Flutterby™! : Riding Outside the Lines

Three years ago I mentioned reading Joe Kurmaskie's first book, Metal Cowboy. Joe recently emailed me to tell me that his latest book, Riding Outside The Lines, was out. I sent him a note back telling him I'd already ordered it. There's an excerpt on his website, and it roughly catches the spirit.

Ages ago, I used to pick up hitch-hikers, figuring that along with the lift I might get an enlightening story or two. Only ever got one passenger where I felt like I got my driving time's worth, but that man had a set of experiences that were entertaining, and along the way I learned a few things about the human spirit. Kurmaskie provides his own transportation, but reading his books is a bit like picking up that mythical hitch-hiker, the one with the good stories who's on the road by choice, not circumstance, and who's looking for something universal. True, one or two of the stories feel a bit like filler (this one has a real editor from a big publisher, so it's reasonable to think that chapter got thrown in at the editor's request), and some of them ramble a bit, he's not as polished as, say, William Least Heat Moon, whose Blue Highways is the quintessential road book, but he beats the hell out of Kerouac.

From the Irish countryside to the deep desert of Australia to cabins in the wilds of Alaska, he uses the bicycle as an opener to conversations and adventures with people. If you've ever dreamt of clipping into the bike and heading off into the unknown, jobs and family be damned, this one's for you.

Recommended: Riding Outside the Lines, by Joe Kurmaskie, ISBN 1-400-4798-6.