Sunday, February 27, 2011

Travels in Siberia

Travels in Siberia was a great book. You've heard Siberia in passing, but how much do you actually know about it? I pictured frozen tundra and Soviet labor camps. Those two things are certainly part of Siberia, but there's a lot more. Siberia covers approximately 10% of the world's land.

Frazier first traveled to Siberia in the years soon after the Soviet Union's fall. His book covers multiple trips over several years, all of which were unique. The first trip he made as an early post Soviet tourist flying west from Nome, Alaska. Another trip was a road trip across Siberia with two Russians.

I learned a lot about Siberia. Some of Frazier's book was a serious exploration of issues, such as the gulags or impact of climate change on the tundra. Other parts, notably the part with the two Russian road trip companions, were laugh out loud funny. It was a great example of what travel books should be.

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