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5 comments about Miles of Experience.

1. Mr. Zubry has offered for readers a thought-provoking collection of essays and stories. They are told with a sharply-etched and compelling point of view. Readers of "Land of Sinbad the Sailor" will learn more about Saudi Arabia than in most textbooks--and they will come away with an understanding of the Mideast's problems that is real and heartfelt. Highly recommended.



2. I often wonder: How is it that there is a lyrical quality to the works of every Russian writer, unmatched by those of any other provenance with the exception of the Irish? Oh, I am aware that Boris Zubry has been living in the U.S. for the past 35 years and has been an American citizen for almost as long. But he was born in Russia and quite obviously raised on a lavish supply of that country's rich literary stock; and also quite obviously he has ingested enough of that fare to easily find his own place in the same literary tradition, somewhere between the works of Alexander Pushkin, Anton Chekhov and Ilya Ilf/Yevgenyi Petrov's "Twelve Chairs," with a dose of Jewish satirist Ephraim Kishon thrown in for good measure.
   
   "Miles of Experience" is Zubry's second book; a collection of stories and stream-of-conscience-style essays set in the Soviet Union of the author's youth, in Saudi Arabia, the U.S. and in WWII Poland and Germany. Introducing each entry by a short poem and at his best when writing from a first-person perspective, describing life's small, simple things - pleasures and disappointments, happiness and horror alike - Zubry takes the reader on a trip back in time and space, to places he has seen and experiences he has made; never shying from speaking his mind: direct, unapologetic, sometimes jarred, and not afraid of controversy. You won't always find yourself agreeing with him; but you will be incited to think and to formulate your own position.
   
   The book opens with "Ali," the touching account of an Arab shopkeeper's young son who, raised in a traditional environment, is suddenly exposed to a group of rich city dwellers: an encounter that his simple upbringing leaves him ill-equipped to deal with.
   
   The second story, "Cannon," takes the reader to Portland, Oregon, where a friend of the narrator's acquires a real cannon at an antiques fair and places it into his house's front yard - with unexpected consequences.
   
   "Crickets" (my personal favorite) is a story about the lost innocence of childhood, about a magical summer vacation's ingenious children's game gone horribly wrong, and about lessons learned and never forgotten.
   
   In "Dates," Zubry returns to Saudi Arabia, for a closer inspection of that country's traditions and the clash of its contemporary society with the values of the Western world.
   
   The title of "Domestic Violence" speaks for itself as far as subject matter is concerned - and women readers in particular should be prepared for being confronted with a viewpoint which, while based on the author's personal observations, is as far as can be imagined from a politically correct approach to the issue.
   
   "Jewish Blood" deals with the encounter between a highly-decorated German officer and a Polish soldier on the WWII front lines outside Warsaw - and the discovery of an unexpected link between the two of them.
   
   "Land of Sinbad the Sailor" again takes the reader to present-day Saudi Arabia; and while (particularly in the post-9-11-2001 world) Zubry's analysis here and, partly, already in "Dates" probably reflects that of many Westerners, I would expect there to be some disagreement from an Arab and/or Muslim point of view. Along with "Domestic Violence" and "Sexual Harassment" (see below), this is doubtlessly one of the book's most controversial pieces. Yet, when juxtaposing it with the first story, "Ali," and also taking into account Zubry's praise of Arab traditions like that of hospitality in "Dates," it is clear that his overall view of the Saudi society is far more complex than appears to be the case here; something that should be born in mind when reading his often provocative statements.
   
   "The Last Pogrom" is the collection's single longest entry: part novella, part nonfiction account, it addresses anti-Semitism in the officially atheist Soviet Union and its consequences for the individuals concerned, as exemplified by a promising young engineer studying at Leningrad's prestigious, top secret Institute for Military Mechanics, and his experience during a high Jewish holiday.
   
   "A Room for a Boy" (another favorite of mine) explores a man's secret loneliness: Although well-liked and respected in his community both on his own merits and those of his clever cat, there is an unfulfilled spot in his life ... and he has found a unique way of making up for it.
   
   "Russian Dedication" (rounding up the list of my greatest favorites) takes a hilarious look at the trademark inefficiencies of the socialist economy, Soviet style; seen in a construction project stuck in time and in endless repetitions of the same useless routine.
   
   "Sexual Harassment" tells the story of a woman's discrimination lawsuit against a midsize Silicon Valley pharmaceutical company, and its effects even after it has been settled. Again, the author expresses views that not all of his readers (especially women and members of minorities) will be comfortable with, but which are far from uncommon, and in the author's case seem to be grounded on personal observations.
   
   "Wild Strawberries," finally, is another return to the author's childhood days, and to a magical vacation gone horribly wrong; although in this case not for the narrator himself but for a much-idolized personal hero who is belatedly caught up in the Soviet society's web of political intrigue.
   
   The twelve pieces collected in "Miles of Experience" are diamonds in the rough: Sometimes I would have wished for the hands of a gentle, insightful editor: not to censor of course, nor do I think Mr. Zubry's hand could (or should!) be forced - but to remove some of the rocky edges occasionally obscuring the underlying brilliance, and to bring it out in its full shine. Yet, even without such extra polish they are a joy to read; and in a time when literature (and particularly so, essays and short stories) increasingly seem to be about form and language rather than content, it is refreshing to find an author who is not afraid of expressing a straightforward opinion, while at the same time understanding the lyrical beauty of everyday life.
   
   Also recommended:
   Russian Short Stories from Pushkin to Buida (Penguin Classics)
   The Collected Stories (Everyman's Library)
   Anton Chekhov's Short Stories (Norton Critical Editions)
   Collected Stories of Ivan Bunin
   Collected Stories (Penguin Modern Classics)
   The Twelve Chairs (European Classics)
   The Funniest Man in the World: The Wild and Crazy Humor of Ephraim Kishon



3. Boris Zubry has written an unusual book: personal essays punctuated by short stories, all inspired by his experiences worldwide. He begins MILES OF EXPERIENCE with fiction about a father and son living in an unspecified part of the Arab world and who come into tragic contact with drug dealers driving American cars. The next chapter, one of the author's strongest, is a personal essay titled "Cannon", which details Zubry's discovery of a cannon at a Washington antique show and what becomes of it. Zubry is at his best when describing simple moments: building a cricket cage out of toothpicks, sharing his house with a lizard in Saudi Arabia, or watching, with his brother-in-law at his side, a Soviet construction vehicle become mired in the mud for the fifth day in a row.

   Zubry's style is simple and often repetitive, easily readable and rhythmic. His essays tend to feel like stream-of-consciousness pieces because they meander from one scene to another until the end is reached. Zubry never shrinks from expressing his opinions, as unpopular as they might be; at times he goes on at length about his judgment of a particular situation or person. Although this can get tiring and even offensive, MILES OF EXPERIENCE would be a different book without it. Clearly, these stories and opinions mean much to the author as they are told emphatically and with authority.

   I recommend this book especially for readers who have an interest in the former Soviet Union, the Jewish experience, and the unique point of view of immigrants.




4. Can you picture Mark Twain telling stories with a Russian accent? I can, because I have read "Miles of Experience," a wonderful collection of short stories by Boris Zubry. The Twain-like stories are told in such a way that I pictured myself sitting on the author's front porch (or perhaps his dacha, overlooking the Black Sea), watching the sun set, listenting to the night insects buzz, while he spins warm and fascinating tales of his childhood adventures, his work abroad, or serious stories about Russia.
   
   The twelve short stories are told in a gentle and deeply personal voice. The author speaks with the wisdom of someone who has seen the best and worst in people, and who still manages to find humor in life. Many of the stories take place in the author's native country, Russia. "Crickets," my favorite story, is the bittersweet tale of one idyllic summer spent at a dacha, when the author built a toy castle and caught crickets to populate it.
   
   Those who enjoy reflections on the human condition, told with intimacy and great detail, will surely enjoy "Miles of Experience." I feel I have come to know the author quite well from this book. He makes me smile.



5. I know Boris Zubry. I have never met him, I have never spoken to him, yet I know him. How can this be? Because Mr. Zubry virtually extends his hand in warm greetings from the pages of his wonderful book, MILES OF EXPERIENCE.

   Zubry writes in a soothing, conversational style--as if he had pulled up a chair next to you in front of the fireplace to engage in a friendly chat. I heard his Russian accent as I read his stories, stories about his childhood in the former Soviet Union, stories about distant lands and distant cultures, stories about persecution, corruption, intolerance. Most of his stories do not have happy endings, yet the reader still treasures them--still treasures the author for presenting them in such a warm, humanistic manner.

   By far, my favorite story (although I enjoyed them all) was "Russian Dedication." Zubry provides a hilarious, yet biting, account of a construction project gone awry to demonstrate the hopeless inefficiency and corruption of the former Soviet Republic. It is more than apparent the author has a genuine love for his homeland and its people, but cared nothing for the Communist government. In fact, Zubry renounced his Soviet citizenship in 1978 and became a U.S. citizen in 1984.

   Russia's loss is America's gain.

   MILES OF EXPERIENCE is highly recommended. As I mentioned earlier, you will get to know Boris Zubry through the pages of this book, and you'll be proud and honored to consider him a friend.

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1 comments about Dreaming No Small Dreams: William R. Harvey's Visionary Leadership.

1. I just bought this wonderful book when I went back to Hampton University for Homecoming 2003. I was glad to see such an undertaking written on Dr. Harvey. I found it very interesting and I am now in trouble with my wife because I kept my night-stand light on all night reading the book from cover to cover. I have only one criticism so I will dispense with that first: Dr. Benjamin is very repetitious of certain facts and accounts including them in one chapter to illustrate one aspect of Harvey's leadership and then in another to illustrate a similar leadership trait, while this is the only weakness of the book it is a common thread throughout, chapter after chapter,and therefore does lend itself to no small amount of irritation. Other than that, it is an absolutely fabulous book about a man who has been a true inspiration to more than a generation of Hamptonians. As an approach to the work, it should be noted for the true students of the genre that the book neither is nor pretends to be a work of autobiography, instead it is a chronicle of how one man's value based leadership transformed an institution of higher learning. In the pages of this book one finds a man steady at the ship in steering Hampton toward new horizons while keeping her true to her most noblest traditions and aspirations. One finds a man of vision unafraid to do what is right for that grand institution while in the process demonstrating and exemplifying dignity and decency. As an alum of Hampton University who was inspired by Harvey's leadership as a student, the work came as a refresher and a capsulization of all that I learned while quietly observing this man from a distance. Thank You, Dr. Benjamin for capturing one of Hampton's finest moments...Dr Harvey, Hampton University is your destiny... what a blessing to be so clear...and she still needs you!!!

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