By Tom Ryan, Kansas City Star Reader Advisory Panel

Be sure to bring a small crane as William T. Vollmann’s new book, "Imperial", at 1306 pages is heavy in many ways. Much is written in this blog about immigration, legal and otherwise. This book says what he saw, first hand.

Prediction: Pulitzer (non-fiction)

Have a look at a map of Imperial County (take your pick from here) and its geography tells a story. Vollmann begins there with what he calls “delineation”, geography and sprinkles that theme throughout his narratives of the people who dare cross, the people who make money leading them, the Border Patrol who chases them, the families in CA waiting to pay for them, the Mexican Police who act inconsistently, and the high-stakes business of trafficking you name it.

Vollman spent ten years writing this. His writing sometimes bluntly but clearly drags you through the filth of the canals along the border to the point that you can smell and taste it. At other times his descriptions are like poetry. The books weight and price will prevent wide reading. Visit the bookstore and leaf through it. Get with some friends and share the $66.50 cost and then rip it into sections to share. Vollman wouldn’t mind.

Better yet, click here and visit the library… we have some of the best libraries in the nation, right here in River City…but please don't rip their copy. Thanks.

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