Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road 
asked by bigben on November 3, 2006 7:45 PM
In less than a year, Neil Peart lost both his 19-year-old daughter, Selena, and his wife, Jackie. Faced with overwhelming sadness and isolated from the world in his home on the lake, Peart was left without direction. This memoir tells of the sense of loss and directionlessness that led him on a 55,000-mile journey by motorcycle across much of North America, down through Mexico to Belize, and back again. He had needed to get away, but had not really needed a destination. His travel adventures chronicle his personal odyssey and include stories of reuniting with friends and family, grieving, thinking, and reminiscing as he rode until he encountered the miracle that allowed him to find peace.
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Well, it's been a long time since I read this book. Though it left a lasting impression.
Mr. Peart is arrogant. Arrogance is something I've learned to accept (and even appreciate) in people who are super talented, brilliant, or otherwise gifted.
I truly enjoyed his views. I didn't agree with all of them.
The interesting (and notable!) thing about reading Peart is that he doesn't allow himself to be filtered by an editor for content. This is raw writing at it's best and most honest. With a decidedly superior intellect and a comittment to working at the craft of writing, we get an unfiltered look at the full human being- warts and all. And what suprises we find!
First off, being Canadian his views are decidedly not in line with Midwestern America. He is not afraid to take inventory of those around him as he travels- in some very judgemental ways. But his honesty to who he really is shines brightly in that he is willing to say things that may offend some people.
Second, there is an honest commitment to hard work in the man. To being the craftsman. Passages about his physical clumsiness seem antithetical to his musical craft, and yet he has displayed amazing feats of limb independence in his drumming and he documents how bad of a rider he might have been without practice.
When I read this man's writing I see and arrogance that is earned from hard work and some talent. That is arrogance I can appreciate as there can be found inspiration in the process of learning a craft and becoming proficient.
This should be really appreciated in Peart's writing. This raw honesty is hard to find.
Mr. Peart is arrogant. Arrogance is something I've learned to accept (and even appreciate) in people who are super talented, brilliant, or otherwise gifted.
I truly enjoyed his views. I didn't agree with all of them.
The interesting (and notable!) thing about reading Peart is that he doesn't allow himself to be filtered by an editor for content. This is raw writing at it's best and most honest. With a decidedly superior intellect and a comittment to working at the craft of writing, we get an unfiltered look at the full human being- warts and all. And what suprises we find!
First off, being Canadian his views are decidedly not in line with Midwestern America. He is not afraid to take inventory of those around him as he travels- in some very judgemental ways. But his honesty to who he really is shines brightly in that he is willing to say things that may offend some people.
Second, there is an honest commitment to hard work in the man. To being the craftsman. Passages about his physical clumsiness seem antithetical to his musical craft, and yet he has displayed amazing feats of limb independence in his drumming and he documents how bad of a rider he might have been without practice.
When I read this man's writing I see and arrogance that is earned from hard work and some talent. That is arrogance I can appreciate as there can be found inspiration in the process of learning a craft and becoming proficient.
This should be really appreciated in Peart's writing. This raw honesty is hard to find.
reviewed by caramel on November 19, 2006 6:27 AM
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I haven't read this book, therefore, I really don't deserve to comment on the lot of it. However, I had been a HUGE Rush fan throughout the many years that the band were together prior to the 80's. Reading some of the reviews of this book I seem to get a very clear picture of the kind of man that Neil Peart REALLY is, and have therefore nothing but disdain to offer him as a review in return.
This more than explains the reason why Rush music has absolutely SUCKED for the last 15 years...... It seems obvious that the problem here is the BAND THEMSELVES and not the fans who once adored them. I knew something smelled fishy and have just received the proof. Just listen to Rush's music today and you KNOW that something dear was lost.... perhaps we fans were having to succumb to the poor excuse for "sonic entertainment" from the guys because they themselves have become over-ego'd losers. Seems plausible to me.
One would (at least) THINK that losing two loved ones in the span of 1 year would make someone WAKE UP and smell the drumsticks..... Evidently, Neil had other plans. Let's see, I'll take a trip by motorcycle across the "good old" USA and put everyone down and call them FAT. Cool.... Now there's a lyricist I want to hear more from.
Anyone else who had experienced that kind of loss would have come away with EXTREME humility and reason to connect to those otherwise previously ignored. Let alone the fact that the "higher power" was trying to tell him something.... Not Neil. Like the statement that when confronted with accusations that the music sucks now, they go "Hey, we've changed with the times and we're a better band now than 20 years ago!" NOT.
Although I would never wish these guys harm and consider all of them musical geniuses, the kind of people they are (or have become?) seems to have left a lot to be desired.
This more than explains the reason why Rush music has absolutely SUCKED for the last 15 years...... It seems obvious that the problem here is the BAND THEMSELVES and not the fans who once adored them. I knew something smelled fishy and have just received the proof. Just listen to Rush's music today and you KNOW that something dear was lost.... perhaps we fans were having to succumb to the poor excuse for "sonic entertainment" from the guys because they themselves have become over-ego'd losers. Seems plausible to me.
One would (at least) THINK that losing two loved ones in the span of 1 year would make someone WAKE UP and smell the drumsticks..... Evidently, Neil had other plans. Let's see, I'll take a trip by motorcycle across the "good old" USA and put everyone down and call them FAT. Cool.... Now there's a lyricist I want to hear more from.
Anyone else who had experienced that kind of loss would have come away with EXTREME humility and reason to connect to those otherwise previously ignored. Let alone the fact that the "higher power" was trying to tell him something.... Not Neil. Like the statement that when confronted with accusations that the music sucks now, they go "Hey, we've changed with the times and we're a better band now than 20 years ago!" NOT.
Although I would never wish these guys harm and consider all of them musical geniuses, the kind of people they are (or have become?) seems to have left a lot to be desired.
reviewed by daddyadd on November 29, 2006 1:02 PM