From Publishers Weekly
A group of stock car racing fans embarks on a bus tour of Southern speedways—seven states in eight days—as a tribute to legendary NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt in this meandering road novel modeled after the
Canterbury Tales. Harley Claymore, a down-and-out race car driver who yearns to be reinstated, is a tour guide with an encyclopedic knowledge of spectacular races and risk-loving drivers. His "Where are you folks from?" introduces a diverse group of tour participants: Karen and Shane plan to be married at the first stop, where the bride's Wiccan mother will be waiting, and the groom will try to come to terms with his grief over the death of his hero, Dale, in the 2001 Daytona 500; longtime fan Jim, married 47 years to Arlene, hopes her incipient Alzheimer's won't spoil their enjoyment of the tour; Bill Knight, an Episcopalian priest in smalltown Canterbury, N.H., is chaperone for a dying orphan who was selected for a Last Wish trip; Nebraska resident Ray has proudly plowed his alfalfa field with a giant three (Dale's racing number). Veteran McCrumb provides a lively illustration of the cult of celebrity and offers instructive speculation about the human need for heroes. Minimal drama and suspense, however, will make this best suited to those who thrill at the sight of a memorial number three.
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A busload of unlikely travel companions, thrown together by accident, luck, or choice, begins a modern-day pilgrimage to honor the memory of seven-time NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt. With track insider Harley Claymore as tour director, the improbable pilgrims begin a journey of the NASCAR circuit. From Bristol to Daytona, they leave wreaths and heartfelt messages for "The Intimidator." Anna Fields's superb characterizations, whether priest or honeymooner, seriously ill child or Alzheimer's patient, bring each character energy and dignity. Spot-on with good-old-boy accents, Fields also does well as the wacky Wiccans who plan a racetrack wedding. Sharyn McCrumb offers an unpatronizing look into the world of small town America, trailer parks, and stock car racing, as well keen insights into the human need for heroes. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine--
Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
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