BOOK REPORTS—

God’s Middle Finger by Richard Grant

Just 20 miles south of the Arizona-Mexico border the Sierra Madre Mountains begin their dramatic ascent; climbing to nearly 11,000 feet and extending for 900 miles.  The rules of law and civilized society are unknown in this vast wilderness which is also home to the cave dwelling Tarahumara Indians—world renowned extreme-distance runners with footwear made from discarded tires.  The book is a fascinating peek at a unique and uncharted piece of the world.

Across America by Bicycle by Alice Honeywell and Bobbi Montgomery

Two retired, mid-50s ladies live their dream by bicycling 3,600 miles from Oregon to Maine.  They chose this northern route to avoid summer’s heat and carried everything they needed on their bikes—unassisted by a chase vehicle.  This story of their challenges, their thrills and frightening experiences is a delightful read.

The Lion by Nelson De Mille

Another heart-pounding, could-not-put-it-down read from this master story teller.  A grizzled but wickedly humorous New York City cop partners with his wife, an FBI agent, in an anti-terrorist thriller against a one-man killing machine.  The plot ricochets around Manhattan like an escaped guided missile and includes an up-state skydiving episode that will leave you breathless.  Outstanding.

Travels in Siberia by Ian Frazier

In wandering along with this author it appeared he wasn’t sure if he was a travel writer or an historian.  It took him 176 pages until he got started on his major trip through Siberia which ended in the fall of 2009—the last of his five visits to that forsaken land over a 16 year period.  It was fair as travelogues go but his book redeemed itself overall in painting a portrait of that enormous hunk of Russia.