Customer Reviews

Longrider: A Tale of Just Passin' Through

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book is so well written you actually DO hear a voice in your head as you read each line telling you these stories. Knowing many riders and being one myself, I've heard many (and seen some) similar stories.
Riders are a different breed. Mark does an excellent job of expressing the heart and soul of the joys (and agonies) of motorcycling. If you've never ridden, read this book to see if you're really up to it. You'll appreciate the insight.

Every once in a while, a writer comes along that provides a wholly unique insight into what makes their world tick. Their adventures hit home with a tapestry of humor, pathos and down-home wisdom. They also just plain entertain. Mark Twain, Johnny Cash, Garrison Kielor, Woody Guthrie come to mind. But now, you can add the name of Mark Edmonds to that exclusive list. When not teaching Writing at St. Leo University in central Florida, Dr. Edmonds, or "Tiger" as he's known to friends, climbs aboard his weathered BMW, and continues to tour the United States from border to border, and coast to coast. His newest book, Long Rider, details a million mile odyssey over a 35 year stretch that also includes journeys into Canada, Mexico, Belize and others. Not only are the stories riveting, they are written in the genuine style of an American Gulliver. This book is not to be missed! For bikers, and non-bikers alkie, this is definitely one for your library, and the cab of your Peterbilt. Mark has written and recorded a companion audiocassette tape of Epic Motorcycle Poetry called, "Gather 'Round Me Riders." His gravelly, coffee-edged, seductively smokey voice tells captivating tales of the road, highlighted with the compelling production of the night he met the devil in a rain storm.

I am also an old longrider, but this fellow has been places I have yet to visit. This is a stroy of the sights, sounds, and senses of riding long distances with various people to diverse locations. I would galdly accept an invitation to ride with the author.

Every once in a while, a writer comes along that provides a wholly unique insight into what makes their world tick. Their adventures hit home with a tapestry of humor, pathos and down-home wisdom. They also just plain entertain. Mark Twain, Johnny Cash, Garrison Kielor, Woody Guthrie come to mind. But now, you can add the name of Mark Edmonds to that exclusive list. When not teaching Writing at St. Leo University in central Florida, Dr. Edmonds, or "Tiger" as he's known to friends, climbs aboard his weathered BMW, and continues to tour the United States from border to border, and coast to coast. His newest book, Long Rider, details a million mile odyssey over a 35 year stretch that also includes journeys into Canada, Mexico, Belize and others. Not only are the stories riveting, they are written in the genuine style of an American Gulliver. This book is not to be missed! For bikers, and non-bikers alike, this is definitely one for your library, and the cab of your Peterbilt. Mark has written and recorded a companion audiocassette tape of Epic Motorcycle Poetry called, "Gather 'Round Me Riders." His gravelly, coffee-edged, seductively smokey voice tells captivating tales of the road, highlighted with the compelling production of the night he met the devil in a rain storm.

The stories were not bad but I would have expected a more organized approach to his writings. Overall this book is mildly entertaining and was definitely written for a "biker" audience. It does give you insight into one man's perspective on life and riding but lacks a connection to what he really does. His passion does burn through to the reader, if you are a biker. Overall, this book is at best satisfactory.

If you love riding motorcycles and have spent much time on the road, you will find Mark Tiger Edmonds to be a kindred spirit, a Brother of the Road.

My sister gave me this book for Christmas this year. I read it in two days and as a result have provided copies to all my riding buddies for their Christmas gifts.

Tiger, hope to meet you along the road one day and buy you a cold one. Thanks for sharing your adventures with us.

Now maybe I'm not the the best person for putting out an unbiased opinion on this book, seein' as how I actually make an appearance or two in the sequel, but I'm not tapping away here to write a review, but rather to clear some things up (decided this needed doing, and did it for the other book, too):

1) He really does talk like that - it's called vernacular - they're called colloquialisms - it's not "poseur misuse of grammar" or "poor writing", it's legitimate misuse of grammar that he uses to let you 'hear' his voice in the reading.

2) He really is a professor of English (at my alma mater) - the colloquialisms don't get in the way, as he doesn't use them while grading papers of inconsiderate, psycho, crapweasel children (though the fact that it gets straight under the skin of administrators is a bonus).

3) Such of his stories as I'm personally able to speak to (having known him for only 15 years) are the gods-honest truth - I've patched too much fiberglass for them to be anything else.



4) Forget what I said about being biased - it's a great book - go buy one for yourself and a couple for your friends right now.

....Go on, what are you still reading for? I mean it - right now!

Seldom have I encountered an autobiographical story so well told, with such a perfect blend of dark and light humor, and so revealing of the soul of the author. I have ridden long distance for several years, over much of the western states routes remembered in this book. This book totally resonated.

I just finished reading Longrider: A tale of just passin' through. I found it a thoroughly enjoyable read. Having had my motorcycle licence since '79 and always riding one as my main form of transportation, I can relate to alot of his adventures and trail-wisdom. I'm sure he left out the real juicy tales, due to legal and business reasons... Alot can, and DOES happen out there. Reason enough to go see (Or read) for yourself. It's great the way he puts things. Very original, and I doubt the least bit contrived. If he confounds you, try reading Dan Walsh. He makes H.S.T. look positively mainstream. Tiger just wrote one long campfire tale in his own vernacular. And that's never a bad thing.

Anyone that has done any long distance riding will like this one. Mark Edmonds tells it the way it is with no punchs pulled. The good and the bad of which there is plenty.All bikers have lived some of his stories.Easy read.