4 Spring 2018 Applegater
BOOK REVIEWS
Winter Is Coming
Garry Kasparov (2015)
How m a n y p e o p l e
re m e m b e r “d u c k a n d
cover” from their childhood
school days? I do. I can
still picture the underside
of my grade school desk
from all the duck-and-
cover drill rehearsals for the
coming nuclear war with
the Russians. While I sat
under that desk, I studied
all the many years’ worth of
chewed gum that had been
stuck there, as well as a few other things
that I could not identify. The underside of
my desk was like a petri dish’s nightmare.
I never thought it could save me from the
coming mushroom cloud.
Much later, on November 9, 1989, the
communist darkness that had engulfed
Russia, along with its menacing threat to
us, ended—or did it?
Winter is Coming author, Garry
Kasparov, is a Russian who spent 20
years as the world’s number-one ranked
chess player until his retirement. With his
pen and voice he has been a crusader for
democracy in Russia. He now lives in self-
imposed exile in New York.
In this book, Kasparov covers the rise to
power of the KGB thug and authoritarian
Vladimir Putin. In a country where 20
million people can barely make ends meet,
Putin’s personal wealth—according to
Hermitage Capital Management CEO Bill
Browder, who testified before Congress in
July 2017—is believed to be around $200
billion (Fortune.com, July 20, 2017).
Doesn’t that make Bill Gates (Microsoft)
and Jeff Bezos (Amazon) paupers in
comparison?
As Kasparov tells us, as a dictator (all
elections are now rigged in Russia), Putin’s
wealth has been acquired through thievery,
murder, and moral corruption. While
reading this book, I realized that Putin
makes gangsters such as Al Capone, Frank
Lucas, and even Amado Carrillo Fuentes
(richest Mexican drug cartel boss) look like
Eagle Scouts.
Kasparov lays out a pretty detailed map
of events showing that every American
president since Putin came to power in
1999 has not really stood
up to him. This lack of
backbone from American
presidents has allowed
Putin’s KGB fangs of poison
to kill off the anemic start
of democracies in Russia.
George W. Bush said
of Putin, “I looked the
man in the eye. I found
him to be very straight
forward and trustworthy,
and we had a very good
dialogue. I was able to get
a sense of his soul.” I hadn’t
realized myself that Bush
was that blind. Then Barack Obama and
his administration decided to do a “reset”
with Russia—another “are you kidding
me?” moment!
Like all dictators, Putin confiscates
all media that does not pledge loyalty to
him. Loyalty pledges are a big thing with
dictators. According to the book, Vladimir
Gusinsky, the Russian media tycoon, spent
three days in prison and was forced to give
up his media company to Putin and his
closest gangster associates.
Putin even went after Pussy Riot, a
Russian feminist protest punk-rock group,
for mentioning Putin by name in the video
they made of their performance of a brief
“Punk Prayer” inside Moscow’s Cathedral
of Christ the Savior. They received a
two-year prison sentence for using what
we in America call free speech. Russia’s
prisons and graveyards are full of people
who oppose him. One of Putin’s favorite
expressions is “managed democracy,” as
long as he is the manager.
The atrocities committed by Putin’s
toxic touch have been felt in Georgia,
Chechnya, Ukraine, and even in the
United States. Kasparov makes it very
clear how Putin’s menacing threats to
democracy have gone from local to regional
and, today, to global. Yet we still haven’t
declared or treated Putin’s Russia for what
it is: a criminal rogue regime. You don’t
negotiate to the advantage of gangsters.
You put them out of business.
If you are or are not interested in what’s
happening on the world stage, you still
need to read this book because Putin’s foul
breath touches us all.
J.D. Rogers • 541-846-7736
— N O T I C E —
The Community Calendar seems to have taken up
permanent residence on our website at
applegater.org.
Sugarbob goes
to the Lodge
Jef Kooper (2018)
Having grown up in the
Applegate Valley, I’ve heard
many stories about Sugarbob,
the playful deer who was
rescued from the Applegate
River by the owners of the
Applegate River Lodge. If
you live near Applegate, you
probably have too. I remember
hearing how, even as a fawn,
Sugarbob would make his way across the
busy Highway 238 to say hello to people
at the Applegate Store & Cafe. I didn’t
have the pleasure of meeting Sugarbob
personally, but after reading this book, I’ve
come to know his story better than I ever
have before.
Sugarbob goes to the Lodge first
introduces Richard and Joanna, owners of
the Applegate River Lodge. One day while
they are working, Joanna sees a baby deer
floating down the Applegate River. Richard
runs outside, hopping into the chilly
whitewater to save the fawn. They bring the
baby deer back to the lodge and take care of
him, naming him Sugarbob and tying his
famous orange bandana around his neck.
Growing up around people and animals
made Sugarbob an outgoing and playful
creature. I heard that he would walk right
up to you so you could pet him.
As the story continues, the reader
watches as Sugarbob learns to adapt to his
new surroundings and learns important
things about safety and manners along
the way. Then, as Sugarbob returns to his
natural habitat, he is able to continue living
his life as a normal deer, but still with close
ties to his friends and family at the lodge.
The cute tales of Sugarbob the deer
really show how a bond can grow between
humans and animals, no matter what
kind. It’s amazing how a wild and usually
shy animal can come to be an outgoing
companion with the love of a few kind
people. Rarely does something amazing
like this happen, and I feel lucky to
have had it happen in the small town of
Applegate.
Sugarbob’s story really is a heartwarming
one. And thanks to the wonderful writing of
Jef Kooper, along with some truly beautiful
illustrations by Philippo LoGrande, the
story comes to life. Sugarbob goes to the
Lodge is a sweet story that can be enjoyed
by both children and adults. There’s never
going to be another story quite like this
one, so do yourself a favor and read it.
Carlen Nielsen
Williams resident and eighth-grader at
Lincoln-Savage Middle School
info@rebellouisephoto.com
The book’s author, Jef Kooper, provided
another review, this one from five-year-old
Aliza, daughter of Chris and Meghan,
owners of Crossroads Café in Williams: “It’s
the best book ever. I love it!” Sugarbob goes
to the Lodge is available at Applegate Store
& Cafe, Provolt Country Store, Pennington
Farms in Grants Pass, Takubeh Natural
Market in Williams, and Rebel Heart Books
in Jacksonville.
Poetry Corner
Arthur moved
by Barbara Summerhawk
With great, quiet purpose
To the deck shadows
Where peppermint tea (and if lucky, a buttered bagel),
Stoked our casual forays into the sublime-light, and listened
As if whatever babble we believed at the moment was
Worth the wait.
The hallmark comment, a gentle chuckle, lends us hope
The cats may someday sit on our laps, too.
The only point Arthur pushed was an awl that
Laced up many of our Humbug feet and
Encouraged the process to make our roads and
Lives a little less dusty, so we could walk the
Valley with a clean slate.
Somewhere up ahead in the sky
He sits slapping his cosmic knee, a
Galaxy-wide grin on his face, patiently waiting
For all of us who love him: Arthur.
See Arthur Coulton’s obituary on page 2.
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