Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road by Neil Peart
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Book Reviews of Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road
Book Review: From a Ghost Rider to a Peaceable Kingdom
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been a long time fan of Neil's writing ability. From his "album bios" to the profound lyrics in all Rush songs, he has a natural ability to express himself in an intelligent, witty manner. For many Rush fans, it is not only the fact that all three members of the band are highly musically gifted, but they are inevitably drawn to Neil's lyrics. In this book, Neil takes us along on his journey of emotional awakening. To overcome the grief and heartache of losing a child must be one of the most impossible of human experiences. Upon the death of his wife about a year later, Neil is a broken man in every sense. With unimaginable heartache, and loss of passion for life, Neil does the one thing that his mind (and body) tell him to do...move. And thus, Neil's epic journey begins with no certainty that he will one day see "the light of a brand new day".
The trials and tribulations of his journey, his moments of sheer wonder at the beauty of natural landscapes, the toll all this has taken on him, his mental and physical health, family and friends, and his struggle to make sense of a higher order of things when "so much life used to flow beneath the bridge" make for an epic tale of emotion healing...towards a peaceable kingdom.
Everyone can identify with some aspect of the book. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about the many aspects of the human experience. A coup de force!
Book Review: A huge trip inside the mind of a broken soul. Sayin?
Summary: 5 Stars
After reading The Masked Rider for the second time, I was inspired to read his latest work. I have been a drummer since I was a twelve year old kid. Rush was my "most favorite band", Neil my "most favorite drummer." I then got out of the drumming scene in the early '90's and became interested in cycling and fitness. My brother bought me the first book of Neil's in 2000. I loved it. I had heard of his incredible loss and always wondered how someone recovers from such a terrible tragedy. I bought the book the day before my mother-in-law passed away from a long bout of cancer. The first two chapters had me sobbing myself deeper into the bottle of Shiraz that I happened to be sipping at the time. I took it nice and slow. I would read a chapter and then go back to it later. The ultimate compliment for a writer is for the reader to make the comment that they don't want the book to end, sayin?. The incredible emotional "stuff" was simply riveting, but the detail in which he describes the daily travels and the array of terrain, plants, various birds and raptors was also something that I found gripping and wanting more. The last chapter was quite a fast summary of the course of events that has changed his life. I guess this was something he wanted to keep to himself. NICE. 'At a boy Neil. Good for you and good luck.Book Review: Book Of The Year
Summary: 5 Stars
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!
Book Review: Well Done, Neil.
Summary: 5 Stars
"Ghost Rider" is a fantastic book about travelling in many different ways, both literally and mentally. Neil Peart, legendary drummer of the Canadian progressive rock trio Rush, had to endure the terrible loss of both daughter and wife over a period of 10 months and this book is the very process of healing told in the first person.
This was my first Neil Peart book and I loved his prose style. Descriptive, yet it doesn't drag. An easy read and if you like stories about travelling, you'll love this one as Neil tells of his ramblings across North America (Canada and USA including Alaska) and Mexico. He's also a very gifted letter writer and his process of healing included writing a lot of letters to close friends over solitary dinners at roadside restaurants and motels. It's true the book can be a bit boring in some brief passages but even those I felt were very important to Neil on overcoming his personal tragedies. And the rest more than makes up for those.
A great book from a fantastic person. If you like travelling, especially on motorcycle, and even if you've never heard of Rush before, you'll certainly enjoy this one both as travellogue and an insightful narrative of healing the deepest of wounds. I'm definitely looking forward to reading the other books by Neil.
Book Review: Insightful - well written - a joy to read.
Summary: 5 Stars
I hope that this work reaches out to more than the fans of the band (Rush). It is a profoundly insightful and personal work.
Having read some of the aformentioned reviews, it seems that the critique of the book in is line with some of the hyper-critical review of the band. Let that go.
Years ago, I followed the band and was an avid fan. I only recently learned of what occured in Neil Peart's life. After mulling it over, I decided to give the book a try.
For those who were "disappointed" by the book, give it another read when you're about 40 and have had a few bumps and grinds in life; when you're re-evaluating your purpose and fostering that dimly flickering flame through the ordeal of deciding why you're here and what you're to do in this place.
The prose is keely observant of life's finesse and weaves everything from life's trivialities to life's greater themes into a cohesive orb which is simply about being - and being human.
This is not a book about a rock drummer. This is a book about a father, a husband and an indivual looking for meaning after losing it all.
If you're looking for a story about the triumph of the human spirit, this book will resonate with you.
Tony Zinnanti