Customer Reviews

Life is a Road, the Soul is a Motorcycle

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This is one of those books that you either love or hate, either it touches you and makes you long for the open road and the adventures beyond the next "twistie" or you throw up your hands in disgust and consider it wasted time.

This is not a novel, on the surface its a simple set of small narrations of what happened during a trip: I took road x, stopped and had x for dinner, slept in motel x, etc. For many people this is all they get from it and its not terribly exciting.

For others, those who have the travelling "bug" this is a thrilling narrative of the romance of the open road. What it feels like to leave work on a friday, all strung out and hit the "twisties" and stop at small places where people call you "hon" and to begin to put your priorities back in order.

Mr. Meyers feelings towards his ride and his enjoyment of the open road, the desire to just start riding, pick roads at random and see where you end up... more importantly his ability to enjoy things that others avoid, like riding in the middle of a storm or right through the middle of a dust-devil..appeal to me, its something that people either understand or look at you funny about. If you understand then this book is for you!

O.k. I have just received my copy of "Life is a Road" and finished reading it. I figure now is a good time to review this book and what I got from it.

Having known the author for many years and being mentioned in the book a couple of times I may not have a completely unbiased opinion concerning "Life is a Road". Of course, like most people, I don't have many unbiased opinions on many subjects.

The question of why I would read "Life is a Road" is simply answered in my case. I did not want a 300 pound biker, who occasionally smells like an ox, sitting in my living room sticking a book under my nose every 3 minutes saying "Read this, read this!" So it is a matter of simple self defense when looked at in that light. The question of what I got out of reading the book is not so simply answered.

Even though I experienced most of the trips described in "Life is a Road" I still gained insight into the larger world around me by reading the book. Although I was there (in varying states of exuberance - boredom - awe - misery - delight etc...) seeing the events from the authors point of view made me re-evaluate some of the ideas and concepts I developed along the journey. Two people seeing the same thing can have completely opposite reactions. A case in point is the 75 mile dust storm we encountered in far west Texas during the Hell and Gone trip. My reaction to the event was "Well hell, now I have to breath and taste sand for an hour or so." Danny's reaction as expressed in his book is one more of wonder. It did not strike me as a wonder of any kind during that ride, but looking back on it through the descriptions, and through the eyes, of the author made me realize what a wonderful experience it was. Amazing how two people can be so much alike and so totally different.

Like the author I am an avid motorcycle rider. Long distance ridding is a true joy in itself. For me the journey is an opportunity to pit myself against the road and nature, as well as see new things along the way. For the author it is an opportunity to once again experience the vibrancy of life that a soul of true passion craves. We each take something home with us at the end of each journey, in my case photographs and stories. What the author brings home from his journeys is superbly revealed in "Life is a Road". Unlike my photos, which can never truly depict the scope and depth of their subjects, the stories in "Life is a Road" does an amazing job of letting the reader feel and see their subjects.

Even if I had never ridden a motorcycle, reading this book would have given me something new. So, what did I get from reading "Life is a Road"? A whole new outlook on motorcycle journeys - and guide posts on what to look for on the next journey.

The main point the book brings across is one I have known for many years - the journey is the point, not the destination. It is easy to forget that at times and it is nice to be reminded in such an entertaining way.

I would recommend this book to not only motorcycle riders but also anyone who has the urge to journey out into the larger world.

I read this book almost non-stop. If you ride a motorcycle, it's a must read. If you don't, read it and find out why the rest of us ride! Humor, adventure, a little sureal, something for all. The story about finding the cat is worth the price of admission alone!
I'm looking forward to reading his next tome, as soon as riding season's over :).

The author may be a great guy but this book is just plain awful. I've read almost every book published on touring and this thing is the worst hands down. If you need to read a "motorcycle" book to know it's hot in Texas, Motel 6 has noisy air conditioners, chicken fried steak can be nauseating - and be told this in EVERY FREAKING CHAPTER!, than you may be able to get through his book. I gave up halfway through when the "poetry" showed up, it's hard to believe a grown man could write such drivel. I don't think I've ever had a more visceral dislike of a book than I experienced toward this one.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Mr. Meyer does a wonderful job of painting the imagery of a scene. He also has a great sense of humor. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes to read just for pure enjoyment.

"Daniel Meyer is a Dallas area author who has written two books of short stories that are at once charming and very American. He travels the roads on a Honda Valkyrie and has... adventures. He writes these episodes up in a succint style, which makes for quick and thoughtful reading. More than 'adventure stories', these books are little nuggets of Americanna that give just a little different perspective on contemprary life. Well worth the reading!"

- editors, localbizalliance.com

I purchased this book last summer. I had the pleasure of meeting the author, and getting him to autograph my copy.
This winter, I finally got around to reading the book while on a trip (family death). Daniel's writing style, insight, ability to find something good to write about in his riding adventures... all contributed to making a nice couple of evenings (during an unhappy time) for me. The book's stories brought smiles, laughs, and longings to return home (to ride) to my soul.
I've had the pleasure of quietly observing Daniel's kind hearted contributions to the lives of fellow motorcyclists and their families (internet forums). A kind word, or a signed copy of his book sent to them (to help them along a difficult path).
Daniel Meyer's writings will not only provide you with spirited entertainment, but will show you the better side of motorcycling, and the people who enjoy riding them. It may even tug at your heart strings and cause you to long for some "time behind bars" (handlebars, that is).

It wasn't bad, just not my sort of thing.

The cover (at least of my edition) bears the legend "a novel by Daniel Meyer". It's certainly NOT that. It could be argued that it's a collection of short stories, but it's really not that either... mostly just vignettes of motorcycling with no real plot lines, with some of what might be poetry thrown in.

I think by "novel" the author means that it's fiction, which at least some of it almost certainly is. We are, for instance, asked to suspend disbelief when a very attractive lady, found naked, barefoot and alone in the woods at night (which she doesn't bother to explain over hours of conversation, and is apparently never asked) later produces a personalized calling card. Not "calling card" as a euphemism or metaphor, a real, physical card. The fact that authors, unlike movie directors, don't have "continuity" departments doesn't mean that they couldn't sometimes benefit from them.

I read it through, and enjoyed a few parts of it, but it doesn't gel as literature or fiction, nor does it really convey much about the experience of motorcycling.. at least as I experience it. Despite the somewhat pretentious title, there's very little in the way of pondering motorcycling's nature, beyond expressions of exuberance. Well, there is a great deal of exuberance involved, but there are also depths that go untouched here.

In fairness to the author, capturing much about the experience seems nearly impossible for any writer.. but I keep hoping.

Daniel Meyer is not merely a motorcycle owner, he embraces the highway from the back of a Honda cruiser, with gusto and passion. This is a man who thinks nothing of riding to another state for lunch. His humor and attention to detail will amuse at one moment and haunt your thoughts the next.

Ride along. Feel the wind in your hair!

Never mind that I haven't been on the back of a motorcycle in over thirty years, I greatly enjoyed Daniel Meyer's "Life is a Road, the Soul is a Motorcycle." He has a keen eye for detail and a great talent for keeping the reader engrossed in his delightfully rendered stories. Do you like travel and adventure? Do you enjoy passion? Do you like to laugh out loud? You'll find all that and more within these pages. Not only is Dan an excellent prose writer, you'll find some amazing poetry to ponder over, as well. What I like most about his writing is that it comes across strong and clear that Dan knows that life is for living, and he does it well. I highly recommend it.