Anyone at all interested in a clear overview over the Chechnya civil war should read this book. It contains a clear and well written explanation. Interesting too, for Westerners, is the fact that the terrorist and their arms and explosives could proceed across Russia undetected and that certain people seemed to have free access to the theatre while the drama was unfolding.
The main story is the story of a Bulgarian-Canadian man, of the 57 hours in a Moscow theatre being held captive by Chechnya rebels, and how he survived.
The Russians released an unknown gas into the theatre before storming it. Among the dead were all the terrorists and 129 innocent people, who succumbed to the gas after the attack. The Russians had no plan for how to transport 600 unconscious and dying people to hospitals, no medical personnel standing by on site, and never told the doctors what it was, so they were forced to experiment with antidotes before being able to treat the dying people.
My blog will continue in 2011. I really enjoy thinking about books and writers and analyzing their qualities.
All the Adrian Mole books are wonderful, and really, better each time.
I've read all of Deverell's books, and this one is better than the last few in that the story lines are all very interesting. This book is set in the usual Saltspring Island location, but with Ottawa and Bhashyistan and Albania politics and war backgrounds as well.
See also review of Kill All the Judges by the same author for detailed comments.
Dear Fatty and A Tiny Bit Marvellous by Dawn French. This amazing actress, comedian, and TV writer, writes a boring boring book.
The Story of Yiddish by Neal Karlen. This is the most boring non-informative book. So disappointing. Not funny either.
The usual great mystery read from Atkinson.
This is the true story of an English woman who moved to Egypt in circa 1850, on the premise of her health, and her maid. The two women became involved with the local community, in particular the men. It is written with very little reference to time and place---you'd hardly know you were in 19th C. Egypt. I found myself longing for greater insight and description.
However, because it is a true and unique story, you must read it.
