Off Road (The Archer Family Off Road) [Kindle Edition]

Stephen E. Wright (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Off Road is a journey into the uniquely American world of God, guns, big trucks, family ... and the new American civil war of progressives vs traditionalists.

Just when Paul Archer believes he has risen above his "redneck" beginnings, his girlfriend demands commitment and the only way he can escape is to flee on an off-road camping trip with his Bible-thumping brother and gun-toting father.

Though driving his luxury SUV over a trail without pavement, bridges, bathrooms, or (God help him) cell service is definitely not Paul's ideal vacation, the tranquil Colorado wilderness turns out to be the perfect place for the Archer family to bond again. But why all the big guns? If this is a hunting trip, it sure ain't rabbit season!

The plot mashes together the worlds of the successful businessman, who lives his life by his Blackberry, and the blue collar men he secretly envies who drive big trucks and work construction jobs. The world of the atheist who rolls his eyes at the followers of "ancient superstitions," and the born-again on-fire-for-the-Lord evangelicals determined to save every soul they contact. And even the "anti-violence" gun control advocate and the proud NRA member whose gun will have to be taken from his cold, dead fingers.

In other words ... the ongoing battle of red state vs. blue state. The war of cultures and political parties, but mostly of beliefs.

Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 507 KB
• Print Length: 318 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0615317650
• Publisher: The Wright Design Group Publishing; 1 edition (January 6, 2010)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00361FBV8
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #126,904 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #100 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Sports > Outdoors & Nature > Hunting & Fishing > Shooting

More About the Author

Read my novel, and you'll find out more about me than you'd ever want to know. But here are a few more facts:

* I live in Denver, Colorado.

* Though white, I grew up on a Native American Reservation in Arizona (with the Tohono O'odham -- then known as the Papago -- tribe)

* I helped produce, wrote the scripts for, and did much of the grunt work for a locally produced TV sitcom (it was admittedly cheesy, but a WHOLE lot of fun!)

* I wrote the script for a silent film that is now included in the library of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City and several short films of my own

* I make my living as a techie. Until I can get rich as a writer

* Writing is my passion. I don't know why. I guess I think I have something to say others might care about. If I'm wrong, please don't tell me.

* For some years I was probably the most successful movie writer that NEVER got a #%@! hollywood movie produced! Close, but no cigar.

* I'm married (sorry ladies) with an awesome wife and two sweet daughters.

Much more information on http://stephenewright.com
or check out my blog at http://blog.stephenewright.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars When cultures collide, God intervenes, November 24, 2009

By 

Tim Beyers (Littleton, CO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Off Road (Paperback)

Stories of spiritual and personal redemption are risky for a writer. Too often, they're either a morality play in print, or a "heartwarming tale" fit for an after-school special. Author Stephen Wright avoids both extremes to give readers a novel that's pleasingly uncomfortable.

We squirm as fast-rising entrepreneur Paul Archer tries and fails to fit in with the family he's distanced himself from. We then celebrate when Paul reconnects with his brother and father, even if his attempts are often strained and awkward. Wright reels us in because these moments feel real rather than contrived. As readers, we're better off for the effort. "Off Road" is a literary adventure worth taking.

[Full disclosure: the author asked me to help him edit this book, and I was glad to do it.]

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most masterful debut novel I have ever read, December 21, 2009

By 

Brian K. Miller "Greyhawk" (Wooster, Ohio, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Off Road (Paperback)

Debut novels are always a risk. Some people are not called to be writers and they will not accept that fate until their first novel fails. Others have the talent and vision, but never bother mastering the basics of structure, plot, and character. Stephen Wright has not only written a powerful first novel, he has done so with the skill and finese many famous writers lack.

"Off-Road" chronicles the adventures large and small of Paul Archer, a struggling entrepeneur well on the way to fame and fortune who has sacrificed every relationship he has ever had in order to get there. When faced with choosing between an off-road camping trip with his estranged family or facing the fury of his current girlfriend, Paul heads off-road and learns a lot of life lessons he skipped over in childhood. Not only does he reconnect with his family, he repairs the relationship with his girlfriend and in doing so, matures into adulthood in a way he never expected.

Mastery is evident on every single page. The characters are both iconic and individual, the descriptions are lucid and riveting, cliches are absent, and the technical aspects of guns and big trucks are spot on. As if that were not enough, even the theology is fully inline with contemporary evangelical Christianity without ever becoming preachy or condescending.

It is a very rare thing to find a novel that excels in both writing craft and technical accuracy. To find such a novel in the debut work of a new writer approaches miraculous.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This book is not just about off roading and guns, November 30, 2009

By 

M Rockey (Denver CO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Off Road (Paperback)

As a woman and mother who read this I'm not really interested in guns or big trucks, but the characters are riveting. It's men being men out in the woods, and it's interesting to watch the interaction. And living in Colorado I also liked the view of the Colorado mountains and camping.

But what made this good was seeing the characters, two brothers, trying to work out their differences and come together as a family. And then there was the suspense as to what the father was going to do and why they kept talking about the little sister who was murdered when they were kids.

I assumed this was a book for men, but I really enjoyed it as well. I'd recommend it to anyone.