[.ca] Masked Rider, The: Cycling in West Africa (ISBN 1550226657)

From Amazon.com:
Neil Peart cycles his way through West Africa and brings us along with him, dysentery and all. The Masked Rider details his physical and spiritual journey, through photographs, journal entries, and tales of adventure. Peart's "masks" are the masks that we wear--culture, psychology, labels, expectations--and his book reveals how traveling in a very foreign land allows us to peer behind them.

plesantly surprised!:
I have been a Rush fan for many years, and as a drummer, a Neil Peart fan for many years. For those who actually READ Neil's lyrics, you know that he is an intelligent, philosophical, and insightful writer. I was curious, however, how that style of writing would translate into a book about an African bicycle adventure. I had visions of long winded diatribes about the state of government affairs in West Africa...To my surprise, it was a most enjoyable, light-hearted, read that emphasized not only the African culture he encountered, but the most engaging dynamic between he and his riding companions. I found myself drawn into that interplay as much as, if not more than, the scenery and culture that he so eloquently descibes. Rush fan or not, this is an excellent book, that comes highly recommended from this reader!

great wheels of thought:
a superbly written account of an insightful man's journey through Africa. For such an astounding musician to also be an adept writer is almost mind-boggling (and jealousy-inducing!). Some have argued that the author comes across as arrogant or condescending. I felt that any movements in that direction were nicely tempered by insightful self-reflections and assessments. That being said, I would certainly hate to be "Elsa" who comes across as old, lazy and whining - which perhaps she was - but the author sees fit to mention this at almost every turn. Maybe he's just being honest, but at times I did feel that this brilliant Canadian was dabbling in a tad too much hubris (directed at Americans and Africans). Any complaints about this marvelous work are easily offset by an engaging, highly intelligent, but readable account, of exploring Africa by bike. Not to mention a keen sense of humor, informed by a breadth of knowledge way beyond most "rockers." We all knew that Peart could write great rock songs; but in this work he really pushes the envelope and succeeds at a literary travelogue that can hold its own against any other. I would have liked to have seen him participating in drum rituals or sessions with African drummers. That would have added so much to the text, but perhaps he wanted to avoid that and simply write as any other journeyer. Despite his marked cynicism, which one would expect from such a great mind, a real sense of humanity shines through. He gives life to those he encounters with all their frailties, but also strengths and charms. All-in-all this is a lively, vivid and enriching journey that is worth every drop of ink on the pages. Very, very entertaining.

Great book minor complaint:
I read The Masked Rider after Ghost Rider. That was one of the reasons why I read this one as he caught my interest by the great details of every point on his trip. Masked Rider was the same. He must have kept a great journal to be able to detail every point and feeling on his ride. A lot of the book was soul searching for him as well as trying to figure out his ride companions. It was a book that couldn't be put down as I ride bikes too and could envision everything he was talking about. I would give the book 5 stars if it was not for my next point. As we all know Rush have been around for 30 years now and have sold millions of albums. I too, am one of their biggest fans. However, I could not get over the fact of how cheap Peart is!! From the fact that he turned his back on the woman on the train who was robbed, to standing back and watching vendors at the market so he could see what a fair price for merchandise was going for, or taking advantage of a kid to get his bike washed for $1.00, to living in the poorest conditions at hotels so the tour guide Dave wouldn't stretch his budget. I realize the tour was paid for in advance by each member, but could he not kick in a few bucks to make this an enjoyable ride, even if they were going to experience the whole thing, hardships and all? Also I don't think he ever let anyone in his group know who he "was". And did they pick up his book years later only to find it was them he was tearing apart? I'm sorry, but I found the same thing running in Ghost Rider. This did not keep me from reading an otherwise excellent book. Maybe the next trip he goes on he should not only dig down deep to soul search, but maybe dig down deeper in his pockets too!!

Camarooned:
I stumbled onto this book and had no idea about Peart's books or other job/personla history. Immediately I noticed that he has a great writing stlye, very much like the way any cyclinst ponders life as they slug away on the cranks weherever their travels find them. I was a bit surprised at the focus of the personalities of the group, I expected more on Africa itself, but I can't say it was a totally unpleasant turn. Great book, definately didn't convince me to pack up my roadbike and spend a month in africa though, but reading the book was a good trip. The presentation and layout was really impressive, the book was a pleasure to go through, hard to put down really. Peart's style is pretty great, I'll check out another one some time I bet. So if you dig on cycling trips, and stories check it out, or if you're a super nuts Rush fan, you might dig it.

An Engaging Travelogue On Two Wheels:
Neil Peart's first book, The Masked Rider, gives life to the full reality of travelling on two wheels. These pages relate the immediacy and intimacy of a rider exposed to the elements and the open country. The country here is Cameroon, which offers a challenging and different landcape for the Canadian author, who writes that he returned to the continent of Africa a second time for the people. This is his story of that cross-country, cross-cultural, exchange. Peart is objective in his writing. The description of the landscape and of his feeling(s) for the people he encounters is clear and compelling. Sometimes the experience is not pleasant, and Peart is not afraid, for example, to address the racism, reversed, he feels as a displaced western caucasian. His honest interest and empathy for Africa is vividly apparent, however. He has placed a spotlight on one corner of the dark continent and made it shine. When Peart, reunited with his wife in Paris, France, leaves the reader, one feels the physical and emotional effort was well worth the time.