Rating: 
Summary: Blame Canada
Review: Neil Peart hates you and wants you to know it.
Life may have dealt him a difficult hand, but does he need to convert his pain into a misanthropy towards Americans--those who helped get him the luxury he has today?
Some of his insulting comments were just pathetic, and I had assumed he was above such immature behavior considering his general intelligence. How can he disrespect Americans, yet still have the gall to tour here? What an a-hole.
After too much of that, this book made a 'vapor trail' on its way toward my garbage can, not even completely read.
Sorry about your trials and tribulations, Neil, but I've had enough of your smug self-righteousness. Maybe I'll take out all of my grief on Canadians from now on.
"My hamster just died...boy those people in Toronto are scumbags!"
Rating: 
Summary: Good stuff chef Ellwood
Review: I must agree with a lot of Martin Gregory's arguement about the shortfalls of this book. I give it a higher rating because I was a bit more compelled by Neil Peart's journey. I think its important to note that the man is a unique character. I have been a fan of his for many years, and have read and heard many interviews with him. I think the timeline of this book shows him embracing many emotions for the first time.I am very thankful that he was candid about his experience, eventhough he might be less candid than the average person. I will just reempathize that he is a very private person. I thought that the last chapter was way to short, and the two preceeding it were kind of useless. I say they are useless because they merely rehash the experience of the beggining of his journey, which were rather interesting the first time around, but lost something the second time. I'm not sure what he could of done to expand on his rebirth as a person, but after greiving with him through the majority of the book, the reader wants to feel some of the good stuff too. I'm hoping that he will write another book about his touring experience, and his new life. I think it would make a worthy sequel.
Rating: 
Summary: A healing Huck Finn/Tom Sawyer type of read!
Review: I haven't even finished(about 100pgs. left) reading this new book from Mr. Peart and had to leave my review. He definitely has polished his wordsmith techniques since Masked Rider. He has a painfully realistic way of letting you feel a part of his sorrow and breathe easier when he is at a high point in his grieving. I feel this would be a good book to read if one was going through a same situation.
If you are looking for an adventure this is also the book for you. Especially if you are a 2 wheeled rider. It is a nice way to get away and escape through his eyes. I recommend this to anyone that wants to get away but doesn't have the time or resources. I cannot wait for my time to ride as he does but not under the same circumstances.
I hope he writes again!
Rating: 
Summary: Facing Tough Times
Review: Summary:
Ghost Rider is a book of letters, and travelogue of Rush drummer Neil Peart. He lost his daughter and wife in less than a years time. Rather than taking his own life, he gets on his BMW motorcycle, and travels around Canada, the U.S., Mexico and Belize, trying to let time and distance heal his loss. While narrating his travels, he writes letters to various friends, and especially Brutus, who was his riding companion before tragedy struck. However, we find Brutus in jail for drug trafficking charges! During the course of the book, Neil discusses his emotions, inward and outward, the scenery around him, wildlife and weather. Books pluses:
The traveling itself, and the many locations Neil discovers, the sense of adventure, although he says do not envy him, and I for one do not. I would not want to suffer through a tragedy as his, but everyone suffers, not just a famous rock drummer. Another journal entry, says deal with it. It is good to have friends and family to support you though. You see Neil Peart for who he really is, or was, as it seemed his life turns around in the end, as he meets and marries, Carrie, 2+ years after his wife dies. Negatives:
Although I would be angry, depressed...etc after losing almost everything, I would not esteem myself above others, as Neil does throughout the book. He says things, that make it look as if he is above everyone else, and that most of the rest of humanity is drudge. Neil mentions, in particular, of Americans being overweight, and waddling around. Well, he smokes and drinks, like that is a healthy lifestyle, despite his hikes, swims...etc. Also, too many letters to Brutus. As another reviewer pointed out, maybe he should have married him. Although, Brutus is his best friend, and I can understand keeping in contact. Finally:
Rush fans should not expect lots of info about the band...etc. What this book offers is a lone journey of Neil throughout the country, with a winter and summer sabbatical at his lake home in Quebec. His writing style, and vocabulary are exceptional, mainly apart from his personal letters. Most people could not afford, financially to take such a long journey throughout 4 countries, to reflect and piece their life together as Neil, who has someone looking after his estate at home. Traveling on the Healing Road. Well, Neil, hope you are healing. A recommendation on a motorcycle trip is the Blue Ridge Parkway across Virginia and North Carolina.
Rating:
Summary: Closer to the heart....
Review: I am not a musician or a drummer and only a casual RUSH fan and I enjoyed this book tremendously. I wrote that disclaimer because I think this is a book for everyone - you don't have to be a music fan or even going through a loss of your own. This book is honest and fresh and reveals an intimate side of an intensely private man who deals with his devastating losses - it could have been written by anyone and for anyone. Personally I was impressed with the intelligence of the author and his normalacy and down-to-earth lifestyle despite the fact he is a 'rock drummer' and is idolized by drummers all over the world. How many big time rock stars would stay at a Super 8 and admit they are avid bird watchers? Kudos to Neil for his superb writing and giving hope to others going through similar situations. I loved this book so much I bought copies for friends so they could enjoy it as well.
Rating:
Summary: Ghost Riding to Remember
Review: I just finished reading a book that anyone who loves riding or has had
loss in their lives will relate to. It is called "Ghost Rider Travels on
the Healing road". It is by Neil Peart. If the name sounds familiar it is
because he is the accomplished drummer for the band Rush. The book however deals very
little with his rock life. Do not buy the book to get a backstage view of a rockers life. What the book deals with is how Peart got through a devastating series of tragic losses in his life. In the time frame of a year his daughter was killed in a car wreck. His wife essentially died of a broken heart over the daughters loss, and to top it off his dog died too. After time stewing in his own misery he chose to find if he could find a way back to life. He chose to try activities that he formerly loved to see if he could still find any happiness in this world. His first step as an avid motorcyclist was to get his BMW R1100GS and travel down what he calls the "Healing Road". Over the time frame of 14 months Peart rode 55,000 miles through his homeland Canada as well as The United States, Mexico and Belize. The book is written in a mix of a biography style as well as letters from the road to friends. His descriptions of loss are heartbreaking, and will have you asking how would I react to such a series of losses in my life. I learned a bit about life and death from Peart. This book is not all on a down note though. It has terrific descriptions of scenery and roads that he traveled. It is an interesting insight into a motorcyclist travels as well as a course in human spirits ability to rebound from misery. It will entertain and teach on a number of levels. I recommend this book highly. The tales this book tells will remain with you long after the last page is turned.
Rating:
Summary: The Good, The Bad and Neil!The Good, The Bad, The Neil!
Review: The Good - The Travelogue The Bad - Elite Rock Star deals with the "real" life of us mere mortals. The Neil - The writing is typical "Neil" and if you are a RUSH fan you might like the book. I would like to see Neil do more writing.....but not like this book! Many of us have to deal with loss and pain and handle it better than the author does...He may in fact feel better now but his book shows he missed the point of his journey.....maybe he should have listened to some of his older songs while on the road.
Rating:
Summary: Similar travels for those who have lost
Review: While I own a Triumph Tiger (very similar to Peart's GS), I found Peart's travels both inspiring and disheartening. Many of us, no, all of us suffer loss at one time or another. Peart's losses were tramatic and I doubt I could muster the courage he did to continue. Peart's writing style is fresh, yes seems to skim the surface of his surroundings...he does go through much of his terrain like a ghost rider would...but then I am a big fan of Edward Abbey (mentioned many times by Peart). I knew Peart wouldn't quit life and Rush. I, for one, am very glad he chose to continue living. He is still one of the most influential artists in my life. pax.
Rating:
Summary: Just keep on moving...
Review: What a great read. I liked the writing style. I felt as if the author had me along for the ride. I highly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Rock's Most Enigmatic & Ironic Hero's Comeback from Tragedy
Review: Neil Peart is the finest rock drummer in the business, one of the finest lyricists and arguably the most unique in rock. His battle with unthinkable loss and near-unbearable grief will console any Rush fan who has lost a loved one, and with frank admission of his own human frailty Neil finally gives us a glimpse of the human being behind so many songs encouraging people to live as true individuals and face life's hardships with bravery. For all of us who had been waiting for Neil to finally write books, it is a very sad thing that his second one deals with heart-rending circumstances not even a storyteller could dream up. His love for his family shines in all his words and it is actually easy to imagine the very real Peart as the man who has written so many songs that exemplify the saying "fortune favors the bold." Some people may wish there was more about Rush in the book, but this is Neil and I happen to have read this excellently written memoir just months after losing my mother, who had been a Rush fan since the 80s. Neil's Vapor Trails material and his stoic and true presence on tour last summer were a great inspiration to me in dealing with my own sadness. If you admire Neil Peart's songs, you will be fascinated by this book; if only it could have been written under different circumstances. The Masked Rider is also highly recommended, Neil's writing is crisp and direct, artful and humorous. He has seen horrors most of us could only imagine and he is, to this fan since 1984, a real hero.
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