The interesting and amusing story of crossing the US coast to coast, attempting not to use any chains, for food, accomodation or petrol (gas). Sounds easy, but ....

This is the type of book I am very drawn to. Adventure, travel, wit. And yet Dave Gorman got a bit whingey (whiney)...in fact he threw a positively cry-like-a-baby-girl-fit at one point. That was the only thing that tempered my like of the book. Duffy and I, I dare say, could have done a better job, and we even discussed how we'd have set about to do it.

Funny though, I have only sat and flipped through British tv channels two or three times. The other night I did so, perhaps the second time I ever recall doing it. And up pops this face of a person wearing a dorky cardigan. I just knew it was him. It was. He happens to host a show called 'Genius'. For those familiar with my brother Scott's Sidewalk-Not a Sidewalk, it is simliar to that! As David came to bed the show was winding down and we finished viewing it together and the end of that epiosde was pretty funny. By the way, the sound of his voice is rather dorky. (I'm not usually tough on people this way, but I think he takes a stab when he's able so I think it's fair that I just say what I think.) ;) ( )

Bought 18 Aug 2008 - Amazon

This was one of a chunk of books bought on Amazon with one of my vouchers (I ask for Amazon vouchers for Christmas/Birthday as they are close together and I can then buy books throughout the year)

This is a slightly bittersweet story of Gorman's drive across America in an old-style station wagon. He is disillusioned from his last tour through corporate America, and decides to try to get from coast to coast without paying "the man" anything. A film crew get involved and a lot of the story is about his interactions with his camera-wielding companions; however there is a nice amount of proper travel narrative and some good pictures, with more available on the website. You do get the impression that Gorman is a bit fragile and there's a graphic bit where he feels compelled to eat meat for the first time in years (not for the squeamish although I did manage!) and worry about him a bit. But a good book and I can't wait for the next one. ( )

This was a very good and profound project to write a book about and Dave Gorman is just the type of guy that would try and pull it off. The writing is witty, pithy and often self-deprecating but the futility of the project seems almost clear from the outset. Much of the book concerns the personal ups and downs of Dave as he tries gamely to stick to his rules and you can almost feel the desperation and the joy. Ultimately the book and the project lose their way, neither being the fault of the author. This is entertaining but depressing in its content which, of course, was the intent ( )

Dave Gorman - the master of the the "Stupid boy project" airport novel disappoints in this one. He is a talented writer and can obviously engage his subjects. This novel unfortunately turns into a story of how to drive a 1970's rust-bucket from one gas station to the next. Very disappointing considering the potential of the idea - drive west to east USA without using a chain-store. ( )