You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.

A review by mschlat
Full Tilt: Ireland to India with a Bicycle by Dervla Murphy

4.0

Why I picked it up: I like endurance stories, and the fact that the emphasis was on cycling made it even more attractive.

What I liked: Murphy has a great straightforward style with a willingness to really engage with the people she travels among. The result is a lot of interesting stories, mostly about Afghanistan and Pakistan (where most of the book is set). It's a book of its time (the 1960s) with discussions of communism, the impact of the Partition, and the growing impact of Westernization on Muslim nations. But it's also a book about hospitality (Murphy almost never pays for a meal) with a great deal of sympathy and empathy for the villagers who help her.

A few things I didn't like: The subtitle is somewhat misleading --- you really only read much about Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. In fact, the book ends quite abruptly shortly after Murphy reaches India. It's a well written travel diary, but don't mistake it for more --- you don't see overarching themes woven into the work. And there were times where I couldn't distinguish between some of the side trips and the main trip (the map wasn't helpful), but that may be due to my reading speed.

Definitely pick it up if you like down to earth travel books.