Customer Reviews

Way Off the Road: Discovering the Peculiar Charms of Small Town America

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Bill Geist's "Way Off the Road: Discovering the Peculiar Charms of Small Town America" contains essays of his travel in small town America. Most of these small towns are virtually unknown, and some essays are more memorable than others. The memorable ones include the essays of the headless chicken; the sole citizen of Monowi, Nebraska (population: 1); the cow photographer; and many others. The author provides both a wacky and interesting picture of small towns, mostly in the Midwest. Contrary to the belief that small towns are boring, these essays actually gives a rather fun and proud portrayal of people living in these towns.

This was a fun read for me to learn more about the different characters in small town America. The writing was conversational and witty. However, I can see how some readers may feel offended by his style of writing which at times can be seen as making small jokes of small town folks. In any case, do not be deter by that as the essays in this book are fun and unique.

I have never laughed so hard in my life - Bill Geist is a genius. I used half a box of tissue because I was laughing so hard all afternoon as I read this book that tears were pouring down my face and the print was blurry. As wonderful as the entire book was, my very favorite chapter was the first, "Standstill Parade" - I wanted to share the humor and realized that I would be incapable of reading that chapter to anyone without bursting into gales of laughter which would have spoiled for them. It occurred to me that married couples would drive each other crazy first by cackling and roaring with laughter during the entire time they read the book and then by wanting to share the humor with each other and trying to read while being unable to control their laughter.

I've been going through a very grim period lately and friends recommended this book. I'm now going to read Bill's other books - sure worked better than antidepressants. Wait until you read about the "road kill stew" - the watermelon champion, the ride in a vintage plane with a man who had had five heart attacks to deliver papers to outlying ranches.

You'll read about "Mike, the Headless Chicken" - reminded me of when my father decapitated a chicken destined for the stew pot and it flew over the roof of the house before expiring - well Mike took a lot longer to expire - long enough to become famous. I won't give any more away - you have to read it yourself.

I promise you "Way Off the Road" is good for whatever ails you.

Someone gave me this book as a Christmas present because I travel in an RV, which Geist did on his 5,600 mile road trip across the country, gathering stories of small town America. I guess they gave me this book thinking Geist a kindred spirit, but the photo on the cover made me wince because he looks so goofy and the story excerpts on the back cover seemed so lame, which they are. But when I read the book I laughed in spite of myself, not at the stories, which are too Ma-and-Pa Kettle-ish, but at Bill's sarcastic asides and self-deprecating humor. You can't help but like him.

I'm embarrassed to say I'd never heard of Bill Geist, probably because I rarely watch television. But I'm glad I finally met him. The stories serve as a background for his witty comments that are very, very funny. His book is a perfect antidote for a dreary day.

The reason for the 3 stars is that the story collection itself seems forced and contrived. Surely, one can find humor in America without resuscitating Gomer and Goober Pyle.

Ever since seeing him on Sunday Morning, I've really enjoyed Bill Geist's work. His sense of humor is great, and I recently drove across the country and can attest to some of the things he wrote about! Good stuff!

Bill Geist travels the US and writes about small town America with gentle humor and fascinating facts. Some of his chapters are hilarious, some more gentle but all present a facet of the US most of us never see and might want to after reading this wonderful book.

This was my first Geist book, however, if you enjoy the observations of Bill Bryson, you will enjoy this collection!

I have been following Geist's writing and tv career for years, and was dying for his take on small town America. It doesn't disappoint, these stories are hilarious and heartfelt -- nothing small about this book!

Excellent book. Hard to put down once you get started. Small town folks can really relate to the stories.

This book may someday be the only record of a vanishing and unique part of small town America. A wonderful adventure written with Bill Geist's best tongue in cheek news style. Perfect for summer reading (you can read one story and put it down if you MUST...but believe me you will pick it up again at the first opportunity!) Even though I have never been to many of these towns, I recognized the personalities of neighbors and friends - laughed out loud at descriptions of food and accomodations, and in general just thoroughly enjoyed this on my own small town front porch. Highly recommended *****+++++

Geist is not exactly Charles Kuralt but he is on the road to interesting towns and places with a dryer and lighter wit while he discovers unique stories across the country. Generally composed of half a dozen pages per adventure, he writes about his interactions with folk that reflect his on air episodes of the same. These are so off the beaten path that the book provides an excellent escape from any daily conflict or a wonderful travel book to read on flights (or waiting for ones in-between). The stories are unique with lots of humor and often fascinating. My favorite in the book is the fellow who comes up with an idea on how to handle over grown prairie dog populations that inundate farms to soccer fields out west. From a dream, he comes up with a truck with a high-powered vacuum. In addition, you probably guessed it; he puts a huge vacuum hose into Prairie Dog holes and sucks the little varmints into a padded safe chamber inside the truck. He even has a translucent window in the hose so he can see what he is sucking though the hose. By the amount of resistance, he can tell what he has gotten and he adjusts pressure accordingly. As Geist aptly describes, the dogs are generally unharmed although slightly dazed from their interrupted sleep. A book I like to read in bursts, having time to savor the best parts. Not everything is such fun such as the town that celebrates their unfortunate "frozen man" (shades of Ted Williams) but for the most part, they are entertaining.