Theodore John

Another fine title by Mr. Adams

Reviewed: 11-02-24

I'm a huge fan of Nick Adams. I love his books and his narration is always premier. His adventures into the known and unknown on his old bikes and new-to-him bikes makes these adventures even more enjoyable. Would you take a 50-year-old bike for a lengthy ride down a dirt road? Nick will. And that's where the fun begins.

Nick has got this book thing down pat. He knows what he is doing and his writing and narration skills only prove that point. This book, as well as his others, are well worth your time.

Good job Nick.

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This is one long book

Reviewed: 11-02-24

I enjoyed it and it was interesting. I learned a lot and that's what I like about travel books.

For me, the best part was when he was passing through upstate New York and passing through communities that know quite well. I used to have a farm in Otsego County, not far from Cooperstown. The mention of some of these places in the book and other places I know of, brought a smile to my face and fond memories.

I'm sure someday I'll pass through some of the places he spoke of in the book during my travels.

The performace of the Narrator was quite good and his voice made it easy to listen to the book. Good job.

It's a good story if you have some time to kill.

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I'm now sorry I wasn't more of a Rush fan

Reviewed: 11-02-24

Back in the mid-70's I was introduced to Rush when I was in the Navy, stationed down in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. It was Rush's first album too. Then "Fly by Night", then "2112"... I was blown away. I had a guitar and I learned how to play most of the songs on "Rush" and a few off of "2112". I loved it. Who were these guys I wondered and I learned a little about the band and thought, okay cool. I got into "Hemisphere's", "Moving Pictures" and others but slowly for no particular reason my interest moved onto other music and I sort of lost touch with Rush's history.

As the years went by, I did want to go see Rush in concert but ticket prices and logistics were never in my favor, consequently I lost out. I had a renewed interest when Neil Peart started putting out books and what? He's riding a motorcycle?? What?? Oh man, I dove in head first. As a motorcyclist and musician myself this was right up my alley. I had a renewed interest in Rush again.

Then..... Neil died.

Listening to Geddy's book, I realized that those guys, despite all the drugs, had their shit together as musicians but mostly as people. I was delighted to learn that none of those guys were musically educated, taught all of that theory crap...... They just played and that made me feel better about my own musicianship. Geddy's book is a heartwarming and heartbreaking book at the same time. From his humble beginnings through the Rush years and now retirement(?) he brought it all together so that we could all listen to him tell us the true story of him and the band.

His performance as the narrator of the book, as well as Alex's performance, were top notch and I had great enjoyment listening to the entire thing as I drove from my home in North Carolina to the Sturgis motorcycle rally in South Dakota. Thanks for making the drive tolerable.

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It was a good story, but......

Reviewed: 11-02-24

Let me get this out of the way first.

Wonderful story, wonderful adventure, inspirational I suppose, informational as well. Tragic that your grandson must deal with the disease and I do wish all affected good tidings and a swift recovery. Children shouldn't suffer.

Mr. Fowler's descriptive story of his bike ride across America indeed inspires one to do the same if for no other reason that to do it. I have always wanted to do something similar and at 66, I better get my butt moving. His admirable reason for doing the ride is described a few times in the book, perhaps a few more times than necessary. Mention it in the beginning of the book and move on with the story.

I have listened to hundreds of audiobooks and for the most part, the one's that are narrated by the author are the best ones as you get the words out of the horses mouth, so to speak. Then there are those authors who felt it necessary to hire someone else to narrate their book for one reason or another and it was a wise choice on their behalf. Finally, there are the authors who have elected to narrate the book themselves when they shouldn't have. I'm sorry to report Mr. Fowler, you should not have narrated your own book.

I know you wanted it to sound like you were reading the book to your grandson and I appreciate that. The downside is for the rest of us, it felt like you were reading a bedtime story to us. The tone in your voice most times was a grandparents tone when it needed to be an authors tone. There were the errant pauses and stammers from time to time and a few mispronunciations (didn't anyone review the recordings before it got pushed to ACX?).

But again, the story itself, was wonderful and you should be proud of yourself for the accomplishment. Sorry if I seemed too harsh, but really I am just offering some constructive critizism.

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Exemplifying Why I love Riding My Bicycle

Reviewed: 11-02-24

Everything about this book explains why riding a bicycle is the best thing you could ever do for yourself. For your health, for your mind, for your outlook and for your heart.

The journey Mr. Carter has taken in this book had envy dripping from every pore on my body. What great fortune to take on throwing caution to the headwind and exploring his homeland and coming away with a new sense of being. That is what a bicycle ride can and will do for you.... especially one of this nature.

Bravo Mr. Carter and a fine job on the narration as well.

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Although he said not to, I am anyway

Reviewed: 03-27-24

At the end of every audiobook I've listened to, the late Rick Lewis comes on in that 1940's audio quality style voicing and says "Audible hopes you've enjoyed this progrum."

Why yes Mr. Lewis, I have enjoyed this "progrum", as I have every audiobook/book written by Graham Field. With this particular book, it's not just about the travel escapades. It's about the experience and the thoughts that Graham shares with us. His final thoughts at the end and bloopers were exceptionally pleasant and enjoyable as well.

Good job Graham. So looking forward to part 3.

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A great cycling History Lesson

Reviewed: 01-16-24

As an avid cyclist and one who loves to watch bicycle races, especially the tour, this book was absolutely wonderful. Mr. Leonard did an excellent job of giving the reader the imagery of what the tour is like for non-cyclists and for cyclists. The extensive amount of research he gathered to assemble the book is astounding and a tremendously thorough job he did. I learned things about the tour I never knew. He brings to light in this book things that should never be and things that need to be in the sport of cycling.

I have never thought that there is shame or disgrace in finishing last in the world's greatest cycling event. It is a testament to the willpower of the individual and will-power to not quit, to get to the finish at all costs. These riders who finish last should be given more air time during the tours broadcast and they should be honored for at least finishing.

I also thank Mr. Leonard for NOT leaving out the names of some pro level riders who fell from grace such as Lance Armstrong. When the whole of the cycling world has stricken his name from their history, the fact still remains that he won those races. The bike didn't cross the line by itself and the race is still the toughest event in the world. Cyclists like Armstrong, despite their dubious behavior in the tour and other races, still completed the races in the shortest time, they won. The author was honorable enough to recognize this and still say their names. I applaud you.

A word about the narration. Mr. Fallaize's delivery of the manuscript was pleasant to listen to, clear and the recordings were top notch. I must, however, make the observation that the narrator likely lacked any or very little knowledge of the cycling world. This became obviously clear when he mentioned the names of some cyclists, cycling sponsors, bicycles and other cycling related things, where he got the pronunciation completely wrong. Having listened to many different broadcasts of the tour and other races over the years and heard these names said over and over, hearing these name in cycling shops, at cycling events, the mispronunciations had me rewinding several times after hearing them and saying to myself "Who?" or "What?". A minor infraction, but this is something that should have been caught by someone.

Overall, great book and if you are a mad cyclist like myself, you should listen to this.

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I couldn't take it anymore

Reviewed: 11-19-23

In all of my years of reading books and listening to Audiobooks, there has only been three occasions that I have returned the book before I got 8 chapters into it. This book I kept giving it chapters in hopes it would get better until finally I couldn't take it anymore. i even tried listening to it at 1.5 times speed to move it along but that didn't help either.

Somewhere in here, there is a motorcycle travel adventure story. The intent seemed interesting enough; ride to the graves of his favorite banjo players. Simple and that could have driven the adventure all by itself. But no. The author felt the need to wax poetic on his demons, specifically his minotaur and his poor life choices. I got this book because I thought it was a motorcycle adventure story, and a lengthy one, which I have a preference for. Not what I got.

Now the worst part. Some authors are just brilliant at narration and narrating their work. Graham Field, Sam Manicom and Jeremy Kroeker are just a few who were wonderful to listen to and brilliant with their delivery. For those authors who elected to have someone else do the talking, I applaud these authors because they realize that maybe their voice isn't quite up to the task. In doing so, they were able to provide a voice that did their book justice.

Sadly, Mr. Sherill, however, felt he was better suited for the job and he couldn't have been more wrong. For a guy who, apparently, was a professor at a college, his ability to speak and read his own writing begs a lot of questions. The reading of his very own manuscript was horrid, completely intolerable. Just the though that there was 64 chapters (15 hours) of this I can't imagine. I felt as though I was listening to a 10-year-old read a book report in front of his class. So, thank you Mr. Sherill, you murdered any desire for me to listen to or read your book.

By the way, the other two books were "The Art and Zen of Motorcycle Maintenance" and "American Road Runner".

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Graham Field Does It Again

Reviewed: 09-18-23

I have been listening to Graham's audiobooks for quite a few years. Every one of his books have been tremendously entertaining and give the listener a glimpse in the thought process and daily life of this seasoned author and rider. Though his previous books are mostly of his motorcycle adventures, this one is aimed at a cycling adventure he took some years ago though India and China. Despite this departure from his previously documented motorcycles adventures, this cycling journey is not without the "Adventure" part.... not by a long shot.

The best part is that this is just Part 1 of the journey and there is more to come. Do yourself a favor and put this title in your ears, sit on your front porch with a glass of whiskey and enjoy.

Thank you Graham!

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Entertaining and A fun listen

Reviewed: 06-10-20

I have been chomping at the bit to get this and I'm glad I finally did.

Tiffany told the tale of her journey from a riders point of view and perspective. Not just as a women rider, that's one thing, but listening to her explain what she was dealing with along the way from inside and outside her helmet is exactly how I would have done it and not how others would have you do it.

Journey's like this are, above all, a personal experience and need to be shared that way. Details are what they are, sometimes they are needed and called for and sometimes they are just that details that may or may not push the story along. While it may be true that more details of the roads she was on might have added to the story, as a rider myself I can see why they weren't included most time. I know I don't always see, recall or even notice specifics on some of the roads I ride, primarily because I'm more paying attention to what I'm doing, I'm in the zone.... focusing. So I completely understand if some "details" were left out, completely understandable.

I must compliment her on her narration as well. In the beginning few chapters she seemed stiff, as if reading a script and it felt unnatural, she seemed uncomfortable talking into the mic. But eventually, she loosened up and then if felt as though she was telling a story and "talking" to us and was really fun to hear the inflections and tones in her voice, it really added to the enjoyment of the book.

Though her talk of racing and the track doesn't appeal to me because I'm not that kind of rider, I can appreciate her enthusiasm to be in the environment and surrounded by like people. Same goes for her interaction with similar types of riders she'd come across along the way and on that note, on behalf of the good Harley people out there, I apologize for any negative interactions she may have had with any the not-so-nice Harley people. We aren't all assholes.

Her description of riding through the northeast, specifically New Jersey where I'm from, was spot on. This area sucks for the motorcyclist and again, I'm sorry my home state sucks. Though there are many areas of New Jersey, New York and the rest of the OLD northeast that are really very pleasant, her descriptions of many of the areas she went through are all too familiar to me and I cringed at experiencing those things through my earbuds.

It's a good listen and I recommend it highly, looking forward to the second part!

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4 people found this helpful