false 195702 3 "I like to think of the Meadowlands as an undesignated national park," writes Robert Sullivan in his end-of-the-millennium take on Thoreau. In <I>The Meadowlands</I>, Sullivan does his Thoreauvian bean-counting in one of America's most infamous dumping grounds, the huge tract of marshy land just outside New York City that has withstood any and all attempts to subdue it with agriculture, industry, development, and an ever-shifting deluge of flotsam and jetsam. He may just be the first person in a century to willingly explore this fascinating but abused piece of real estate, and his investigation gives new meaning to intrepid reporting. By foot he tramps through the muck, and by canoe he navigates polluted rivers and marshes, noting the variegated species of trash and industrial cast-offs with as much zeal as he observes the surprisingly rich diversity of wildlife. Revealed in these stories is a landscape bursting with nature amid the curious man-made detritus of urban consumption. With only a touch of irony, the author refers to his stomping ground as "Big Sky Country, east," imagining he's "in a <I>National Geographic</I> special and visiting little tribes of people unknown to everyone else." He pursues the history of the Meadowlands with equal enthusiasm. Eccentric characters, tall tales, and scuttlebutt haunt the area, from the rumor that the land serves as the final resting place for Jimmy Hoffa (as well as a number of other Mafia hits) to the pitiable stories of the many dreamers who have sunk a fortune in the squelching mud. And throughout this smart, thoroughly researched adventure, Sullivan maintains a witty and lyrical voice that transforms his trip inside a nationally maligned place into a fun, informative romp. 1667020 1998 The Meadowlands: Wilderness Adventures on the Edge of a City total:99|5:23|4:38|3:37|2:0|1:1| 99 379 148 21 5 0 false false Wed Jun 10 14:20:59 -0700 2009 Thu Jun 18 18:07:10 -0700 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Thu May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Tue May 26 21:29:12 -0700 2009 Fri May 29 22:37:02 -0700 2009 The Meadowlands, and I guess that’s like claiming you’re a Thoreau fan but never having read Walden—which, incidentally, I don’t, and I haven’t.

And, actually, Sullivanâ€...more...]]> 4 0 false false Wed Jan 16 16:25:21 -0800 2008 Wed Jan 16 16:25:21 -0800 2008 more...]]> 3 0 false false Sat Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007 Tue Nov 27 13:20:27 -0800 2007 Sat Feb 16 15:57:01 -0800 2008 more...]]> 5 0 false false Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2004 Mon Jan 28 10:51:40 -0800 2008 Mon Jan 28 11:00:43 -0800 2008 more...]]> 4 0 false false Wed Jul 29 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Thu Jul 23 16:05:02 -0700 2009 Wed Jul 29 19:17:14 -0700 2009 4 0 false false Mon Oct 26 18:01:50 -0700 2009 Mon Oct 26 18:02:56 -0700 2009 3 0 false false Thu Jul 31 10:24:19 -0700 2008 Thu Jul 31 12:15:42 -0700 2008 more...]]> 5 0 false false Thu Aug 14 06:50:33 -0700 2008 Tue Sep 16 19:46:43 -0700 2008 more...]]> 4 0 false false Mon Aug 10 06:51:54 -0700 2009 Mon Aug 10 06:56:43 -0700 2009 3 0 false false Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Sat Aug 11 21:12:39 -0700 2007 Mon Sep 03 06:19:48 -0700 2007 more...]]> 3 0 false false Fri Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Fri Jun 22 11:40:07 -0700 2007 Tue Jun 26 11:42:52 -0700 2007 more...]]> 5 0 false false Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2003 Thu Mar 20 06:49:06 -0700 2008 Thu Mar 20 06:50:51 -0700 2008 more...]]> 4 0 false false Mon Dec 31 16:09:51 -0800 2007 Fri Feb 29 07:46:36 -0800 2008 5 0 false false Sun Nov 16 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Wed Nov 19 11:36:24 -0800 2008 Wed Nov 19 11:37:30 -0800 2008 4 0 false false Sun Apr 01 17:13:32 -0700 2007 Sun Apr 01 17:15:28 -0700 2007 4 0 false false Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2003 Thu Sep 06 19:36:56 -0700 2007 Thu Sep 06 19:38:07 -0700 2007 3 0 false false Sat Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007 Tue Dec 18 17:41:24 -0800 2007 Tue Dec 18 17:42:30 -0800 2007 4 0 false false Sat Jul 28 14:21:41 -0700 2007 Sat Jul 28 14:22:34 -0700 2007 1 0 false false Fri Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Sun Jun 10 21:49:02 -0700 2007 Mon Jun 11 20:04:20 -0700 2007