Rating: 
Summary: How man perseveres.
Review: I was eagerly awaiting this book since I first caught wind of it's creation. I was entranced. I read it in 3 days because I could not put it down. To be able to tell such an account about such a reeling blow to your soul, to many people, takes courage and patience. Not only did you feel his pain, you also felt his sense of triumph in some strange ecclestensial way. If you want to read about coping and perseverence, this is for you.
Rating: 
Summary: Good insight into a painfully shy (and pained) person
Review: I would consider myself among the most rabid Rush fans, having collected all their studio albums, studied their musical parts, play guitar in one Rush tribute band and drums in another...I bought this book hoping I would find out more about Neil Peart and his pain, his thoughts, his life. I haven't ever met him and hoped this might help me "get to know" Neil a bit more. I know some more about Neil; not as much as perhaps I would have liked. I suppose someone with his fame must still be a bit careful of his security... while I may be a rabid Rush fan I'm not a PSYCHO fan. Even if I knew Neil Peart's address I wouldn't go knocking on his door. I felt a bit bad for him having to use an alias to book hotel rooms etc. He didn't mention except one time about people he ran into who recognized him as a musician. I'll bet it happened more often; maybe Neil's jaded by it after 25+ years. One intriguing thing about this book is that Neil gets much less philosophical and abstract and starts talking about himself, personally, on a really intense level sometimes. He talks about how everything can remind him of his wife or daughter (or both) and his reactions... even detailing his immediate reactions to both his daughter's and wife's death. He actually has intense feelings of despair and hurt. He's not the stoic professor you see on stage all day. The only thing I didn't care for in this book were his letters to his best friend Brutus who ended up in the slammer for trafficking mary-jane. Neil even dedicated an entire chapter of this book to letters to the jailbird. I suppose I've gleaned out of it that he was offering support to others even though he was intensely in need of it himself. I received this book last night... and finished it last night... and felt like I knew Neil Peart a little bit better. I also was reminded that Neil Peart is a human being... but still is a rock star... and remains a little aloof... the Oregon gas station, the set of tires... I suppose if I had his success, adulation and money, I would be aloof too.
Rating:
Summary: Only 5 stars because I couldn't give it 6...
Review: I will freely admit to being a total Rush junkie. I've only been a fan since 1997, but in that time I've learned that no matter what the members collectively or individually produce, I am never disappointed with their work and quickly take it to heart. Having read and enjoyed Neil's earlier book, "The Masked Rider", I had the feeling I'd love this book even more, and I wasn't disappointed. It was hard to put it down, even though I short-changed myself on sleep (and I do love my sleep!). Most who buy the book will no doubt be Rush fans and they will have heard the story of his two tragic losses: the deaths of his wife and daughter, both in less than a year's time. Even knowing that, though, I was really surprised that Neil went into the detail that he did. Knowing from his previous book that he treasures his privacy, I was amazed that he lets the reader into his world so deeply. As I travelled with him through the book, I was by turns fascinated, intrigued, charmed, and saddened. The biggest compliment to Mr. Peart is that I found myself laughing out loud many times; rare is the book that can do that to me. (Neil with Nerf bow and arrow in hand, taking aim at thieving critters... I defy you not to laugh at that mental image!) Yes, the book does repeat itself in spots, particularly within the letters. But usually there was also new information presented, or he explained something differently, so that I didn't mind that too much. And with letters going to many different people, it was interesting to see how his style changed to suit the recipient. This book really spoke to me, in a way that his other book didn't. Call it my female sympathy reacting to his "Air of Tragedy", but I just wanted to reach out and give him a big hug (particularly when he starts testing the waters of dating again). (Awww.) And this crusty soul actually got choked up at the ending, even though I could tell what was coming. So, if you love Rush, like good road stories, and are interested in one man's unique journey through grief, then by all means, GET THIS BOOK! And Neil, I'll be looking forward to our next adventure together. Ride on, righteous dude!
Rating:
Summary: More than a grief observed --
Review: Ghost Rider is a wonderful book that mourns, surprises, travels, delights, and sharpens one's soul -- anyone who has been a fan of Neil Peart's previous writings (lyrics, poems, tour journals, travelogues) can tell you that all of his writings are honest and straight forward, but written through a genuininely self-effacing manner. In many ways, this tone brings the subject matter of this book closer to the reader. Narrated over the course of two years following the deaths of his wife and only child and enumerating the healing process which kept him moving, Peart's journey forces him to rebuild his life, revisiting past interests that once held meaning for him: nature (flora and fauna, esp. bird watching), physical excercise, and various epicurean pleasures (a good meal and a nice glass of wine, thank you!). The telling of this journey is done through a series of narratives, journal entries and letters to friends and family, never dragging, nor getting lost in its side journeys. Indeed, my one criticism would be that more could be said, especially towards the end of Healing Road. However, this book offers a rare glimpse into the soul of a very private man, and we find that what he offers us is a kind of balm to the reader, a passing stranger. From despair to joy, and with a sharp, insightful look into his own body, mind and soul, Peart shares the pleasures as well as the pain, both part of our own, individual journeys. A marvelous experience, and for that, I thank him.
Rating:
Summary: Great Story
Review: Ghost Rider is a great read. Anyone interested in Mr. Peart's lyrics and music will delight in his new book. You will laugh--and dare I say--you may even cry. The ending pleasantly surprised me.
Rating:
Summary: Very moving
Review: Anyone not at least remotely moved by this tale of loss and searching must not be capable of the most basic of human emotion. This is not so much a travel book, although certainly he recounts with insight the places and people he has met along the way. The book consists mainly of 'letters to friends', which show his state of mind (and heart) along the way. While not quite as much fun to read as his first book (The Masked Rider, a GREAT book about bicycling through Cameroon), this book is a great inquiry to the human condition. It's not perfect however, I was left feeling that it's a bit repetitive, recounting the same information in subsequent letters. All in all, a very decent book. But Mr. Peart, you're just a 'bit' harsh on 'fat' people, don't you think?
Rating:
Summary: I think I need a motorcycle!
Review: ---------- Well done! "Ghost Rider" is an account of a man losing his most important value, his family, and struggling to find a reason to continue living. The author's way of dealing with the loss and madness was to hop on his motorcycle and RIDE! To where? He didn't know. For how long? It didn't occur to him. For what? There was nothing else for him to do. The author summarizes his travels, shows us personal letters to friends, and offers philosophical asides on everything from whiskey ("everything in moderation with occasional excesses") to great writers to Pink Floyd's "Animals" album and Roger Waters' view of mankind. Mostly, "Ghost Rider" is the story of, to my eyes, a good man dealt with unjustly by Fate who did his best to regain his balance in hopes of making a new agreement with Fate because: What the heck else are you gonna do? Sit around and feel sorry for yourself? For how long? That's stupid!...P>It's well-written. Will you like it? A book is nothing. It's the humanity of the man who reads it that counts. Give Les Miserables to a fool and he has kindling. Give it to a thinking man and you have a tempest! (Haha - that wasn't half-bad!) For the thinking, compassionate person, this book will take you to the abysses and mountaintops of human experience.
Rating:
Summary: Book Of The Year
Review: What can I say? As a fan of Neil's since 1980 I thought for sure that when word had come out about the loss of his daughter in a car accident that he would be done with Rush as a touring act. I thought he would maybe just become a writer of books of his travel's ala his other book The Masked Rider. Then when I heard about the loss of his wife 10 months later...I knew it was over for Rush period. I finished this book last night with tears streaming down my eyes. Tears of joy,redemption,and a freeing spirit. You might find Neil a little hard to stomach at times with some of his views on life and America during his travels but as soon as you have a problem with him...the very next paragraph on the page you understand what he just said and why he just said it. You fall in and out of love with his story and life. This is a must read for anyone who has suffered the loss of a loved one. Whether it be a spouse or a child or even someone that played such an integral part of your life and lost them suddenly. Which is what happened with Neil Peart. I can only hope that this will elevate his status as one of the great writers of all time. What better treat did we get to this book? A soundtrack to it by his band Rush called Vapor Trails. A soundtrack to the book...now that is always something I wanted and I for once...got it!
Rating:
Summary: Interesting external and internal journeys by Peart
Review: In addition to this book, I also recommend Neil Peart's first novel, "Mask Rider" along with the Rush cds "Test for Echo" and "Vapor Trails." I enjoyed Peart's first novel, "Masked Rider," but "Ghost Rider" is even more compelling. The man has lost his daughter and with withi a year of each other, and has embarked on a solo motorcycle trip across Canada to Alaska as part of the healing process. This book will appeal to travelers, motorcycle enthusiasts, Rush fans, those dealing with loss in their lives, and anyone interested in a fascinating journey. The story unfolds on journeys of several levels, as Mr. Peart attempts to piece together his life while traveling across North America. There are beautiful descriptions of nature, insights into locations visited, and travelogue details. Yet this story is deeper and more personal than just a travel account. We learn about Peart's family and friends. Along his route, he learns that his dog has died and best friend, Brutus, has gone to prison. We're right there with him when he crosses the arctic circle, when he dumps his bike on a bridge in Mexico, and when he's trying to get out of LA but can't resist turning around to go see a certain person. Peart lets us inside his head, and life, with details of his life as a drummer, lyricist, writer, bicyclist, motorcyclist, birder, art lover, and avid reader. The writing style includes prose narrative, letters to friends, and journal entries, as well as song excerpts appropriate to the writer's emotions at various stages of his journey. I learned what was important to this man, as he rediscovered little by little what he still liked about his life, such as bird watching, reading, etc. At times I was frustrated for him, but I cheered at his triumphs. Peart holds nothing back, exposing his deepest challenges, unafraid to bear his soul, and we experience an entire range of character arc. I know I'm enjoying travel essays when I get out a pencil and begin making stars in the margins by places the author visits that sound appealing to me. I made a lot of marks in this book. There were sidebars about personalities, such as Sam Hill and Jack London, that also merit further exploration. That's another thing I like, if the author makes me want to learn more about something he/she has mentioned. The narrative begins to drag a bit in part two, when the letters begin to overtake the prose and there is some repetition, but things pick up once the Ghost Rider hits the road again. I won't spoil the ending, but I recommend this book, especially to those who have purchased "Vapor Trails" and want to get a better understanding to the thoughts behind the songs.
Rating:
Summary: I feel the soft ground under my feet; and I am moved.
Review: "Living in a fisheye lens, caught in the camera eye,
I have no heart to lie,
I can't pretend a stranger is a long-awaited friend."
-- Limelight And who can blame you? Who will judge you? Lost your life, your family, your love, your child, your spirit ! O cruel world ! You turned in your ambition for a cold dark hostile ride through infinite space and endless pavement. But you do have love. You do have light. You gave so much to the world in your youth. You were our only voice. You taught us all a philosophy that we knew before we became wealthy and learned in philosophy. You were our only philosopher; the greatest of all philosophers. Your gift was not only the gift of words of enlightenment, but was the gift of energy: adrenalin flowing. You gave the world truth: the rarest of all precious stones. Thank you. You are loved by millions. And many more will be born to discover your genius. Music is timeless. Perhaps we are all strangers to you, but you should know that we, your audience, all hold you close to our hearts. And in this that we all share, we are not strangers, but very close friends. "Ghost Rider" takes us into the soul of Neil Peart, percussionist, composer, and lyricist and poet of the combined genius known as Rush. It is a mystery why he opened his soul in this text, but he did. It's true: we cannot know another unless we walk in their shoes. But we can share it all with each other. Neil pours it out. How you see it, how it affects you, is all up to you, the reader. MR
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