Riding on the success of his two previous books, The masked rider:Cycling in west Africa(1996) and Traveling music(2004), renounced drummer for the band Rush, arrives with a new and very personal book, Ghost Rider:Travels on the healing road.
Before starting to read this book, the only thing I knew about Peart was that he played in a rock band named Rush. When I finished it, I felt as if Peart had opened up his heart and let everything out. Travels are always done for a reason, to get somewhere, even if you don’t know where you are going. For this travel, getting somewhere was the least of his concerns. The only thing that was wanted was to leave an empty shell in Quebec, get on his bike and ride. And ride he did.
After losing his daughter in a horrible car crash, he and his wife try to live as parents who grieve can live. One year later though, his wife dies of Cancer. This, for him, was enough to put the house for sale, get upon his bike and ride.
What we get is a personal diary of his journey. He lets us follow him day by day through entries in his diary, letters to friends and nicely conserved souvenirs. Landscapes are remarkably defined as if this was a picture book. Some are good times, most are sad times and pretty much every page we can feel the loneliness while he is riding. This is what it says it is, a healing road. As times passes by we can feel some happiness that comes out of his writings. After many weeks on his journey, we can feel some peace of mind. Thanks to good friends, Peart is all but frowns.
Peart give the example that writing can help and that with time everything passes but does not disappear.For those in need of a travel or in need of healing, this book can surely help or atleast give you an idea of what losing and regaining is.
