Luke Russert

This book is difficult for me to write about because the author didn't write what I expected to read. He is the son of Tim Russert the immensely popular and successful television journalist. I had read Tim's book about his father, Big Russ and Me, and thought Luke's book would be in the same vein. Instead Luke's book is not about his father, but about his father's unexpected death and the effect of it on his only child.

At the time of Tim's death Luke, who had worked 8 years for NBC News, was a young star in the world of network journalism himself so it was a surprise and a symptom of a downward spiral, when he walked away from that envious life. Hoping to help her son find his feet, his mother suggested he might take a trip. He decided to do that, and took off on a travel odyssey that spanned 3.5 years and covered more than 60 countries!

At first I found Luke hard to like. It's obvious by his remarks that he knows he is very privileged, but he dosen't seem to truly understand the meaning of that. Many readers have commented that he is whiney and an unjustified complainer. Well, sometimes he did come across that way to me too and I had to push myself to read on. In the end, I wasn't sorry I finished it. Another complaint I've read in comments about the book is that he was constantly mentioning his Catholicism, but I think his faith is an integral part of him, and I never considered him preachy or offending.

After Luke made what he thought would be the last trip, he moved to San Francisco where his mother's family had a home and where he decided to stay and write this book. Once started though, he decided he needed one more trip! This time to the Holy Land. Off he went on what became a very meaningful experience and combined with counseling, brought him around to laying down the burden of his father's legacy, giving him the freedom to follow his own path. That path will likely lead to more travel experiences culminating in writing about them. The chapters in this book about various countries he visited were interesting and I'll look for his next one and give it a try whenever that may be.… (lisätietoja)

Luke Russert is the son of the late journalist and host of “Meet the Press,” Tim Russert. Luke had his own network news career with MSNBC after his father’s untimely death. And then, seemingly out of nowhere, he gave that career up just when he appeared to be moving to the top of the profession. That period after he left journalism is the subject of this memoir. Russert traveled the world, part of the time with his mother, also an acclaimed journalist and adventurer not typical of a woman in her 70s. I have to admit, I almost bailed on this book several times. Luke Russert grew up as privileged as any white kid I’ve known but still seemed to find a list of reasons to bemoan his life. That said, he constantly reminded both the reader and himself that he had little reason to feel this way since he knew as well as anyone that his life, a life of Catholic prep schools and paid-for college at a private Catholic university, was indeed charmed. Then because of his parents’ wealth, Luke never had to worry about money. His father apparently left a trust for him, part of which allowed him to travel the world indefinitely. His constant whining in addition to his almost constant proselytizing his Catholic upbringing grew tiresome. I don’t recommend this book to anyone, especially anyone expecting to hear about a meteoric rise to national prominence in the field of broadcast journalism.… (lisätietoja)

Before SO much with politics and the news media jaded me, there was once a girl who in 2000....and 2004 was fascinated by Tim Russert. And his white board that said either "Florida, Florida, Florida" or "Ohio, Ohio, Ohio." (So much better than Steve Kernacky but whatever ;)) When Russert died, I cried. It felt like a familiar voice had left my world.

I'm basically the same age as Luke Russert. So I cannot begin to imagine what it was like for him to lose his dad and then live in his shadow for a while. This book is all about coming to terms with his father's death (even years later) and also about the impact that travel can have on a person.

Different countries, different ethnicities, different foods, all of it impacts a narrative. I can truly see how Luke's journey across continents shaped and molded his beliefs. I loved getting to travel to parts of the globe that I know I never will.

It is important to note that while I can tell where Luke's political feelings lie, there is much love for the "other side of the aisle." I really appreciated how elements of his time in Vietnam were impacted by John McCain. Hotel Hanoi, Hiroshima, The Door of No Return....these are CRUCIAL elements of my narrative as an American so I liked reading through another's eyes.

Occasionally, it was difficult to figure out timeline. There was a lot of bouncing around. And yeah, maybe I have read better written memoirs. BUT it kept me engaged. I felt a son's love for his father. It felt healing for Luke. So I would say it achieved what it set out to do.… (lisätietoja)