Customer Reviews

A Crossing: A Cyclist's Journey Home

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I must admit to being quite disappointed with this book. I found
it to feel like a less than honest story, in both the tone
and the details. I found myself doubting the story as the
details didn't seem to ring true. The story of the Wheel Wizard
using a hammer in the manner described to fix a wheel is
either fabricated, or belies the author's cluelessness concerning
bicycle repair and maintenance. The story of the war vet simply
felt anachronistic, like it was a forced story made up to fill
out an otherwise empty section of the book. These are just
two of too many examples where I found my self doubting
the story as told. It really doesn't matter if all the details
are true, because if they are true the book has failed even more
so to convey what is supposed to be a very personal experience
of journey and learning.

I was also surprised to find positive reviews of this book. For
anyone considering reading this book, if you haven't yet read
Miles from nowhere, you would read that one instead. That book
is by far the better travel tale, and simply doesn't fail to
convey an honesty that A Crossing lacks.

I am an avid Bicycling and Touring book reader. "A Crossing" by Brian Newhouse was a treasure. I read the book in less than 24 hours. It has everything a book like this needs. Insight into crossing the United States by bicycle, a positive attitude, fun, amusing, and one of the best writers I have had the priviledge to read. Thank You Amazon.com, for without you I wouldn't have found this wonderful book. Connie McAyeal

If you're wondering what a cross-country bike ride might be like and whether you might like to do it, don't bother reading this book. There are many other books that more accurately describe the experience, or at least make it seem more appealing. (Barbara Savage's book about her around-the-world journey is quiet entertaining) The author spends most of the book discussing his relationship with his emotionally distant Scandinavian father. Unfortunately, he doesn't really offer anything novel or insigntful on this topic. His musings on religion are equally annoying and sophmoric.

I'm sorry, but this was just not worth the money. Not even close. The only interesting character in the entire book ditches him in the first two weeks. With such a wonderful experience, you would think that there might actually be a few more notable characters. Instead, the author splits his time between daydreaming about some obviously disturbed "girlfriend" and her equally bizarre friends and whining about his father that doesn't pay tribute to him. I was really expecting an episode with snake-handlers.

This book is a great combination of adventure and the author's own personal journey across America. It was a prompt for me to go out there and do a bit of cycle touring myself. I am hoping that he will write a second book to find out how his personal story ends.

My family lived neighbors to Brian for 5 years and he and our daughter have remained good friends since that time. To read about his bicycling experiences, as well as some of his personal struggles, make this a highly enjoyable book full of personal insight. Good for you Brian!

I read Newhouse's book when it first was published and enjoyed it a lot. Recently I gave a copy to my girlfriend, who also loved it. The occasion prompted me to pull my own copy off the shelf and give it another read. I was reminded once again of Newhouse's incredibly honest, understated writing style that makes you feel just exactly what he's feeling. I've rarely read a book so completely free of the author's pretensions and ego. This is a writer of real skill. I hope he publishes more books.

It would be easy to recommend this book to men who have reserved Scandinavian fathers. That's who you would share your copy with. But the message, in elegant and crisp language, is just as strong about relationships. Unfortunately, most men - at least in the Midwest - do not talk about relationships outside of their marriage. When I read this book, I felt the excitement and imagination in those age-old reasons why we care about people. I don't cycle, but the intensity of the cross-country trip was a meaningful backdrop to what happens when I cycle in and out of my friends' lives.

Newhouse writes of the cross country journey with accessible english and features insights into some of the basic needs of spirituality, romance/love, and friendship. Occasionally the book is laugh out loud funny and at other times, the writing inspires calm, stilling reflection. FInally, the book allows folks to share in a ride of their life across dramatic geography of our country.

This fellow is a good writer and I enjoyed the book, but for the wrong reasons. I thought is was a book about cycling but that is just the excuse to tell Brian's personal story. Don't expect to find much information about practical touring issues, there are other books that do that better. Still, Brian deals with many father/son, family religious issues many of us can relate to. If that's what your looking for you won't be disappointed. If your looking for lots of cycling experiences, look elsewhere.