Around the States in 90 Days [Paperback]

Andy Moseley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 4, 2009

Determined to escape a 9 to 5 life but equally determined not to do anything socially worthwhile, Andy Moseley took the only option available to him and packed his bags and left for America. His plan was to see as much of the country as he could in 90 days. Starting in Washington and ending in San Francisco, he passed through Canada and along Route 66 taking in several places not on any logical route across the country, and eventually covering half of the States of America, and a few bits of Canada too. In one of the hottest summers on record he got caught in more storms than should have been possible, accidentally commited three very petty crimes, appeared on the stage of a top TV sitcom, and got mistaken for both a serious art collector and a potential terrorist before returning home. Around the States in 90 Days is the story of a journey across interstates, highways and dirt tracks, that passes through cities, one horse towns, and no horse towns.

Product Details

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: NoLogo Publications (May 4, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0956155103
• ISBN-13: 978-0956155108
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,326,018 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Andy Moseley was born in Walsall, a small town in the West Midlands of England, in the 1960s. He now lives in Kingston, Surrey. His first book, "Around the States in 90 Days" was published in 2009, and tells the story of his 2006 attempt to see as much of the States as possible in three months.
Andy admits that previous attempts at writing fiction fell apart due to his inability to complete a story, and says that his American adventure provided the perfect opportunity to finally finish a book, as the start, middle and end were already set out for him. Further proof of how the journey kickstarted his writing career came recently with his first play "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" which tells the story of a couple from Memphis celebrating their twentieth wedding anniversary in the year that Elvis died. The play was selected for the 2009 One Act Festival at the CornerHOUSE, a community arts centre in Surrey, where it recieved widespread acclaim. He is currently working on an extended version of the play, and other writing projects, and hopes that a second book won't take him quite as long to complete as his first book did.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Route 66 has Almost Everything, March 31, 2010

By 

Janet Walker (Palm Springs, Ca.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Around the States in 90 Days (Paperback)

"What? No Tea?" Britons Discover Route 66 has Almost Everything
Reviewed by Janet Walker
Following the in the footsteps of many in Britain who have embarked on a great adventure, Andy Moseley sold his home, reduced his possessions, and used the proceeds to finance a monumental exploration across the ocean in the United States, accompanied by his girlfriend, Liz. "Around the States in 90 Days" tells the funny, adventurous, and thought -provoking story of their experiences as foreigners trying to comprehend the many variances of American culture.
Intrigued by the legendary tales of road trips on Route 66, Moseley determined to retrace the long-ago famous route that had inspired music, books, and wanderlust in so many. In doing so, it was only to be expected that he and Liz would experience as many misadventures as pleasant experiences. But that's life, isn't it?
Beginning in Washington, D.C, the pair quickly learned about crime in the large American cities - don't venture out after dark in areas you're not familiar with - which, come to think of it, is good advice for any big city in the world.
Moseley's book also rekindles the awe and appreciation of the innumerable geographic wonders we have here in our country that many of us have come to take for granted. His description of spending his birthday discovering the Grand Canyon reminds the reader of the awe the pioneers must have felt upon first seeing this breathtaking sight. Some of the best passages in Moseley's book have to do with the local people he and Liz meet along the way, and the cultural differences that crop up to oftentimes hilarious result.
Finding themselves in even the tiniest Midwestern town, the pair manage to find the bright side and take something away from the experience. When Route 66 disappears, they gamely take the nearest interstate until they can regain the historic route. The food and drink of the locales they visit are evaluated, and the book is a good reference if you are planning on visiting the cities where the road took them, including Boston, Philadelphia, New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, and traveling westward, Springfield, Ill., St. Louis, Nashville, Dallas, Durango, Colorado, Sedona, Arizona, and Las Vegas. You are also apprised of where not to stay, eat, or have a drink. This advice can be most valuable when, in today's economy, travel dollars must be spent wisely.
After negotiating the Midwest, and Southwest, it is on to California. As many have before them, the couple find that Hollywood is somewhat less than what they expected, but are pleasantly surprised by the charm of Redondo Beach. I had to remind myself, as a former resident of Orange County, that they found themselves in Redondo Beach because they were following Route 66! Orange County has some of the most beautiful stretches of beach, and the drive down the coast toward San Diego follows the coast. However, it's not Route 66.
Moseley has included historical references, often filling in why a certain town has its name, or how local traditions began. I was particularly intrigued of his story about the boy who accidentally went over Niagara Falls and survived. The author has a genuine interest in America, and it was a pleasure to amble along with him through the book as he described our country time and again as a great place. Two cities he said he would gladly live in: Chicago and Redondo Beach. And, of course the couple did find some delightful tea - but much preferred the amazing wine-tasting sessions in the Napa Valley.
It's interesting to note that the author was so taken with our cultural history, that he has subsequently written two plays, one set in Nashville, Tennessee, dealing with the legend of Elvis, and the other dealing with the legendary Kurt Cobain.