RUSSIA AND THE WEST UNDER LENIN AND STALIN by George Kennan

The Book: George Kennan, RUSSIA AND THE WEST UNDER LENIN AND STALIN. Atlantic-Little Brown Books, 1961 (first edition). Missing dust jacket; spine is faded, boards show signs of wear. Previous owner's stamp ("James J. Lamb, 1808 Meredith Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23455) inside front cover; current owner's signature on front flyleaf.
First read: 1981
Owned since: 1984 (approximately)

This book was my father's textbook at the Naval Academy before it was my textbook (can't remember which class, but I think it was Professor Douglas's Marxism and the Marxist Tradition). I swiped it off my parents' bookshelves, rather than buying my own copy.

It remains essential reading for anyone interested in world politics, and current developments in the former Soviet Union show how relevant Kennan's observations still are. The book studies the evolution of the West's relations with the Soviet Union, beginning with the fundamental truth that the two countries have never been interested in exactly the same things. Much of the difficulty the United States and Russia have had with each other is rooted in the assumption that the two countries are pursuing the same or similar objectives, and Kennan's point is that this has never been the case, from 1917 on.

The Presidential candidates have all done a little saber-rattling in remarks about Putin's plans for Russia, but no one has discussed the issue at any length. It's hard to do that in the primary environment, but I am looking forward to hearing how Senator McCain and Senator Obama plan to deal with the Russian government.

The conservative website Human Events reported a year ago about the violent suppression of opposition rallies, writing: "Violent suppression of any democratic protest is the latest example of the deterioration of human rights under Putin, who has also re-centralized power, restricted free speech, and used increasingly repressive measures -- and not just in Chechnya." Things have only gotten worse since. Putin's ceding of the Presidency to his protegee, Dmitri Medvedev, means nothing, since Putin remains Prime Minister and Medvedev is an obvious puppet (Medvedev's the same age as I am, which alarms me. I'm not old enough to be a world leader; how could he be?).

I did wonder, when I heard President Bush's remarks on appeasement yesterday, how he reconciles those opinions with his close friendship with Mr. Putin.

What I Read (and Listened to) These Weeks

Julia Spencer-Fleming, I SHALL NOT WANT. Julia was nice enough to send me an advance copy of this book, which comes out next month; to say that it is eagerly anticipated would be an understatement. Millers Kill police chief Russ Van Alstyne is single at last, but the circumstances of his single-ness are almost more than he and the Reverend Clare Fergusson can bear. Once so close, they avoid each other, except when their paths are forced to cross -- as happens with the body of a migrant worker is found on Russ's sister's farm. Julia's kept these two apart for five books, and in this, the sixth, they finally find their way to each other -- sort of. It's beautifully done, completely plausible, and the crimes at the center of the book are believable. I SHALL NOT WANT ends with a turn that offers a world of new possibilities for the series -- which means I'm already waiting for the next book again.

Thornton Wilder, THE BRIDGE OF SAN LUIS REY. Not sure how I never read this book, which was on reading lists all through my high school years. The Peruvian monk Brother Juniper examines the lives of five who were killed in a bridge collapse, looking for evidence of God's plan. As the five stories come together into one, God's plan emerges as an inscrutable offering of the opportunity to love one's neighbor.

Christina Schwarz, DROWNING RUTH. Amanda Starkey, a wartime nurse, returns home to her family farm in upstate Wisconsin in the winter of 1919. Within a year her sister Mattie has died, leaving behind the three-year-old Ruth. Amanda raises Ruth as her own, and tells Mattie's husband, a wounded soldier, a story with far too many holes in it. The secrets Amanda keeps emerge over the next 20 years, as several characters tell the story. An impressive first novel that telegraphs many of its secrets early on, but still packs a punch at the end.

Doris Kearns Goodwin, NO ORDINARY TIME: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II. A portrait of a unique and rather tragic marriage, and how its dynamic -- Franklin at home in the White House, Eleanor everywhere but there -- shaped American domestic policy for decades, mainly for the better.

Michael Beschloss, THE CONQUERORS: Roosevelt, Truman, and the Destruction of Hitler's Germany, 1941-1945. Fifty years ago, no one could have imagined the peaceful, prosperous, progressive Germany of today. Its emergence owes a great deal to the plans for a post-war Germany hammered out in Quebec, Yalta and Berlin during and after the Second World War. While Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau envisioned a Germany reduced to nothing but farms, and Stalin wanted to commandeer all of Germany's industry as war reparations, the eventual compromise allowed Germany to repair itself and return to the international community.

POLITICS AMONG NATIONS by Hans J. Morgenthau

The Book: Hans J. Morgenthau, POLITICS AMONG NATIONS: The Struggle for Power and Peace. Fifth edition, revised. Borzoi, 1978. Owner's signature and old telephone number written on front flyleaf; book is heavily highlighted and marked. Dust jacket is missing, but book is tight; spine is faded.
First read: 1984
Owned since: 1984

We're going back to politics and history for a while, because that's what I was listening to on this last trip, and it's what's on my mind. This was the main textbook for the International Relations class I took with Professor Coll; he was very young then, and my roommate and I had a crush on him. (Note to universities everywhere: class attendance improves when students have crushes on professors. Hire accordingly.)

Anyway, this edition was written at the height of the Cold War, and while much of it is now out-of-date, I've kept it because the insights are still clear and sound. Looking through it this morning, for example, I am particularly struck by Chapter 6, "The Struggle for Power: Policy of Prestige." "In the struggle for existence and power," Morgenthau writes, "what others think about us is as important as what we actually are."

Our current President has forgotten this, or maybe he doesn't care. Or maybe he wants the rest of the world to see us exactly as they do.

In any case, I'm happy to lend this book to any current or aspiring political candidate who wants to borrow it.

Five Random Songs (since I didn't post yesterday)

"Mutineer," Warren Zevon. In the summer of 1994, I took a weekend off and went to Bethany Beach, DE, all by myself -- except for a handful of CDs, and this was one of them.

"Falling For the First Time," Barenaked Ladies. This song is about someone jumping out of an airplane, I think. It's not something I feel any great need to do, although I hear it's fun. Claire's done it. It's good to have children braver than oneself.

"Conduct," The Durutti Column. A song and a band I was unfamiliar with until I got this CD, a collection of songs produced by the legendary Martin Hannett, for Christmas last year.

"Trouble in Mind," Big Walter Horton. This version of the song doesn't sound much like the version you probably know; it's off the great Alligator Records 20th Anniversary Collection.

"Baby It's You," The Shirelles. A great John Sayles movie, featuring Rosanna Arquette and a seriously hot Vincent Spano.

Miles to go...

Hitting the road again, headed for Kate's Mystery Books, which is celebrating its 25th Anniversary tonight. I'll be home very, very late tonight, and probably won't post again until late tomorrow morning.

YOU SUCK by Christopher Moore

The Book: Christopher Moore, YOU SUCK: A Love Story. William Morrow, 2007 (first edition). Inscribed to the owner. Fine condition.
First read: 2006
Owned since: 2007

Back at Megan's, and my first impression was correct: we really don't have much overlap in our book ownership, although she has several books I gave her, and vice versa. This is a book that I own because I would be Chris Moore's disciple if it were a paying job, and Megan owns because she likes vampire novels. So you see, YOU SUCK has something for everyone.

YOU SUCK is the long-awaited sequel to BLOODSUCKING FIENDS, and you really ought to read BLOODSUCKING FIENDS first -- not only because Mr. Moore should be encouraged and supported in all his efforts, but because I'm not sure how much sense parts of YOU SUCK make to people who don't already know the set-up. BLOODSUCKING FIENDS is the story of how Tommy, a goofball from the Midwest, moves to San Francisco and falls in love with the woman of his dreams, who happens to be a vampire. YOU SUCK begins on the morning after Jody, the woman, has turned Tommy into a vampire, and the two have to figure out the mechanics of vampire life together.

It is hilariously funny, gleefully violent, aggressively silly, and features one of Moore's best characters yet -- the teenaged Goth girl Abby Normal, who just can't believe Tommy isn't as cool as vampires are supposed to be in the books.

I read this book as an advance copy, but went to Boston to see Chris talk and get a first edition signed when he toured. I hear we might get to see some of the new book -- or maybe even advance copies? -- at BookExpo America, which is reason enough for me to return to Los Angeles at the end of the month.

Off Topic (except to the extent that it's all about me)

Greetings from Virginia Beach. My cousin Beth got married down here yesterday, and three generations of Lambs turned out to celebrate. For future reference, dancing all night is not the best thing for a twisted knee, but thanks to my brother James's heavy-duty Motrin stash, I'm fine today.

Anyway, the only books I have with me are the ones I'm reading and/or editing now, and most of this week's pleasure reading has been in the form of audiobooks. I'll post a double edition of What I Read This Week next Friday, but in the meantime I'm co-opting the blog to do a little networking.

I have an opportunity to take on a unique project late this summer in New York City, but it doesn't pay anything and it doesn't come with housing. Does anyone know of -- or have -- space for me (and maybe even Dizzy) from approximately August 1 through October 5? I could pay some rent, but probably not market rates. A furnished room in a pet-friendly house or apartment would be ideal, but anything without an active rat infestation is a possibility.

If you know of anything, leave me a comment or send an e-mail to LambLettersATgmail.com.

Sorry to be cryptic about the project, but I'm not sure how public it is yet. Believe me, I'll be much more forthcoming in the months ahead, especially if I do wind up spending August and September in New York.

Dizzy and I head back to DC tomorrow, back to New England on Tuesday. Happy Mothers' Day to everyone, especially to Vikki Bea and my sisters Kathy and Peggy.

POLITICALLY CORRECT BEDTIME STORIES by James Finn Garner

The Book: James Finn Garner, POLITICALLY CORRECT BEDTIME STORIES: Modern Tales for Our Life & Times. Macmillan, 1994. Fine condition.
First read: 1994
Owned since: 1994

Greetings from Washington, DC, where I'm staying in the house I used to share with my friend Megan (who still lives here). Megan too is a big reader, but our collections don't overlap much. This is one of the few books we both own, and I would guess we both still have it for the same reason: it's very small.

It's a one-joke book, and a dated one at that -- "Rapunzel," for example, begins "There once lived an economically disadvantaged tinker and his wife. His lack of material accomplishment is not meant to imply that all tinkers are economically marginalized, or that if they are, they deserve to be so." It is clever, and some of it is still very funny, but political correctness as a subject for humor is -- gosh -- about 15 years old.

The funniest story in the book is "The Three Codependent Goats Gruff," in which the biggest goat begs the troll to eat him because they tempted him, while the troll sobs and asks forgiveness: "No, no, it's all my fault. I threatened and bullied you all, just for the sake of my own survival. How selfish I was!" The battle of who is guiltiest ends badly, but with some measure of satisfaction for all involved, as they feel they are finally getting what they deserve.

It shouldn't surprise me -- but does -- to find that it is already early summer here in Washington, and everything is green. Dizzy, who came with me, is thrilled but a little overstimulated.

ALL THE KING'S MEN by Robert Penn Warren

The Book: Robert Penn Warren, ALL THE KING'S MEN. Bantam Classic paperback reprint, 1966 (18th printing). Fair condition; book is intact but fragile, pages are brown and brittle, spine is heavily creased. Previous owner's markings on front cover, including an old phone number for VEPCO (now Virginia Power).
First read: 1982
Owned since: 1982

If you -- like me -- stayed up much too late last night waiting for returns from Indiana, you might have wondered: Why do people run for office, and what makes people hang onto it at all costs?

If you stayed up for last night's returns, you've probably already read this book -- but if you haven't, it explains it all for you. It is the great American political novel, beginning with a loving description of a highway built with public funds and ending with the narrator musing on the nature of history, honor, and public service. In between are passion, betrayal, love, anger, corruption, lies and terrible, costly hope.

Reporter Jack Burden becomes, almost accidentally, the advance man and press secretary for grassroots politician Willie Stark, who might be a buffoon except for his uncanny charisma and political vision. Willie gets into politics to do good, and never doubts that he has the people's benefit at heart. As his career rises, however, the other compensations of politics distract him, and he becomes more and more willing to do whatever it takes to achieve his goals.

Willie Stark gains the world and loses his soul, and Jack Burden is his henchman until his last illusion is betrayed. Willie says, "Man is born in sin and conceived in corruption and passeth from the stench of the didie to the stink of the shroud. There is always something" to be dug up on his opponents, something to be used as leverage. Jack doesn't want to believe him, but Willie turns out to be right. Maybe.

The power of ALL THE KING'S MEN comes from the fact that Willie is good as well as evil, and sets himself against things he perceives as greater evil. When this was the Questions blog, my brother James asked whether politicians realize how slimy they are. I said that no, they mostly don't, and this book was the beginning of that understanding.

On the road again today, and posting between now and Tuesday may be erratic -- which shouldn't matter much, since I'll be seeing most of my regular readers.

Five Random Songs

"Wild World," Jimmy Cliff. From his In Concert (Live) recording. Once you hear this song with a reggae beat, you'll never hear it any other way.

"The Sharpest Thorn," Elvis Costello & Alvin Toussaint. I had a last minute invitation to go to JazzFest in New Orleans last week, and turned it down because I was too tired and had too much work to do. I am now officially middle-aged.

"Ever Fallen in Love," The Buzzcocks. And then I hear this song and think, well, maybe not...

"The Best," ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead. I think this song was a single, off their album Worlds Apart.

"Punky Reggae Party," Bob Marley. It must be summertime. The weather report says it'll get above 80 in Washington, DC today. What the hell do I have to wear?