Border Crossing: On the Road from Peking to Paris [Paperback]

Rosie Thomas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2001 | ISBN-10: 1860498116 | ISBN-13: 978-1860498114

On September 6, 1997, Rosie Thomas, mother of two, bestselling author of a dozen novels, nearing 50 years of age, stepped into a Volvo Amazon in Beijing that was to take her half-way across the world. She and her co-driver—nearly twenty years her junior—Phil Bowen, a pearl diver, charter boat skipper, and photographer, were set to retrace the run of the first ever international motor rally. The excitement of the daily time challenge, the strange camaraderie, the bickering over who should drive, the dangerous endurance test of miles on dirt roads, up mountains and through deserts, followed by nights spent sleeping outdoors or in flea pit hotels, is more than matched by Rosie's own internal journey, including a near-death experience at the top of the Himalayas.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'A compelling narrative ... It is a measure of the success of this book that the reader is very nearly as reluctant to turn the last page' INDEPENDENT 'Impressive and pacy' MAIL ON SUNDAY 'A thrilling story' SCOTSMAN 'Inspirational and exciting ... brilliantly told' MARIE CLARE 'In December 1996 Rosie Thomas received a cryptic message. You know you want to do it. Just say yes. P. The note was from Phil Bowen, a mountaineer and photographer Thomas had met on a trek to the Everest base camp several months before. Bowen wanted her to drive half way round the world with him in an antique Volvo Amazon, in a recreation of the first ever international motor rally, the 1907 Peking to Paris Motor Challenge. Thomas, mother of two and best selling novelist pushing fifty, didn't exactly fit the young, male rally driver stereotype but decided to do it anyway. As a young woman she hadn't travelled: "Travel was dangerous, and demanded a sense of inner strength and adjustment that I didn't possess." Now she felt more confident. "I held all the threads of my life in my own hands now, and if I wasn't going to travel while I was at the peak of my abilities and still had some physical capacity left, then I probably never would." Border Crossing is packed with antique cars, millionaire drivers, and, of course, breakdowns--but at its core this is less a book about rallying than about personal challenges. When Thomas's health breaks down she gets little support from the mostly male crew and doctors. She craves emotional support that Phil can't always give. This travelogue takes a refreshingly frank look at the relations between women, men and cars.' - Kathleen Keefe, AMAZON.CO.UK REVIEW

About the Author

Rosie Thomas was born and grew up in North Wales. She read English at Oxford and worked in publishing. Since the birth of her first child she has written ten novels. She lives in north London.

Product Details

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group (December 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1860498116
• ISBN-13: 978-1860498114
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 4.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,520,634 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Is Not A Sunday Drive In The Country!!!, April 23, 2005

By 

John Baranyai "Book Nerd And Ex High School G... - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Border Crossing: On the Road from Peking to Paris (Paperback)

In September 1997 a woman by the name of Rosie Thomas set off in a modified Volvo with her co driver, Phil Bowen to take part in the re enactment of the first ever run International Motor Rally. Ms. Thomas has written this book about her very memorable LONG road trip. Along the way she hankers for a decent glass of wine in "dry" countries, argues with Phil and fantasizes about what kind of guy she would like Phil to be. The reader will cheer the two of them as they continue on their journey.One gem in this book is when Rosie gets to the stage where she can't face another meal of Chinese food and no doubt would like a good old American meal of steak and potatoes!!!You will feel like you are in the car with them on this momentous journey. This is a very well written book about a very long, but never boring journey by car.Well done Rosie and I salute you!!!

5.0 out of 5 stars Hell yeah Rosie!!! Great personal journey on the road across forever..., March 31, 2008

By 

Kimberly A. Paternoster (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Border Crossing: On the Road from Peking to Paris (Paperback)

Rosie ~ Thanks for a great book from one woman to another. This book NEVER gets boring. Now I only have to thank my dad for lending it to me!!