November's Book - Big Russ and Me

Bethany's pick for November 4th



"A profoundly satisfying story of a father and his son"--Wall Street Journal

"A testament to solid values,hard work and filial devotion"...New York Times

A letter from Tim from bigrussandme.com

Dear Reader,

In the spring of 2004, I published a book about my father--about the lessons I have learned from him, the way he has influenced me, and my enormous love and respect for this steady, hardworking, and modest man. Big Russ and Me came out in May, and my publisher sent me on a publicity tour in the hope that people around the country would see the book as an ideal Father's Day gift.

Early in the tour I was in Chicago, where to my great relief, customers were lining up to buy the book and have me autograph it. What happened next really surprised me.

"Make it out to Big Mike" somebody told me, which was followed in rapid succession by,

"This is for Big Mario"

"Please inscribe it out to Big Manuel."

"For Big Irv."

"Big Willie"

"Big Stan"

I had expected that my book would appeal to readers in my home town of Buffalo, New York, but I didn't know whether the story of a young man coming of age in a blue-collar Irish-Catholic neighborhood, whose father was a truck driver and a sanitation man, would strike a cord with a wider audience. As soon as I discovered there were many Big Russes out there--good, industrious, and patriotic men who has a lot in common with my dad, even if they didn't share his religion or his heritage. By writing a book about my father, I was affirming not only his life, but the lives of many other fathers as well.

Sincerely,

Tim Russert