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.
Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road
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This second motorcycle memoir (following 1996's The Masked Rider: Cycling in West Africa), from the author best known as drummer and lyricist of the legendary Canadian rock band Rush, chronicles a journey of healing. In the late-90s, Peart suffered a pair of life-changing tragedies: he lost his daughter and his wife of 20 years within a 10 month period. In the fall of 1998, in an effort to distract himself from grief and reevaluate his life, he embarked on a trip that took him across Canada and through the U.S. and Mexico. Through journal notes and letters written over the course of 55,000 miles, Peart chronicles his feelings of loss and envy, and the slow rebuilding of his life through the support of friends and family. Ghost Rider is also an alternative travel guide fuelled by the author's detailed descriptions of towns, roads, hotels, restaurants, and the people he encountered. "Moab proved to be the perfect small town, at least by the Ghost Rider's exacting criteria," he writes, "those being that a town should have a decent motel, a small museum of local history, a friendly post office, and a well-stocked liquor store." Thought-provoking and even humorous at times, Peart reveals in straight-ahead prose the emotional turmoil following such an epic loss--and we ride shotgun as he gradually acquires a renewed sense of purpose. --Eric Wilson
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“Well-written, harrowing and filled with just-right touches of levity, [this book] is a necessary story about the human condition.” -- Altfresh
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Outside the house by the lake the heavy rain seemed to hold down the darkness, grudging the slow fade from black, to blue, to gray. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Outside the house by the lake the heavy rain seemed to hold down the darkness, grudging the slow fade from black, to blue, to gray. Read the first page
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As a long time Rush/Neil Peart fan I may not be the most objective reviewer of this book as I tore through its pages with the mindset of a fan and not as a casual reader. Being a Rush fan and a motorcyclist, I'm probably as captive a reader as any author could hope for, so perhaps I grant this book some liberties where others may feel it falls a little short.
The passing of Peart's daughter and wife starts the book on it's haunting footing as the author takes you on a two wheel ride over miles and miles of road while simultaneously allowing you to feel his pain, recount his memories, think his thoughts, and bask in his ultimate healing. All while the odometer keeps clicking away.
What is immediately striking is the author's raw emotional openness - as though his motorcycle were the couch and the reader the psychologist listening to him poor it all out. The down side of this is that in his honesty you see him as not always being the most sympathetic of characters - often he comes across being uptight, anal, and often self indulged. Rather than recounting memories of his lost loved ones, allowing his devastation to be more concrete and real for the reader he regales in story after story of past motorcycle trips with his best friend Brutus. By the end of the book you know more about Brutus than the loved ones he lost.
The beauty of this book is experiencing the world as viewed through the eyes of a well-read, thoughtful artist. He has such a poetic sensibility about the world that the sights, sounds and smells of the passing countryside take on a fresh life. Throughout the book he is searching, but never out of control - he grieves as you would expect, but not driven by his emotions - instead he rides and thinks.
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I enjoy travel stories but this one was more. It was deeply engaging and I could relate to the lonely road stories as I have done them over the years. I sometimes think exploring alone gives you different insights to the world around you but not always. It is good to see that his new wife has pulled him through his darkness hours although one never forgets. People matter. A challenging and wonderfully written book. As a Rush fan I enjoyed it even more. May Neil and his new family live a blessed life together.
Roger Poirier
Roger Poirier
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Bought this for my hubby to read on our vacation. Couldn't put it down! I think I may read it.
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3.9 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Ghostrider needs ghostwriter
How do we deal with the untimely death of close family members? Motorcycle road trip, alcohol, smokes, many letters with our convicted friend, and a new girlfriend/wife. Read more
Published 21 months ago by H. Kennedy
1.0 out of 5 stars
Reads like a very long Rush song
I could make my way through the first third of this book but could stand no more of it's self righteous, pointlessly thick preaching. Read more
Published on Nov 14 2005
5.0 out of 5 stars
I feel the soft ground under my feet; and I am moved.
"Living in a fisheye lens, caught in the camera eye,
I have no heart to lie,
I can't pretend a stranger is a long-awaited friend. Read more
I have no heart to lie,
I can't pretend a stranger is a long-awaited friend. Read more
Published on July 16 2004 by Simon Magus
2.0 out of 5 stars
Only for the dedicated
As a fan of Rush and Neil Peart for 20+ years, I was hoping this book would reveal more about Neil's human side and the tragedies he faced and overcame. Read more
Published on July 3 2004 by Jerry
5.0 out of 5 stars
What a storyteller
As a drummer and fan of Rush, I was intrigued when I came across this book. Reading the back cover, I was intrigued to read of Neil's loss and struggle and I wanted to read his... Read more
Published on Jun 10 2004 by E. J. Luedtke
3.0 out of 5 stars
The uncomfortable rock star takes an uncomfortable journey.
Both physically and emotionally. Mr. Peart writes what must have been a most difficult book about recent tragedies he's suffered and the "healing road" he's taken to... Read more
Published on May 5 2004 by Jared D Ladish
4.0 out of 5 stars
Neils tragedy and triumph
Good read, heartbreaking 1st couple of chapters that kicks off the book. Middle chapters bog down a little as lengthly desciptions of desert landscape becomes monotonous. Read more
Published on April 20 2004 by TPG
5.0 out of 5 stars
The road that heals could be ridden by anyone
Although this book can be found in the Music section in stores, it should be allowed to occupy a space in the therapeutic section as well. Read more
Published on April 19 2004 by Tamirra C Stewart
1.0 out of 5 stars
BOOK SUCKS
After being a big long time Rush fan, musician and a motorcyclist I bought the book. I quickly became disgusted with the book. Plenty of U.S.A. Read more
Published on April 12 2004 by steven f filipponi
1.0 out of 5 stars
BOOK SUCKS
After being a big long time Rush fan and a motorcyclist I bought the book. I quickly became disgusted with the book. Plenty of U.S.A. Read more
Published on April 12 2004 by steven f filipponi
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