post, Deb! Makes me want to pick up a copy of this book :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. This is great! I was looking for a travel book to read for a challenge and this sounds perfect for me.

    Andrea @ Reading Lark

    ReplyDelete
  9. It's been a very long time since I read a travelogue book. I used to read them all the time. Thanks for stopping by my Sunday Salon post.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Well that grabbed my attention! Interesting book! Thanks for visiting and leaving your lovely comments. I'll be back to visit you too!
    Jaimie

    ReplyDelete
  11. Love your post! I read a bit of this in the New Yorker and am looking forward to getting it from my library. Of course, I have to make it through my January TBR Dare first.

    ReplyDelete
  12. We featured TRAVELS IN SIBERIA in the bookshop newsletter when it came out (October?), but I didn't feel compelled to get it for myself. I really like the way you tempted me with these five facts, though (is it terrible that the warmth and mosquitoes were most surprising to me?) ... thanks for the encouragement to pick up the book!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I find it easy to believe the children get drunk. Since Russia does produce a lot of the world's vodka. Sounds like an interesting read!

    ReplyDelete
  14. This does sound interesting; I'll have to remember it. I read one about Siberia as a teen--doesn't sound as if it has changed a whole lot!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I always thought of Siberia as a cold and desolate place. Shows you what I know. Sounds like I need to read the book!

    ReplyDelete
  16. that's quite interesting and, in many cases, very useful to have a look at yourself through someone's eyes, especially if it's some foreigner's eyes. I'd love to read the book, but don't know if they publish it in Russia. As for drinking, trash and extreme cold...it's all so true.

    ReplyDelete
  17. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete

I hope you will leave a comment so I know you have visited. If you stop by my blog, I will always stop by yours.

Note: Disqus commenting is only available on the web version of the blog. Please switch to the web version if you are using a mobile device.