Roads

By: Larry McMurtry

Narrated by: George Guidall

As he crisscrosses America -- driving in search of the present, the past, and himself -- Larry McMurtry shares his fascination with this nation's great trails and the culture that has developed around them.

Ever since he was a boy growing up in Texas only a mile from Highway 281, Larry McMurtry has felt the pull of the road. His town was thoroughly landlocked, making the highway his "river, its hidden reaches a mystery and an enticement. I began my life beside it and I want to drift down the entire length of it before I end this book."

In Roads, McMurtry embarks on a cross-country trip where his route is also his destination. As he drives, McMurtry reminisces about the places he's seen, the people he's met, and the books he's read, including more than 3,000 books about travel. He explains why watching episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show might be the best way to find joie de vivre in Minnesota; the scenic differences between Route 35 and I-801; which vigilantes lived in Montana and which hailed from Idaho; and the history of Lewis and Clark, Sitting Bull, and Custer that still haunts Route 2 today.

As it makes its way from South Florida to North Dakota, from eastern Long Island to Oregon, Roads is travel writing at its best.Executive Producer: Dan Zitt
Producer: John McElroy
Original Jacket Design by Chip Kidd
Jacket Photography © Swanstock/Peter Delory
Author Photograph by Diana Lynn Ossana
©2000 by Larry McMurtry
(P)2001 Random House, Inc.

Still worth it!

A few gems, but overall a bit of a miss. Still, it feeds the wanderlust.

Larry Sees America

Whether its cattle drives or Buick drives, Larry McMurty has a unique perspective on the land and people he meets along the way. George Guidall is not my favorite narrator but he probably "is" Larry in this case.

Gave it a shot...could put it down...

I'm a lover of Charles Kuralt, traveling and the American Road...hence a book about the roads in America seemed to be right up my ally. I will say I gave the book an honest chance, but I couldn't make it past the first hour. The author, who writes extremely well, seemed to complain about more things than he complimented. The narrator, a cross between the "Grumpy Old Man" from Saturday Night Live, and Andy Rooney, left me wondering if anything positive would come out of his mouth. I let the player roll on. Amongst many comments of which roads he liked and which he didn't (and if you live on the east coast, forget it, he states 10 minutes into the book he hates I95 and refuses to drive it), the author rolls down from Minnesota to Texas, pointing out rest stops, too many trucks, sunsets in Kansas, and the Mexican border.

Charles Kuralt's writings are much more heartwarming, granted they are more about the people of the places he visits, but this book just seemed cold and harsh, like the interstates he was writing about. Maybe you will find something else deeper in it.

Take your time

I did find the book hard to get into, but I kept at it and really came to enjoy it. George Guidall is one of my favorite narrators and i am always happy to listen to him. I haven't read any of McMurtry's other books, but I plan to read some now that I have listened to one.

like riding around with your grumpy grandfather

OK - this is the long boring narration of an old guy drivng around the country in his car doing nothing but complaining and he manages to do so all without ever leaving his vehicle. Sound impossible? well its not. This guy goes on and on about the most boring stuff and does nothing but complain and whine. This isn't how it used to be in the old days... this sucks...I could do that much better... etc. He drives straight for two days sleeping at nights in a motel right off the freeway never straying from the interstate to find the real America. Sounds interesting if you are into complete boredom. If you want to listen to some good travel writers stick to Bryson or Least-Heat Moon. Put this book on your skip list and save yourself the bore of a lifetime......