Scan barcode
Reviews
Lois on the Loose: One Woman, One Motorcycle, 20,000 Miles Across the Americas by Lois Pryce
amylajiness's review against another edition
4.0
This book is so fun! I’ve read it multiple times over the years and enjoyed it each time. Definitely scratches the wanderlust itch. Minus one star for sometimes uncharitable descriptions of people, which felt pretty out of touch in 2020 (this book was written 15 or so years ago).
papidoc's review against another edition
3.0
Mildly entertaining autobiographical account of one woman's motorcycle tour of North and South America. Through mechanical troubles, relationships troubles, and self-imposed troubles, she emerges having had a wonderful experience, and (hopefully) having grown and matured a bit.
chapman's review against another edition
4.0
A great and enjoyable trip across North and South America. A trip I absolutely want to do myself. A very fun look at some different parts of the world, especially the interesting difference in views from across the borders.
i_kat's review against another edition
4.0
Lang geleden gelezen maar om niet te vergeten. Ik houd van waargebeurde reisverhalen.
alexandraemjly's review
adventurous
fast-paced
2.0
While this was an engaging and interesting read for some of the text, there was an ostentatiously showy element which soured my enjoyment of it. At every possible opportunity the author sought to remind us how brave and rare female motorcyclists are. She also at one point criticises some of the overtly cautious, uninformed, and scare-mongering advice she receives and yet often tells stories which reinforce the unfair stereotypes which inform them. She also makes many colonialist references to ways in which South America is so 'uncivilised' in comparison to North America.
rdebner's review against another edition
2.0
It was okay. It wasn't the greatest bit of escapist travel writing. Clearly, she couldn't relate everything from her travels, but I felt that she skipped over things that would have been interesting. She writes honestly, though not really self-reflexively. I was content that at least she criticized Westerners traveling through Central and South America as much as she did the locals she encountered. I think it would have been more interesting to keep up with the blog/website that she did while [b:on the road|6288|The Road|Cormac McCarthy|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21E8H3D1JSL._SL75_.jpg|3355573], rather than reading the book, which really felt like the condensed version.
papi's review against another edition
3.0
Mildly entertaining autobiographical account of one woman's motorcycle tour of North and South America. Through mechanical troubles, relationships troubles, and self-imposed troubles, she emerges having had a wonderful experience, and (hopefully) having grown and matured a bit.
debnanceatreaderbuzz's review
4.0
Lois is bored with her life in England. She longs for adventure.
So what does she do? She heads off to Alaska with plans to travel down the entire continents of North and South America. Alone. On a motorcycle.
She has her moments, but much of the trip is dangerous and dirty and many of the people she meets are corrupt and wicked.
So what does she do? She heads off to Alaska with plans to travel down the entire continents of North and South America. Alone. On a motorcycle.
She has her moments, but much of the trip is dangerous and dirty and many of the people she meets are corrupt and wicked.
halfmanhalfbook's review
3.0
Lois Pryce is a bit of a motorcycle nut. Stuck in a bit of a dead end job at the BBC she dreams of climbing on her bike and riding off into the sunset. But where to go? A chat with a friend called Austin, and the beginnings of a plan are hatched; he advises having a solid route to follow, so after some deliberation she decides on the not insignificant route of Anchorage in Alaska all the way down the Pan American Highway to Ushuaia in Argentina.
A 250cc Yamaha bike is acquired and she starts the logistical details that needs to get her from the UK to Alaska as well as the packing and numerous other details. But it isn’t long before she is ready and stepping onto the plane for an adventure of a lifetime. There was only one minor detail that she never quite got to in her preparation, the Spanish language… Her route would be cover all terrains from snow to desserts, vast plains to the high Andes, suburbia to wild jungles as well as passing significant landmarks like the Golden Gate bridge and the Panama Canal. And there would be bears too. Mostly travelling alone, Lois was joined for some of the route but a French girl called Rachel, which was handy as she could speak Spanish and in South America by an obnoxious girl called Amalia. She either camped, or stayed with friends or people who had offered accommodation or mechanical support for the bike as it ground out the miles.
It is an enjoyable read overall. Pryce writes in a chatty style, and is not afraid to say what she is thinking of a place or person. It is amusing at times too, they check into a hotel in Mexico, only to find later that it is a brothel, and whilst it it is not funny at the time, it does make for entertaining reading when you consider the farcical border control that some of these countries have. It isn’t the best motorcycle travel book I have read, but was still worth reading nonetheless.
A 250cc Yamaha bike is acquired and she starts the logistical details that needs to get her from the UK to Alaska as well as the packing and numerous other details. But it isn’t long before she is ready and stepping onto the plane for an adventure of a lifetime. There was only one minor detail that she never quite got to in her preparation, the Spanish language… Her route would be cover all terrains from snow to desserts, vast plains to the high Andes, suburbia to wild jungles as well as passing significant landmarks like the Golden Gate bridge and the Panama Canal. And there would be bears too. Mostly travelling alone, Lois was joined for some of the route but a French girl called Rachel, which was handy as she could speak Spanish and in South America by an obnoxious girl called Amalia. She either camped, or stayed with friends or people who had offered accommodation or mechanical support for the bike as it ground out the miles.
It is an enjoyable read overall. Pryce writes in a chatty style, and is not afraid to say what she is thinking of a place or person. It is amusing at times too, they check into a hotel in Mexico, only to find later that it is a brothel, and whilst it it is not funny at the time, it does make for entertaining reading when you consider the farcical border control that some of these countries have. It isn’t the best motorcycle travel book I have read, but was still worth reading nonetheless.
More...