Backroads, New Jersey: Driving at the Speed of Life [Paperback]

Mark Di Ionno (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 14, 2002

Mark Di Ionno is a Jersey guy through and through. He's lived in fifteen different towns in six different New Jersey counties. He has spent over twenty years covering the state as a reporter and editor. Who better to take readers on a very personal tour of the backroads of New Jersey? In Backroads, New Jersey, Di Ionno leads readers off the congested interstates to the seldom-explored secondary roads, where the real life of the state can be found. These intercounty or 500 series roads are a 6,788-mile network of mostly two-lane highways. They are never the most direct way to get anywhere-but they are a pleasure to drive and a way to see New Jersey life as lived by New Jerseyans. Travel with Di Ionno as he takes us to see the state's amazing beauty -- from the dizzying cliffs of the Palisades, to the blunted peaks of the Highlands and Kittatinny Ridges, to the rolling hills of Morris, Hunterdon, and Somerset counties, to the topsoil-wealthy agricultural belts of Monmouth and the southern counties, to the flat, sandy beaches of the Jersey Shore. Di Ionno calls New Jersey "a place of infinite natural beauty, a place of intricate human patterns. A place where you can see a lot in a little time. New Jersey is a restless state for restless people. A state for wanderers to explore." Backroads, New Jersey is a rare chance to see it all through the eyes and experiences of a well-traveled Jerseyan. Mark Di Ionno is a senior editor at the state's top newspaper, the Star-Ledger. Two of his books published with Rutgers University Press-New Jersey's Coastal Heritage: A Guide and A Guide to New Jersey's Revolutionary War Trail-won the New Jersey Studies Academic Alliance Award.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Mark Di Ionno is a Jersey guy through and through. He's lived in fifteen different towns in six different New Jersey counties. He has spent over twenty years covering the state as a reporter and editor. Who better to take readers on a very personal tour of the backroads of New Jersey?

In Backroads, New Jersey, Di Ionno leads readers off the congested interstates to the seldom-explored secondary roads, where the real life of the state can be found. These intercounty or 500 series roads are a 6,788-mile network of mostly one-lane highways. They are never the most direct way to get anywhere-but they are a pleasure to drive and a way to see New Jersey life as lived by New Jerseyans.

Travel with Di Ionno as he takes us to see the state's amazing beauty-from the dizzying cliffs of the Palisades, to the blunted peaks of the Highlands and Kittatinny Ridges, to the rolling hills of Morris, Hunterdon, and Somerset counties, to the topsoil-wealthy agricultural belts of Monmouth and the southern counties, to the flat, sandy beaches of the Jersey Shore. Di Ionno calls New Jersey "a place of infinite natural beauty, a place of intricate human patterns. A place where you can see a lot in a little time. New Jersey is a restless state for restless people. A state for wanderers to explore." Backroads, New Jersey is a rare chance to see it all through the eyes and experiences of a well-traveled Jerseyan.

About the Author

Mark Di Ionno is a senior editor at the state's top newspaper, the Star-Ledger. Two of his books published with Rutgers University Press-New Jersey's Coastal Heritage: A Guide and A Guide to New Jersey's Revolutionary War Trail-won the New Jersey Studies Academic Alliance Award.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Rutgers University Press (August 14, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813531330
• ISBN-13: 978-0813531335
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,111,645 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a history of NJ as well as a personal history, fascinating, December 30, 2003

By 

jerseybookseller (nj) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Backroads, New Jersey: Driving at the Speed of Life (Paperback)

I bought this book expecting it to be a description of intersting stores and shops, perhaps some places to eat alnog some of the secondary highways of NJ. What I got was the personal history of the author as well as a history of NJ. It was a fascinating read as DiLonno takes out along several of the "500" roads of NJ, which are secondary hgihways designed to supplement the larger, faster roads of the state. DiLonno tells us about the towns you pass thru and described the contrast from one end to the other end, and tells us tales from his own past when he traveled some of these roads with his father. These personal details as well as the interesting and obscure facts about the towns is both fascianting and illuminating. I expected a guide to where to shop and eat and instead I got a history of NJ.

I throughly enjoyed the book, but I must say that B&W pictures suffer from being (IMHO) not crisp or sharp enough, a tad on the dark side and not having enough depth of field. That's not to say they're bad, but I always believe B&W pictures, to be effective need to be the things I mentioned above, and these weren't. The color pictures are good, but there aren;t enough. (Disclaimer: I actually love B&W, and have nothing against it)

One negative: There are 17 roads profiled, in a book of 137 pages so that's roughly 8 pages per road. For some reason he devotes less then one page each to Route 501 & 514. I'm not sure why but since 501 is the only road in the book that goes thru Bergen County, I was disapointed that it was glossed over, especially since Bergen County is home to the earliest colonial settlements anywhere, and since a lot of important history took place here.

Otherwise, an excellent, thought provoking book.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!, June 15, 2003

By 

D. Olsen (N.J. United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Backroads, New Jersey: Driving at the Speed of Life (Paperback)

This book is full with interesting facts, tidbits and general information regarding New Jersey's many highways and backroads that make up this great state. DiIonno did a great job putting this book together and I recommend anyone interested in the history and many tidbits about New Jersey to buy this book!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Up for an adventure in NJ? This will help you find one!, December 15, 2009

By 

Catherin A. Gumpert "A wild and crazy chick w... (the boonies of New Jersey) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Backroads, New Jersey: Driving at the Speed of Life (Paperback)

Star-Ledger columnist Mark Di Ionno's most recent book is also his most personal. It is an idiosyncratic look at the 500-series secondary, inter-county roads of New Jersey. Part travelogue, part geology and geography lesson, and always engaging, it will inspire you to fill the gas tank, find some cruising music, and wander the byways of this varied, fascinating state, to explore and seek out the daily adventures that are awaiting us all, if we just pay attention. Di Ionno, in a spring 2009 column about one of his boyhood idols, Star-Ledger sportswriter emeritus Jerry Izenberg, wrote these words: Like many of you, I grew up reading Jerry Izenberg, so I knew him long before I met him. This is the greatest compliment you can pay a writer. Jerry's writing voice is natural and honest. It tells you who he is. He writes like he talks, minus the swear words. When you are done reading this book, you will realize that these words also apply to Di Ionno himself - you too will know him, even if you never have the privilege of meeting him in the flesh.