Daniella Yamauti Yamauti itibaren Almaznoye, 哈萨克斯坦 itibaren Almaznoye, 哈萨克斯坦

Wow. Talk about an interesting collection--strange sort of combination of self-deprecating patriotism and murky transparency. I mean, these letters really were sent to the presidents, but how representative are they? Look, the National Archives are showing you what they have in their collection!...except that transparency in our government is at an all-time low. Look, we're proclaiming to the world some of the awful trials and dirty scandals this country has gone through!...but we've also surmounted them because this country is the best on earth (where else do people so enthusiastically air their dirty laundry?). But still, it's a pretty book with some pretty stirring communications, especially when put into the context of when it was published (2005). When I read stuff like this, it makes me yearn for that simple, happy time when being patriotic was so easy and fulfilling (elementary school comes to mind).

Amazing. Fantastic. Many other superlatives. Read it. [2005 review.] This book is awesome. One of the best I've read in ages, or at least one of the most innovative. This is a fascinating, thinky, complex, unusual book and I've had tons of great discussions about it with friends already, which is one of the marks of a good book, imho. The book is made up of six interlocking stories in different eras and genres, and there are all sorts of subtle and interesting thematic threads tying them together and it's just awesome. (I was a tad disappointed by the, um, main unifying device, but it's not a dealbreaker.) I HIGHLY recommend it. (Also I saw the author give a reading from it and he was funny and cool.) (And hot.)