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Where To?: A Hack Memoir
"Funny, touching, observant, philosophical, sad, world-weary, artful and wonderful are the stories that pepper this book. There has never been a cab driver like Dmitry Samarov and, since he's given up for keeps late-night for-hire driving, there never will be."—Rick Kogan, hall-of-fame reporter for the Chicago Tribune "With his gorgeous pen and ink drawings and funny, tragic, and all too true stories, Samarov's chronicle of his adventures as a Chicago taxi driver is by far the best ride you'll ever take in a cab."—Wendy MacNaughton Dmitry Samarov's illustrated memoir captures encounters with drunken passengers, overbearing cops, unreasonable city bureaucracy, his fellow cabdrivers, a few potholes, and other unexpectedly beautiful moments. Accompanied by dozens of Samarov's original artworks—composed during traffic jams, waits at the airport, and lulls in his shifts—the stories in Where To? provide a street-level view of America from the perspective of an immigrant painter driving a cab for money. Dmitry Samarov was born in Moscow, USSR, in 1970. He immigrated to the United States with his family in 1978. He got in trouble in first grade for doodling on his Lenin Red Star pin and hasn't stopped doodling since. After a false start at Parsons School of Design in New York, he graduated with a BFA in painting and printmaking from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1993. Upon graduation he promptly began driving a cab—first in Boston, then after a time, in Chicago.
- GenresNonfiction
190 pages, Paperback
First published August 18, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
August 24, 2014
I'll never look at a taxi cab the same. Great memoir! I appreciate receiving a copy from Goodreads and the publisher!
December 2, 2014
Dmitry Samarov's bookWhere To?: A Hack Memoir is odd little collection of memories, thoughts, ideas, and contemplations from his career as a cab driver in both Boston (briefly) and Chicago. Released by Chicago's Curbside Splendor Publishing, Samarov's book was financed in part through a Kickstarter campaign.
The overview: Where To? is a memoir-ish look at the life of a cab driver, written by Dmitry Samarov, a visual artist who decided he'd rather drive a cab than try to support himself with a 9-to-5 or service industry job. The book is a light read, existing somewhere between a short essay collection and a longer slice-of-life narrative. I sat down with the book, and finished it one sitting.
The good: I'm a sucker for non-fiction stories that stretch beyond the author's own perceptions of the world. Certainly Samarov's work is told from his point of view, but the book is filled with vignettes of the people who are passing through his cab. I found myself wanting to know more about some of the passengers, or to understand more about the "bad nights" to drive. But that wanting is part of experience of driving a cab, and the book does a good job of painting the picture of what drives somebody to keep coming back to a job that sounds, at times, quite horrible.
Even his lengthy diatribes against the bureaucracies that actively push against cab drivers felt more like vignettes about City Hall and the people who end up administering those policies than stories designed to allow Samarov to pontificate on politics. (Executives at Uber and Lyft will undoubtedly send these sections of the book to anyone who might want to shut those services down.)
The bad: Oddly enough, the vignettes that worked the least within the book focused on the regulars who many times became part of Dmitry's social life outside the cab. The juxtaposition of these stories were, it seemed, meant to counterbalance the short one-shot scenes with so many random strangers staggering in and out of his cab. In that way, I think those longer, more personal recollections painted a fuller view of "life."
From a narrative perspective, those moments pulled me out of the odd space Samarov created with his other characters, and I couldn't wait to return to them. Ultimately, the book isn't really about Samarov; it's about life in the cab. Those deeply personal connections, while important to the author, felt dropped into the wrong story.
So: Samarov's book is quick, fun read, punctuated by the illustrations he created to accompany the book. You won't walk away from the book with a deeper understanding of the world, but you'll be entertained while you get a glimpse into the world of the cab driver. As a GenXer, I appreciate the latter much more than the former.
The overview: Where To? is a memoir-ish look at the life of a cab driver, written by Dmitry Samarov, a visual artist who decided he'd rather drive a cab than try to support himself with a 9-to-5 or service industry job. The book is a light read, existing somewhere between a short essay collection and a longer slice-of-life narrative. I sat down with the book, and finished it one sitting.
The good: I'm a sucker for non-fiction stories that stretch beyond the author's own perceptions of the world. Certainly Samarov's work is told from his point of view, but the book is filled with vignettes of the people who are passing through his cab. I found myself wanting to know more about some of the passengers, or to understand more about the "bad nights" to drive. But that wanting is part of experience of driving a cab, and the book does a good job of painting the picture of what drives somebody to keep coming back to a job that sounds, at times, quite horrible.
Even his lengthy diatribes against the bureaucracies that actively push against cab drivers felt more like vignettes about City Hall and the people who end up administering those policies than stories designed to allow Samarov to pontificate on politics. (Executives at Uber and Lyft will undoubtedly send these sections of the book to anyone who might want to shut those services down.)
The bad: Oddly enough, the vignettes that worked the least within the book focused on the regulars who many times became part of Dmitry's social life outside the cab. The juxtaposition of these stories were, it seemed, meant to counterbalance the short one-shot scenes with so many random strangers staggering in and out of his cab. In that way, I think those longer, more personal recollections painted a fuller view of "life."
From a narrative perspective, those moments pulled me out of the odd space Samarov created with his other characters, and I couldn't wait to return to them. Ultimately, the book isn't really about Samarov; it's about life in the cab. Those deeply personal connections, while important to the author, felt dropped into the wrong story.
So: Samarov's book is quick, fun read, punctuated by the illustrations he created to accompany the book. You won't walk away from the book with a deeper understanding of the world, but you'll be entertained while you get a glimpse into the world of the cab driver. As a GenXer, I appreciate the latter much more than the former.
September 16, 2014
Interesting and sad-- to spend your life behind a wheel of a car and dealing with people and issues --non of your own-- I really enjoyed looking threw the eyes of Dmitry--- would never in a life time would think of doing this for a living. His thoughts and art are rough but good---and plan to read it again-- It opened my eyes to how aweful the east is-- I had almost forgot-- and thankful I live in Idaho where life is so much simipler-- Thanks for sharing-- This was a gift from Goodreads
November 27, 2016
Excellent little memoir filled with beautiful paintings and drawings by the author as well. This is about driving a cab in Chicago from 2010-2012, and for something that was less than 10 years ago the nostalgia came on strong for me as the city's already so different, and no one takes cabs hardly any more, Uber and Lyft have a large market share. I found it delightful and fun to read on a night I couldn't fall asleep!
July 1, 2014
captures better than a surveillance camera the pureed blend of good and bad that makes up actual life
October 25, 2014
Damn good sketches of life in Chicago; Samarov does a fine job of getting to the heart of a situation, whether it's an absurd route somewhere, a boorish customer, or a portrait of a neighborhood.
February 4, 2018
I picked up this (autographed copy) a little while back from UnAbridged Bookstore in Chicago. Finally getting to it. No real reason I didn't read it sooner, though I like to think we organically choose our next read for a reason. I loved it this book. I think part of it was reading this extremely Chicago (with hints of Boston) work almost a year after leaving Chicago. I loved getting a personal insight into the workings of the Chicago cab system, one I used frequently for a decade and a half plus. I knew/knew of every part of town Dmitry mentions. I could share in I Was There for the blizzard of 2011. I could run my fingers over the original artwork and feel the city again.
July 9, 2021
Anyone who loves Chicago will enjoy this book! The author drove a cab in Chicago and collected stories, of the rides, the riders, the conversations,the traffic and the joys and frustrations of the city. His descriptions are funny, poignant and sometimes sad, lots of drunks, lots of people just getting by, one night at a time. I enjoyed the neighborhood descriptions, from Ravenswood, Back of the yards, even Hinsdale and the friendships he made along the way. After this past year, it is refreshing to read about the city pre-covid, pre Lyft and Uber…hooray for old time Chicago. And illustrated with wonderful drawings by the author!
February 1, 2018
Some interesting slices of life seen from the window of a cab. Not much here beyond that.
October 7, 2020
Intriguing read, definitely gave me an insight into the cabbie world of Chicago. I enjoyed reading the mini stories; some heartbreaking and raw, others quite entertaining.
December 10, 2015
Dmitry Samarov's writing is blunt, to the point and so very soulful. This book is the first I've read of him, and I found myself absolutely enthralled and excited to read more.
With 'Where To?', I felt like I was peeking into a world that's all around me but one I often tune out. Sure, on the exterior the book appears to be a series of vignettes and slices of life compiled together from the observations of a cab driver, but it's much more than that. 'Where To?' is a period piece, too. It's a snapshot in time of Chicago, encapsulating the seemingly ordinary back-and-forth of everyday folks as well as what it was like to be in the midst of major events (such as the NATO summit in 2012). What makes it beautiful is that it's told from the perspective of one of us -- an every man. There's a sense of objective camaraderie from the perspective of the reader. We're looking at the people standing next to us with Dmitry Samarov, looking inward, and looking at time, as it is, this very second.
There isn't much in the way of philosophy or commentary in 'Where To?', but that's for the better. These blunt observations are more than enough to get us to reflect, to laugh, and to wonder. I want more.
With 'Where To?', I felt like I was peeking into a world that's all around me but one I often tune out. Sure, on the exterior the book appears to be a series of vignettes and slices of life compiled together from the observations of a cab driver, but it's much more than that. 'Where To?' is a period piece, too. It's a snapshot in time of Chicago, encapsulating the seemingly ordinary back-and-forth of everyday folks as well as what it was like to be in the midst of major events (such as the NATO summit in 2012). What makes it beautiful is that it's told from the perspective of one of us -- an every man. There's a sense of objective camaraderie from the perspective of the reader. We're looking at the people standing next to us with Dmitry Samarov, looking inward, and looking at time, as it is, this very second.
There isn't much in the way of philosophy or commentary in 'Where To?', but that's for the better. These blunt observations are more than enough to get us to reflect, to laugh, and to wonder. I want more.
February 17, 2015
Having also been a cab driver in Chicago I can relate to Samarov's experiences. This small book is a series of vignettes from his days (really nights) driving in Chicago and, for a shorter period, Boston. The interaction with customers is sometimes funny, sometimes sad, and sometimes scary. But always interesting. Good light reading for your short train or bus ride.
December 19, 2014
Fascinating, lively and vivid account of the daily routine of a Chicago cab driver. The stories of the often pathetic and sometimes loathsome riders that Samarov had to ferry around are entertaining, and also a stark reminder that I could never, ever drive a cab for a living.
September 12, 2015
Good, sad, and angry
Edit: while the book was plenty compelling on its own, I was wondering the entire time what the author thought about uber. now I know: http://newcity.com/2014/06/02/hack-at...
Edit: while the book was plenty compelling on its own, I was wondering the entire time what the author thought about uber. now I know: http://newcity.com/2014/06/02/hack-at...
August 1, 2014
Dmitry Samarov is a treasure, a true gift to the world. Read his memoir and see why.
October 11, 2014
I loved this book & reviewed it for the Chicago Tribune: http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifesty...
January 6, 2015
This would be ideal reading when transiting. Loads of brief episodes related in a warm, undemanding tone.
March 7, 2015
All Splendor and Where. It changed my life.
March 20, 2015
Made me miss Chicago.
November 6, 2016
Great book on Chicago by an indie author
June 16, 2016
Pretty good slice of life writing and the illustrations are a perfect compliment to the words.
March 28, 2017
Actual rating: 2.5 stars. An interesting book but there's not much substance. I wouldn't call it a memoir because there's not really any introspection. The stories he tells are interesting, but none really stick with you and you wind up knowing next to nothing about Samarov's life.
September 22, 2018
Another insightful cab memoir by a remarkable artist, whose line drawings are sprinkled throughout the book. Samarov has since moved on from the hack life, but his book stands as an entertaining and poignant look at the day-to-day business of making a living and just getting by.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews