The Terminal Man: Sir Alfred Mehran

Sir Alfred and belongings at Charles de Gaulle.

I recently finished The Terminal Man, an autobiography by Sir Alfred Mehran also known as Mehran Karimi Nasseri. In case you're not familiar with the name, Alfred is perhaps the most famous homeless man in history. He lived in Terminal One of Charles De Gaulle airport for approximately sixteen years, starting in 1988.

The autobiography itself was unique in the way that language was used. Alfred has a nack for using repetition for emphasis and for explaining some things in more detail than would otherwise be required.

Of all the homeless people I have met in my lifetime, it was encouraging to read this autobiography. For once, someone wasn't asking for money. In fact, on multiple occasions, people offered to send him money to help but he refused - he wasn't taking money from anyone. Food, on the other hand, was the only exception. Food and paper, that is. He kept a journal every day for his stay at Charles de Gaulle in France. The autobiography hardly contains a fraction of those entries.

Learning the background of this man and how he came to be stuck in the airport is a story you yourself should discover. Though this isn't as fast-paced as you might like, read it with respect remembering that the author lived sixteen years on a bench and then brought this perspective to you. You'll be as fascinated as I was to learn how Alfred's home went from nothing to becoming a bench at an airport.

It is my understanding that Steven Spielberg has never officially announced that The Terminal was based on Alfred's life but he did, in fact, pay Alfred $300,000 for rights to Alfred's life story prior to production of The Terminal, starring Tom Hanks and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Therefore, it is my opinion after having read the autobiography and having seen the film that The Terminal is based on the situation of Sir Alfred Mehran.

If you've seen the movie and want to learn more about where the idea came from, read this book. You're sure to finish the last page with a new perspective on government, life and appreciation for the simple things.

Boneshaker by Cherie Priest

I finished reading Boneshaker by Cherie Priest last night at approximately 3:00 a.m. I was irretrievably gripped by the throat and felt as if I were dangling helplessly from an airship's door while I read the final twelve chapters of the book and epilogue. Starting at around 10:00 p.m., I could hardly fathom the idea of sleeping through an 8-hour commercial before finishing this riveting tale.

So what's it about?

Priest takes us back to her version of the 1800's in Seattle. A serious disaster has taken hold of Seattle and a poisonous gas has enveloped the city and its inhabitants. In an effort to save their lives and loved ones, survivors successfully moved far from the gas and to the "new Seattle" known as the Outskirts where they could safely breathe clean air without the use of masks. However, some didn't make it and were consumed by the gas. They became rotters - very real and reasonably believable zombies. Their bodies easily crumbled over years of deterioration by the gas and they stayed in motion only by a terrible side affect of the gas, known as the Blight. Those who sought protection and stayed in the eventually walled city of Seattle despite its dangers were referred to as Doornails. They did their best to avoid the flesh-hungry rotters and, when there was no choice, had to develop plans to escape or destroy the mobs of surprisingly fast and threatening rotters - willing to do whatever it takes to bite or eat a passerby.

Cherie Priest, Author

Zeke Wilkes, son of the protagonist Briar Wilkes, wants to learn about his father - the man blamed for the Blight - and try to clear his name so he and his mother can live a respectable life in the Outskirts instead of an impoverished and hungry one surrounded by hate. Briar, an easily unlikable old grunt of a woman in the beginning, became one of my favorite, most lovably characters in the books I've read. After Zeke left for Seattle to clear his father's name, she left everything she had and went in after him leading them both on an adventure of a lifetime - and one I'll never forget.

The details, the energy and the fast-paced action of this novel will hold you to your chair and beg you to call into work, school or whatever else beckons for your time. I felt the character development was very thorough and made it effortless to feel emotions as the plot developed. I couldn't help but suffer an increased heart rate and a feeling of helplessness as my friend Briar found herself in danger and corners on her search for the one thing she loved most - her son. She's aware he may have already died but she'll go through hell on earth until she knows for sure - he's all she has.

I would encourage you to read this book if you're into science fiction or even if you're not. Cherie Priest inadvertently puts her readers' emotions at the heart of the story with the characters - unless you're a rotter.