Neil Peart ~ Ghost Rider

[radguzzi]

Originally Posted by heavyjeffd

Acutally, all of Neil Peart's books are good, especially his bicycling ones.

If you are intimate with the story that lead up to the book, it is a pretty painful read, but it's still a fascinating book.

Originally Posted by DADODIRT

Good reading.

All this while he is recovering from one of the worst tragedies imaginable.

I am ready for the dark parts of the book... What a horrible experience that he must have been to have gone through.

Thanks all,
Rob

[Kamakura Kid]

It was too difficult for me to read. I only got about halfway through and I was like, "This book is just too depressing..."

So, I gave the book to a friend who was a die hard fan of the band.

[BeemerChef]

It is a tough call... as myself and my buddy Spirit have been on the road for 18 months now and keeping a Blog of our Journey.
I am NOT trying to write another "Ghost Rider", even though I did read it when my son, best friend and only child passed away over 3 years ago.
I wanted to keep a Journal as to how I can cope with Life these coming years. Photography has been my new Passion but the mind's sadness even surrounded by the beauty of Mother Nature takes over on a daily basis. And this has made me fight with the dilemna of my own writing when I get (not many, a couple) e mails "telling me" not to be a "downer"... But such is Life, such are the cards dealt, one can easily turn around and write "entertaining" pages and keep the rest within themselves which was "not" the purpose of my writing from the beginning... I write for myself, I write to hopefully read it in ten years and judge on my own where I will be at that time, mentally and physically. A such sad event has actually made me appreciate more what I have today... I personally decided, regardless readers are pleased or not, to continue writing what is in my Heart... There will be no more dilemna...
I am posting this just to say that I can relate with the Book... a heard read yes, but, you cannot imagine the pain so deep within that one deals with, hoping you will never have to face such situation.

Be well... Ara & Spirit

[Firedawg450]

Maybe it was just a case of my expectations being too high, but I really didn't like this book. My heart broke for the tragedy he experienced. No one should ever go through that. Unfortunately, I found Peart arrogant, self-indulgent and pretensious, which made it hard to relate to the depths of his pain. His often acerbic commments regarding people or surroundings were quite off-putting and he often seemed so resentful that the world didn't conform to his needs that it was hard to discern the "healing road". Sorry, some may not like/agree with my input. Just expressing an opinion.

[metropolis2k]

I was wondering if Neil would get a mention in here! I'm a huge Rush fan (despite being born in the wrong decade for it!) and I have owned Ghost Rider and 'The Masked Rider: Cycling in West Africa' for a while.

I got given 'Roadshow: Landscape With Drums, A Concert Tour By Motorcycle' (he doesn't do short titles, does he?!) for my birthday and I'm very much enjoying that now. A perfect blend of Rush and motorcycling!

[Lone Rider]

I could not finish it.
Not a good moto travel book.

[enduro0125]

Originally Posted by Firedawg450

Maybe it was just a case of my expectations being too high, but I really didn't like this book.Sorry, some may not like/agree with my input. Just expressing an opinion.

Originally Posted by Lone Rider

I could not finish it.
Not a good moto travel book.

I finished it....but really did not enjoy it.
I kept waiting for the Adventure.
Not sure if I was envious of being able to leave your bike and fly home to continue the journey at a later time or if that was what seemed to ruin the story for me.....
Do feel sorry for his loss though.

[medicfernando]

I am currently reading the book and find it not so much enjoyable, but somewhat gripping. I cannot imagine the pain of losing a child, much less a spouse at the same time, therefore I cannot judge Neils writing and certain honest observations about people and locations he came across because it is impossible to know what was going through his mind at the time. As a fire department medic and Captain, for years I have seen people deal with the most unimaginable losses and will never criticize anyone for the way they cope. I applaud him for his honest writing and expression of what he was feeling at the time. I dont believe that Ghost Rider was meant to be some sort of motorcycle adventure book but an honest journal of the mans experiences and feelings. I've read a lot of harsh criticisms and would just say dont judge til you've walked a mile in a mans shoes. One gentleman harshly commented on Neils ability to just take off for months...etc. You cant criticize a man for his "self made" fortune based on an INCREDIBLE musical talent, dedication and hard work. Not all of us are that fortunate but I dont hate those who are. Its my first read of a Neil Peart book but will surely read his other works as well. Maybe it just because I have been a die hard RUSH and Neil Peart fan since I was a kid.
I am also a dedicated reader of Ara's blog, The Oasis of my Soul, and have found his writings and experiences inspirational, even the occasional dark or depressing ones. I had the good fortune of meeting Ara very briefly this summer in Moab, Utah and can honestly say, he is one of those folks that you can meet for a moment and be touched by them for a lifetime. HAPPY HOLIDAYS ALL!! Fernando

[scblock]

I'm a huge Rush fan, so take what I say with a grain of salt, but Neil is a big part of why I entered motorcycling in the first place. I have read this book 3 times and it almost kills me (emotionally) every time I read it, but the man really has a strong way with words. The slower and more boring parts of the book are pretty excusable to me because they are real (vs a novel where a slow boring part is just wrong). How can I say the man does not have a right to his pain and confusion just because it doesn't read as well as his hatred for fat slob American tourists?

His love for riding and his love for true things touches me, as does his belief in the healing road.

[NJ-GS]

Originally Posted by Lone Rider

I could not finish it.
Not a good moto travel book.

Got half way through it. Bummer of a story.

Too cranial and introspective for my tastes.

[BeemerChef]

Originally Posted by medicfernando

I am currently reading the book and find it not so much enjoyable, but somewhat gripping. I cannot imagine the pain of losing a child, much less a spouse at the same time, therefore I cannot judge Neils writing and certain honest observations about people and locations he came across because it is impossible to know what was going through his mind at the time. As a fire department medic and Captain, for years I have seen people deal with the most unimaginable losses and will never criticize anyone for the way they cope. I applaud him for his honest writing and expression of what he was feeling at the time. I dont believe that Ghost Rider was meant to be some sort of motorcycle adventure book but an honest journal of the mans experiences and feelings. I've read a lot of harsh criticisms and would just say dont judge til you've walked a mile in a mans shoes. One gentleman harshly commented on Neils ability to just take off for months...etc. You cant criticize a man for his "self made" fortune based on an INCREDIBLE musical talent, dedication and hard work. Not all of us are that fortunate but I dont hate those who are. Its my first read of a Neil Peart book but will surely read his other works as well. Maybe it just because I have been a die hard RUSH and Neil Peart fan since I was a kid.
I am also a dedicated reader of Ara's blog, The Oasis of my Soul, and have found his writings and experiences inspirational, even the occasional dark or depressing ones. I had the good fortune of meeting Ara very briefly this summer in Moab, Utah and can honestly say, he is one of those folks that you can meet for a moment and be touched by them for a lifetime. HAPPY HOLIDAYS ALL!! Fernando

Hi Fernando... nice to see you here... and hope to see you again on the road soon.
I have written about this before. About the book... It is a tough call. I have come to the conclusion that there are two parts to the "aspect" of it. We are each a fingerprint of this Life, all so different, all reacting and laying out our path also so differently from each other. I respect Neil, I feel for him, there is no doubt as being in similar shoes. And then there is the book, which yes, as many others I did not find as the maybe the key to his therapy of Life as myself I am seeking through my own writing. But it is his own reality, his own way of dealing with such tragic loss, only written through his own path with his own flavor, a flavor that does not coincide with many liked. Such a tough call... It is beyond liking it or not, as truly there is nothing to like when reading such contents, there is no entertainment as they should not be. I see it as a document maybe, reading it curiously to find our how another man wearing the same shoes but with different strings relates to my own path.
Hope all this makes sense... on this Day after Christmas as I can assurely say that Neil and I, regardless of his written words have shared the same despair that falls upon us during such Holidays, Birthdays, Anniversaries, more so than every common day we spend missing our loved ones.
Be well... Ara & Spirit