Good Book, Weird Report

While on vacation, I took the latest book on Anna Akhmatova, The Word that Causes Death’s Defeat — Poems of Memory, by Nancy K. Anderson. Tsarskoe Selo (now Pushkin) was Akhmatova’s favorite place. She loved life, and writing, there. This book is full of historical facts, particularly how the Communists imprisoned, tortured and killed poets. The book is not, however, a “page turner” fit for the beach and, being on vacation, I decided to buy some good ol’ Pulp.

Super Walmart, coast of North Carolina, is not exactly Barnes & Noble. The only book they stocked that really caught my eye was The Romanov Prophecy by Steve Berry. I felt a bit guilty as I carried it to check-out. I mean, I did write all those words critical of Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code. And here I was buying a book within the same genre. But, not really. “The Romanov Prophecy” deals with a conspiracy surrounding the heir to the throne of Nicholas II — not the Lord of all creation!

It begins with a prophecy by Rasputin and carries a black lawyer from the South, Miles Lord, on a journey around the globe in search of the descendants of the last Tsar as Russia prepares to reestablish the monarchy. It’s a thrilling read, but it scared me a bit. Not, mind you, the writing so much as the coincidences. “The Romanov Prophecy” begins at Tsarskoe Selo. Fine. No biggie. It turns out that the main character resides in Atlanta, but was reared in South Carolina. Okay. Sort of gave me a “homey” feeling. It doesn’t mention Akhmatova or her contemporaries by name. But it does, several times, speak of the maltreatment and murder of poets. Then, about midway through the novel (dealing with Rasputin, the Tsarina, Alexei, etc), I turned on TV to find the History Channel broadcasting a show about the same. (At the time, I’d forgotten that the anniversary of the Royals’ death, 7/17, was approaching.) I told my wife, “This is weird, first there’s the Tsarskoe Selo connection between the two books, now, just as I’m reading about this very thing, this on the History Channel”.

But it was to get even weirder. You see, I live in Asheville, Hendersonville actually, and went to college in a small town called Boone, North Carolina. Most people have heard of Asheville. Not so many, Hendersonville. Boone? Really.

Anyway, this from page 302 of “The Romanov Prophecy” …

In the center of the screen was Asheville, a cross of dark red lines emanating in four directions, signifying Interstates 40 and 26. To the north were towns like Boone, Green Mountain, and Bald Creek. To the south were Hendersonville and the South Carolina-Georgia border. Maggie Valley and Tennessee lay to the west, and Charlotte loomed off to the east. He studied the Blue Ridge Parkway, snaking a path to the northeast from Asheville to the Virginia line. The towns carried interesting names, Sioux, Bay Book, Chimney Rock, Cedar Mountain. Then, just north of Asheville, south of Boone, near Grandfather Mountain, he saw it.

Now, ya’ll, come on! If you’re familiar with this area (I’m not sure of the veracity of all those locales), you gotta love it. This is a book about Russians. Russian Royals! And here I was, vacationing on the North Carolina coast, reading two books set at Tsarskoe Selo — and one of them practically listing my street address!

It was a good read. I recommend it: “The Romanov Prophecy” by Steve Berry. ($4.88 @ Walmart.) So good in fact, that I encouraged my wife — born Amy, chrismated Elizabeth — to read it. I’d already told her of all the coincidences. We were on our way home when from the passenger seat she said: “Oh wow. Look!”

The book was dedicated … “To Amy and Elizabeth.”

That does it! Steve Berry owes me money!

Therapy!

A visit!

Something!