Midnight in Siberia

August 4, 2014
In 2013, after several years serving as NPR’s Moscow bureau chief, Greene traveled 6,000 miles of the Trans-Siberian Railway in a quixotic attempt to understand the Russian soul. As Green journeyed across the Siberian landscape, he made frequent stops to interview ordinary Russians in a variety of situations to capture the everyday realities of post-Soviet Russia. The result is chronicled in this travelogue that reads like a series of episodic radio pieces in the NPR style, a collage of Green’s interviews and insights from scholars about Russian history that attempts to answer a few difficult questions: what do the Russians want? Why do they tolerate a corrupt and restrictive government? And, as the Arab Spring erupts in the Middle East, how close is Russia to (another) revolution? What Greene finds is complex and frequently contradictory but all the more thought-provoking: a small business owner who believes Russia must be patient and slowly “develop” towards democracy, a taxi driver who wishes for socialism, an anti-Putin activist who believes Russia needs an autocrat like Stalin (but more benign). Despite the poverty and repression he frequently encounters, Greene remains optimistic throughout his travels, and he reproduces the source of this conviction in this collection of vignettes.

September 15, 2014

As an NPR host and correspondent, Greene has shared stories and political situations from all over the world. Here he narrates his experiences traveling across Russia on a 6,000-mile train journey with his faithful friend and translator Sergei, after living in Moscow for several years. So much more than a survey of the top sights, this is a close look at the people who embody the beautiful and chaotic spirit of Russia. Whether portraying the hyperattentive spa employee, Marina; Vasily, a veterinarian encountered over vodka in a Russian bath; or the paralyzed Alexei, who was wrongfully accused of a crime, Greene's tales of his encounters delve into the history, politics, and culture that make Russian people tick. His observations of the lingering effects of communism are particularly striking as he meets residents grappling daily with wanting to escape their communist past while hoping to retain their traditions, even at the cost of a more democratic future. VERDICT An impressive look at a complex country, this book brings the reader into direct contact with myriad Russians struggling and surviving in their snowy, expansive homeland. Recommended for NPR and travel fans as well as those interested in a more personal exploration [repeats above] of Russian politics. [See Prepub Alert, 4/14/14.]--Katie Lawrence, Chicago

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