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Summary: If you like this book, check out...
Review: "Road-Book America" by Rowland A. Sherrill
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Summary: Interstate Philosophy
Review: Among the many attributes of McMurtry's novels is the well defined sense of place. Since this is not a work of fiction, the same feeling of "being there" is missing. What we get instead is a reminder of how long and tedious lengthy trips along the Interstate Highway System can be.For this book, McMurtry decided to travel the Interstate Highways much the same as early settlers traveled the great rivers of the still developing country. That seemed a really good idea in theory, but the sense of adventure that drove those pioneers is pretty much missing here. He undertook several trips down these highways (generally traveling from east to west or north to south for reasons explained in the book) and recorded his thoughts as he went. This is not a travel book in any sense of the popular definition, but McMurtry serves as travel guide, historian, and literary commentator as he drives. Readers will probably find some interesting insights into local history and they will be reminded when and where some locations were used in his novels. McMurtry is always outspoken, and some will not agree with his assessments of what he finds along the way; nevertheless, the trip may be worthwhile reading for some. I found the book only moderately interesting.
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Summary: Road to Nowhere.
Review: As a dedicated roadgeek who has driven most of the interstates and read most of the great "road" books from Jack London through Kerouac and Least Heat Moon; and also, as an equally devoted fan of McMurtry, I so much looked forward to curling up with this book. But it was a letdown. I get the impression that McMurtry didn't really want to write a book -- he just wanted to drive the interstates and get paid for it. It reads more like a trip report, and a dull one at that. His descriptions are spare and his opinions all too often gratuitous and glib. He uses the interstate system as an infrastructure upon which to hang memories, opinions and admitted self-therapy. Nothing wrong with that, but he didn't give enough to the reader to enjoy. Further, I feel the book was not particularly well-written or well-edited (coming perilously close to a description that some of Kerouac's work was "typing, not writing"). I get the impression that McMurtry's publishers, in recognition of his track record, just decided to let him have a freebie on this one. And, being so eternally in McMurtry's debt for the enjoyment that Lonesome Dove gave me, I too will give him a freebie. But, since this is supposed to be an honest book review, I, regrettably, have to rate it two stars.
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Summary: Road to Nowhere.
Review: As a dedicated roadgeek who has driven most of the interstates and read most of the great "road" books from Jack London through Kerouac and Least Heat Moon; and also, as an equally devoted fan of McMurtry, I so much looked forward to curling up with this book. But it was a letdown. I get the impression that McMurtry didn't really want to write a book -- he just wanted to drive the interstates and get paid for it. It reads more like a trip report, and a dull one at that. His descriptions are spare and his opinions all too often gratuitous and glib. He uses the interstate system as an infrastructure upon which to hang memories, opinions and admitted self-therapy. Nothing wrong with that, but he didn't give enough to the reader to enjoy. Further, I feel the book was not particularly well-written or well-edited (coming perilously close to a description that some of Kerouac's work was "typing, not writing"). I get the impression that McMurtry's publishers, in recognition of his track record, just decided to let him have a freebie on this one. And, being so eternally in McMurtry's debt for the enjoyment that Lonesome Dove gave me, I too will give him a freebie. But, since this is supposed to be an honest book review, I, regrettably, have to rate it two stars.
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Summary: Road Warrior Companion
Review: As a fellow "accidental tourist", I found McMurtry's loose journal of his road trips (which were taken for the sole purpose of writing about them) entertaining. Part of the reason for this is my own familiarity with some of the places he traveled through. But in addition to that, his observations, sprinkled with memoirs, snippets of American history and that dusty Texas candor, made this unique travelogue amusing. I wish all my traveling companions were as engaging as Mr. McMurtry seems to be on a long trip. For readers who enjoy the McMurtry view of the world, may I suggest any of the five CDs by Larry's son, James, a singer-songwriter of underappreciated merit from Austin.
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Summary: A fellow wanderer
Review: As someone who has driven through most of this country, I have tried to understand why I love the road and why I get restless to get in the car and drive for hours. It's not the destination; it's the travel. It was incredible to find this book because for the first time, I have found somebody who gets it, who understands it. While reading this, I relived my own adventures which not only made me happy -- but very anxious to go on another trip. Mr. McMurtry was able to find the words I've tried to find when I try to explain to others why I love long road trips. It's a wonderful narration of the impressions we all get as we travel through areas, but it also makes you think about what you may not know about your own area, such as its history or storytellers. I do not see Mr. McMurty as lonely, but very much a participant in life that nudges others into thought, introspection, and remembrance. Our worlds are what we make them, and his is as expansive as the plains.
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Summary: Different can be good
Review: Be warned that this is not a traditional travel narrative. Larry McMurtry muses on writers that live(d) in the areas that he passes, things that he loves, or has loved, about those areas, and reminisces about his own life while flying down America's interstates. I found the book to be enjoyable, but intensely personal. If you are not interested in the author, you may want to consider a more traditional "road trip" book. That said, I must reiterate that I enjoyed this book, especially the discussions of area authors. I now have a whole list of books that I want to read. I found this book to be a comfortable break from tradition.
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Summary: IF YOU ENJOYED THIS BOOK...
Review: Check out "Road-Book America" by Rowland A. Sherrill
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Summary: Why did Larry Bother?
Review: I am a very big fan of a) Larry McMurtry, and b) Travel Books of all kinds. I hated this book. Anyone who travels 1500 miles in a day and a half is not observing the road nor its surroundings, and is therefore not able to write about it. I got so sick of 'I passed near Anytown Texas where Danny Deck did such and such in my book Blah Blah', 'I was droving through Mississippi when I thought of an amusing story about Eudora Welty and William Faulkner'. Do not waste your time or money on this...publication.
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Summary: travel that goes nowhere
Review: I couldn't even bring myself to finish this book. Yes, the author travels (though this book is more driving writing than travel writing), but other than brief descriptions of a town he passes through, or the empty field next to the road he's on, the majority of this book is just boring anecdotes, and remarks on his own assorted works, which he mentions quite frequently. If I wanted to read LONESOME DOVE, i would have bought it. He almost never stops driving, he doesn't talk to anybody, and on top of that he chooses to drive some of the world's most boring stretches of highway. This kind of travel and this kind of writing do not suit McMurtry's storytelling style. Do us all a favor Larry and leave he road trips to the college students . . .
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