Where nights are longest: Travels by car through western Russia

Rating:
Summary: Too much art class but a good read
Review: Colin Thubron's travels in Russia seem like one hallucinogenic experience after another and you cannot help but wonder if he is at least fudging with the truth a little bit. His writing is often quite dark and sinister, but I suppose it's because *he's travelling in Soviet Russia*. Also he tends to go on an on in eyelid-heavying excruciating detail about anything related to art: paintings, sculpture, music, literature, you name it. On the other hand, the book is informative (though not comprehensive), and it is in general a very good read. The experiences, true or not, are remarkable. Thubron's writing and language are also very good... I suspect he'd make a very good fiction writer (no sarcasm intended).

Rating:
Summary: What a captivating description of one man's travels!
Review: This was one of the most captivating descriptions of an adventure I have ever read. Thubron has a most lyrical and classical narrative style and he depicts the Soviets with both cold objectivity and warm humanity. This has made me want to travel to Russia to see it all myself.