North Country News, May, 2009.

4
BOOKS
Reviewed by Ray Stanley, Rio
Linda Library
“the terminal Spy”
by Alan S. Cowell
Perhaps some you remember the
now famous photograph of a bald,
sickly looking Alexander Litvinenko
staring accusingly at the camera
from his deathbed, a hospital room
in London’s University College
Hospital. Poisoned and just days
from dying, Litvinenko’s image
would be used to launch a PR campaign
against Putin’s Russia and its’
apparent resurgent brutality. Did
Putin have a hand in his demise?
Was this claim merely a smear attempt
by the expatriate Russian
community in Britain? Did Alexander
naively try to hobnob and
do business the wrong people? We
may never know, but Cowell does
his best to unravel this complicated
story in this compelling book.
One of my life changing moments
happened my junior year at Oakmont
High School. Out of the blue
my history teacher pulled a book of
his shelf and recommended I check
it out. Little did he know how big
an impression this book would have
on my world view and my view of
Communism’s horrors. The book
was “A Day in the Life of Ivan
Denisovich” by Alexander Solzhenitsyn.
I couldn’t put it down.
It made the fall of the Berlin Wall, a
mere four years away, all that much
sweeter and momentous.
Now fast forward to 2000 and the
election of Vladimir Putin as Russia’s
President. Boris Yeltsin had
just resigned unexpectedly. What
direction or course would Putin
pursue for Russia? At first, the U.S.
and Russia shared a common struggle;
that of terrorist attacks from
Muslim extremists. Soon, however,
tensions began to arise between the
two former Cold War opponents.
When journalists began disappearing
or dying in increasing numbers
throughout Putin’s two terms (type
“Russian journalists killed” into
Yahoo and see the list) accusations
surfaced that the former KGB, now
the FSB, was resurrecting its old
ways once again. While journalist
Anna Politkovskoya’s shooting
death near her apartment was notable,
it was Litvinenko’s demise later
that year that shone the spotlight directly
onto Putin. Personally, I felt
like the possibility of the horrors
outlined in Solzenitsyn’s book was
creeping back, if they had ever left.
Cowell meticulously researched the
key players in the story surrounding
Alexander. In the wake of the breakup
of the Soviet Union opportunistic
entrepreneurs, often currying
favor of politicians with bribes and
large financial gifts, made a financial
killing off of the former state-
run industries that were handed to
them in return. When Putin came to
power, not all of these sudden billionaires
were in his good graces.
Britain, with its lax immigration
laws (landing at Heathrow required
no transit visas so one could buy
tickets for a second destination then
simply roam the airport and fail to
fly further) soon became home to
many of these newly minted rich
who found themselves out of favor
with Putin who was now attempting
to reclaiming the former stateowned
industries and appointing his
friends in charge. Much of the PR
after Litvinenko’s death was crafted
and distributed by these expatriates
who had no love lost for Putin’s
leadership in an attempt to embarrass
him on the world’s stage.
Putin, a former KGB agent, had an
ax to grind with Litvinenko as well.
Allegations of faking a Chechen
terrorist attack to muster support
for the Chechnya invasion, the rumor
of the mining of an Italian harbor
by a Russian submarine, and a
myriad of other plots hinted at by
Litvinenko during his time with the
KGB, didn’t sit well with him. Was
Alexander the patriot he liked to be
considered? Was he a traitor that
the FSB considered him? Did his
naivety and aloofness doom him to
his fate as some, including his wife
and abandoned children claim? Did
a former associate of “Sasha”, Andrei
Lugovoi, bring the polonium
210 to England and put in Litvinenko’s
tea? The souring of Britain
and Russia’s relationship grew from
Putin’s refusal to extradite Lugovoi
for a trial. Was “Sasha” stealing
state secrets? Was Putin’s FSB bent
on getting back at the expatriate
community in London? Did Litvinenko
cross the wrong businessman?
The truth may never be fully
uncovered.
If you’re seeking the ultimate truth
and will be disappointed when it
isn’t delivered, you may be frustrated
with the book. However, I
still encourage you to give it a try.
The cast of characters, back story,
and the inner-workings of Russian
society are all quite interesting. If
you’re into “cloak and dagger” fiction
or like spy books I recommend
giving this a try.
For more reviews please sign up for
Sacramento Public Library’s free
“Book Bulletin” to have reviews
e-mailed to your home. Visit our
website http://www.saclibrary.org
and click on “Read” and sign up for
the “Book Bulletin.” See you in the
stacks!
The Rio Linda Library
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“Marley & Me” by John Grogan
Reviewed by Viv
Last month I read “Marley & Me” by John Grogan. I ran out of time and
did not write my review. Well here it is.
The story is about a new married couple and their first puppy, “Marley.” It
is very funny, fast paced and really keeps you turning pages. Every page
was another adventure sometimes so wild you could barely believe it if
you had never had such a dog.
Marley is a Golden - Labrador Retriever. It seems the AKC is near to splitting
the breed into two breeds. The English Lab. is a less active dog, also a
smaller one than the American Lab. Seems the American Lab. is far more
active, needing a large area to run and is a much larger dog. Marley was
over 100lbs. Seems the American Lab. has been bred as a hunting dog,
they love the water.
The story covers the thirteen years of Marley’s life and all the outrageous,
fun things that happened along the way. As Marley ages I am sure you will
remember some of your own dogs and how sharing your life with them has
made some very special memories.
Something I found interesting, the author had spent a few years working
for the Rodale Press as Managing Editor for their flagship magazine,
“Organic Gardening.” Rodale also published “The Mother Earth.” Both
magazines I have enjoyed for years.
“Marley & Me” was made into a movie and it was fun to watch but I felt
so many events were skipped over, to keep the movie within a reasonable
time frame I am sure. Guess it would be better to see the movie then read
the book.
You cannot help but cry at the ending, as all of us pet owners know, their
lives are short but they touch us in so many ways. All they ask is for food,
love and a nice place to sleep in exchange they greet you with joy each
day, give you their heart, share your sadness and teach you some very good
lessons (if you are willing to learn). Read “Marley & Me” it is one for the
heart…………….Viv
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