Dysentery, drunken soldiers, and corrupt officials provide the background for Neil Peart's physical and spiritual cycling journey through West Africa. The prolific drummer for the rock band Rush travels through African villages, both large and small, and relates his story through photographs, journal entries, and tales of adventure, while simultaneously addressing issues such as differences in culture, psychology, and labels. Literary and artistic sidekicks such as Aristotle, Dante, and Van Gogh join Peart and his cycling companions, reminding the reader that this is not just another travel book--it is a story of both external and introspective discovery and adventure.
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.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Great Story:
I love Neil's writing...both his lyrics and his books. I thought this was a fun little tale about his bike journey in Africa. I recommend it if you're a Neil Peart fan..
A Bicycle Adventure:
"The Masked Rider" by Neil Peart is the author's first book, published in 1996. The book describes his month-long bicycle tour in Cameroon. Peart describes in detail the challenging riding conditions and "rustic" accommodations, in addition to his relationship with his travel companuions and talks about the people he encounters. The book was an interesting, easy read. It is however the first time that I read a travel memoir that doesn't make me want to take the journey. It was difficult and uncomfortable... more info
Masked excellency:
Recently I picked up all four books by Neil Peart on Amazon.com and plan on reviewing them in the near future. This is the first one. I spoke with a co-worker who is from West Africa and he concurred with Mr. Peart's portrayal of the harsh living conditions there. The friend tells me, "That is why I am here" [United States]. Peart's book has an excellent quality that I don't see in memoirs today. I love the way he captured his fellow riders' habits, spirit and most importantly, their irritations.... more info
Breathtaking.:
Breathtaking. Artful. Thoughtful. Funny. Sad. Shocking. Neil's craft with theme and prose is as precise and thrilling as his drumming. I enjoyed The Masked Rider more than all of this other books, and I enjoyed them a lot. Neil muses how masks in Africa, and in all societies and people (himself included) reveal as much as they conceal. As usual, his insights into his own character and those of his companions are humorous and without self-indulgent narcissism. The ending is cathartic, and his... more info
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