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Thursday: finished _Oceans of Grain_
Mar. 31st, 2022 09:57 amI finally finished reading _Oceans of Grain_. This book has presented so many interesting perspectives that it has been hard at times to read more than two pages, before I go off to research various backgrounds. The book could have been a thousand pages long, if the author had included all of the things I went off to read (okay, much, much longer than that, even!) and I am so grateful he did not.
The core idea — that grain trading networks predate and underpin empires — and the core person — Parvus — were both unfamiliar to me. I am truly, truly grateful for both of these major insights. I never did find anything in the book to infuriate or annoy; instead, it was a delight from start to finish. I may turn right around and read it a second time; alternatively, maybe I’ll go read the author’s other books, some of which are about railroads.
It’s hard to overstate how much I enjoyed reading this book. Drawing from a lot of material that was not available to scholars in the English-speaking world until recent decades, I finally have the beginnings of an understanding of post-Peter the Great Tsarist Russia that hopefully I can build upon over time. Personally important to me, I have a much better sense of the world surrounding my Mennonite ancestors, and why they moved from Friesland / the Netherlands, to the Vistula River, to the Crimea, and then to the Prairie states and provinces. I knew they were farmers, and they were hard workers and good at building levees and similar; I knew they bargained for the right to not sent their young men to fight in wars, and for the right to speak their own language and practice their own religion. My understanding of _why_ rulers would make these concessions — and then later revoke them — was far too limited however. I thought in terms of, oh, these levees were damaged and needed rebuilding (in the case of the Vistula), without contemplating how they were damaged. I thought in terms of, oh, Tsar had cleared out indigenous peoples and wanted agriculturalists, without really thinking in terms of the export of grain for gold. I knew that after the Civil War, the Prairie States and provinces had produced increasing and enormous amounts of grain for export. I had not contemplated what that would have done to earlier dominant regions who were accustomed to enjoying that trade at a higher price point.
Describing the book in those terms is describing a book that another reader will not experience, because I’m reading this book in the context of trying to understand my family’s history. But a _lot_ of Americans have ancestors who moved through Ukraine in the 19th century or earlier, and a lot of us are thinking more about that family history, as we try to make sense of events there now. It is a way to find a personal, relatable, bridge to the current conflict. It is a joy to read _this_ book, that goes quite deeply into the history of the Black Sea region as a whole, in terms of grain production and distribution, and the empires over hundreds of years built on top of that.
I’ll probably update this post later to reflect the day’s activities, once the day has become the evening.
ETA: The possible update!
I. and I drove over to Salem. We parked in the Museum Place garage. However, when we went to where I thought Jodi Bee was — where it used to be — it was not there any more. So we figured out where it moved to. Then we went to Peabody-Essex and spent some time there. I was off to a terrible start by failing to find the correct exit from the sound exhibit, and apparently leaving via the emergency exit and spoiling the mood by letting a lot of light in. Oh well! At least I didn’t step into the pool of water.
From there, we went to Jodi Bee. It is now under new ownership, and is entirely vegan. I got a chocolate chip cookie, and a chocolate cookie frosted with chocolate ganache. Then we walked over to Notch Brewery, where the oven was broken, limiting the available food options. We got the pickled vegetables, which were fantastic, and the landjager, which is about as good as meat jerky type food is ever likely to get. I had some kind of dark lager? Maybe? It was tasty. I got their half pour. It was okay to eat the cookies there, so we had cookies, pickled veg and jerky type meat with beer and while it seems a little sketch, trust me, it was excellent.
From there, we went to look at shops. We went to Modern Millie’s where I bought a Vendula London Fortune Teller Grace bag. Sooooo over the top, but also incredibly delightful, which is what I always expect at Modern Millie’s.
We also went into Pampelmousse, where I bought several hot sauces that have no garlic or onion, for R.
And we stopped into Wicked Good Books and browed. We also went into a couple other shops.
We returned to the car in the garage to drop off our haul, as we were too warm (it was over 60!) and our bags had become heavy. Then we went to take a picture with Sam (the statue) and eat (and drink) at Flying Saucer. They had a vegan slice (1/4 pizza), so I had that and a salad with vegan ranch. I’ve never had ranch dressing. I. confirms that it tastes like real ranch. It was pretty tasty! I had another fruited Berliner Weisse, the tangerine coriander from Somerville’s Aeronaut Brewery.
We also went to East Regiment, where we had a flight with a rice lager, a “winter warmer” (spiced beer), and a couple stouts. The stout was good; the rice lager was okay. I did not care for the yeti.
We retrieved the car, then drove over to Far From the Tree, where there were several open parking spots. I really liked the Over the Bridge (I bought a crowler) and the cider inspired by a Sazerac. The Idylwilde and I forget were also fine. I also picked out a mixed four-pack.
It was an astonishingly fun day.
The core idea — that grain trading networks predate and underpin empires — and the core person — Parvus — were both unfamiliar to me. I am truly, truly grateful for both of these major insights. I never did find anything in the book to infuriate or annoy; instead, it was a delight from start to finish. I may turn right around and read it a second time; alternatively, maybe I’ll go read the author’s other books, some of which are about railroads.
It’s hard to overstate how much I enjoyed reading this book. Drawing from a lot of material that was not available to scholars in the English-speaking world until recent decades, I finally have the beginnings of an understanding of post-Peter the Great Tsarist Russia that hopefully I can build upon over time. Personally important to me, I have a much better sense of the world surrounding my Mennonite ancestors, and why they moved from Friesland / the Netherlands, to the Vistula River, to the Crimea, and then to the Prairie states and provinces. I knew they were farmers, and they were hard workers and good at building levees and similar; I knew they bargained for the right to not sent their young men to fight in wars, and for the right to speak their own language and practice their own religion. My understanding of _why_ rulers would make these concessions — and then later revoke them — was far too limited however. I thought in terms of, oh, these levees were damaged and needed rebuilding (in the case of the Vistula), without contemplating how they were damaged. I thought in terms of, oh, Tsar had cleared out indigenous peoples and wanted agriculturalists, without really thinking in terms of the export of grain for gold. I knew that after the Civil War, the Prairie States and provinces had produced increasing and enormous amounts of grain for export. I had not contemplated what that would have done to earlier dominant regions who were accustomed to enjoying that trade at a higher price point.
Describing the book in those terms is describing a book that another reader will not experience, because I’m reading this book in the context of trying to understand my family’s history. But a _lot_ of Americans have ancestors who moved through Ukraine in the 19th century or earlier, and a lot of us are thinking more about that family history, as we try to make sense of events there now. It is a way to find a personal, relatable, bridge to the current conflict. It is a joy to read _this_ book, that goes quite deeply into the history of the Black Sea region as a whole, in terms of grain production and distribution, and the empires over hundreds of years built on top of that.
I’ll probably update this post later to reflect the day’s activities, once the day has become the evening.
ETA: The possible update!
I. and I drove over to Salem. We parked in the Museum Place garage. However, when we went to where I thought Jodi Bee was — where it used to be — it was not there any more. So we figured out where it moved to. Then we went to Peabody-Essex and spent some time there. I was off to a terrible start by failing to find the correct exit from the sound exhibit, and apparently leaving via the emergency exit and spoiling the mood by letting a lot of light in. Oh well! At least I didn’t step into the pool of water.
From there, we went to Jodi Bee. It is now under new ownership, and is entirely vegan. I got a chocolate chip cookie, and a chocolate cookie frosted with chocolate ganache. Then we walked over to Notch Brewery, where the oven was broken, limiting the available food options. We got the pickled vegetables, which were fantastic, and the landjager, which is about as good as meat jerky type food is ever likely to get. I had some kind of dark lager? Maybe? It was tasty. I got their half pour. It was okay to eat the cookies there, so we had cookies, pickled veg and jerky type meat with beer and while it seems a little sketch, trust me, it was excellent.
From there, we went to look at shops. We went to Modern Millie’s where I bought a Vendula London Fortune Teller Grace bag. Sooooo over the top, but also incredibly delightful, which is what I always expect at Modern Millie’s.
We also went into Pampelmousse, where I bought several hot sauces that have no garlic or onion, for R.
And we stopped into Wicked Good Books and browed. We also went into a couple other shops.
We returned to the car in the garage to drop off our haul, as we were too warm (it was over 60!) and our bags had become heavy. Then we went to take a picture with Sam (the statue) and eat (and drink) at Flying Saucer. They had a vegan slice (1/4 pizza), so I had that and a salad with vegan ranch. I’ve never had ranch dressing. I. confirms that it tastes like real ranch. It was pretty tasty! I had another fruited Berliner Weisse, the tangerine coriander from Somerville’s Aeronaut Brewery.
We also went to East Regiment, where we had a flight with a rice lager, a “winter warmer” (spiced beer), and a couple stouts. The stout was good; the rice lager was okay. I did not care for the yeti.
We retrieved the car, then drove over to Far From the Tree, where there were several open parking spots. I really liked the Over the Bridge (I bought a crowler) and the cider inspired by a Sazerac. The Idylwilde and I forget were also fine. I also picked out a mixed four-pack.
It was an astonishingly fun day.