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duparker's review against another edition
3.0
I think this is a 3.5 star book, and other than choosing 3 stars as opposed to 4 I am not sure I can state why I rounded down. The travel aspects of this book were really fun and I enjoyed the descriptions. I am not a motorcycle person, but it was great to read a book about someone who clearly is. The roadtrip from Toronto to Alaska was very cool, and the second leg from Alaska to Belize was pretty unreal as well.
The middle portion of the book, and much of the third trip from Mexico north, was a bit too depressing for me. I can't imagine having my child die, my wife die four months later, and then the dog die, all within a years time. It is amazing that Peart is still standing himself, and the fact that this trip helped him heal is inspiring and redemptive in its own way.
The writing is emotional and clear, it has a patter to it and the letter format for portions feels real too. Very much a confessional book. I'm glad it was recommended to me, but won't look to re-read it.
The middle portion of the book, and much of the third trip from Mexico north, was a bit too depressing for me. I can't imagine having my child die, my wife die four months later, and then the dog die, all within a years time. It is amazing that Peart is still standing himself, and the fact that this trip helped him heal is inspiring and redemptive in its own way.
The writing is emotional and clear, it has a patter to it and the letter format for portions feels real too. Very much a confessional book. I'm glad it was recommended to me, but won't look to re-read it.
papidoc's review against another edition
3.0
Often downbeat and mirroring the morose attitudes and emotions of Neil Peart on the recent loss of his wife and daughter, this book is nonetheless a compelling read. The successful member of Rush, a top Canadian band, Peart takes a leave of absence to reconnect with the world around him and battle the demons in his soul as he rides. Not really a travel book, nor yet an emotional exploration, it combines elements of both and the result is a look into the heart of the man.
branch_c's review against another edition
4.0
I wasn't writing reviews when I read this book, but I have some comments on it in my review of one of Peart's more recent books: [b:Far and Wide|28691850|Far and Wide Bring that Horizon to Me!|Neil Peart|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1456189244l/28691850._SX50_.jpg|48888624].
gurgeh's review against another edition
4.0
Not just for Rush fans. What would you do if you lost your entire family to a car crash and cancer all in the space of a few months? This is what Peart did.
bakhtin's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
henry_wallison's review against another edition
4.0
This book served as a unique reading experience. Peart creates an interesting exploration of grief through this book as he travels across large swaths of the western hemisphere by motorcycle. In the first half of the book, I enjoyed his dissection of the places he stayed and the unique characters he encountered that either reinvigorated or detracted from his interest in humanity. In the latter half of the book, I enjoyed the metaphor surrounding the self-perceived fragmentation of his identity, and the way that it tied back to the broader narrative. The primary reason that this book gets four stars instead of five stars from me is simply a matter of enjoyment—this book deals with some very heavy realities, and the fact that it was 460 pages meant I found myself spending a lot of time with a book that was not all too pleasant to read (not that it should have been more "pleasant"—considering the severity of the subject matter). While that point of detraction is more of a reflection of the books I typically prefer to read, I would still recommend this book to anyone interested in a different perspective on the process of grief.
mrsilvers's review against another edition
3.0
This book was perfect for what it was. Which is the continuous, rambling notions of a man trying to overcome mountains of grief. In short, this is not a book that I would typically pick up, but I am very glad I did. I can not say that I have ever had to endure a great loss, let alone two, but it was very interesting to watch as an outsider as Neil Peart learned how to cope with a loss that seems to be completely unbearable. While reading this I found my own thoughts slipping in to dark places, what would I do if I lost those I loved most? Could I overcome my grief and move on? I believe that my faith would carry me through such a loss, but I pray I never have to that to the test. The final chapter of this book was by far the best of all, for it carried the bright hope a new beginning.