A review by mauramonaghan
Nobody Leaves: Impressions of Poland by Ryszard Kapuściński, William R. Brand

informative reflective slow-paced

5.0

Kapuściński approaches the country-as-subject with a special brand of empathy that only a native could bring to the reportage. There is such an acute understanding of each character, and the way that people are sometimes a product of their circumstances. Also, I just think this book offers such a detailed, visceral portrait of a particular time and place -- from the perspective of an insider who has left and then returned -- that is so, so rare and special. I think Kapuściński was capable of making even the most mundane of topics interesting, but to have him grapple with a subject that's interesting enough on its own is just fascinating. I especially loved the story about the university professors on the raft.