Blind Curves

November 15, 2014

Executive and business consultant Crill's tale is a harrowing read--not because it is poorly written or uninteresting, but because with each turn of the page, readers expect something horrid to happen to her. A year and a half after Crill was widowed at age 57, the author was still listless and depressed. An old friend mentioned that he and some buddies were going on a 2,500-mile motorcycle road trip in the Pacific Northwest and suggested that she join them. The only problem was that she had never ridden a motorcycle before. Lessons, DMV tests, road practice, and four weeks later she was clad in leather and astride a bike, heading out on an adventure with three other more experienced riders. VERDICT Recommended for life-after-50 folk, biker babes, or anyone wanting to cruise the roads of British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and California, this smartly written book is much more than a motorcycle diary. It is about overcoming loss and reinventing oneself and is also a good travel read, although that is secondary to the transformative nature of the text.--Lee Arnold, Historical Soc. of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2014
A recent widow at 57, executive consultant Crill impulsively decides to bust out of her cocoon of sorrow and comfort and take a 10-day, 2,500-mile motorcycle trip with three others. The only problem is, she's never ridden a bike before. That obstacle, including earning her license and shopping for the proper clothing and gear, was bravely tackled, and here Crill recounts the Pacific Northwest coastal trip she took and the life lessons she learned along the way. Her descriptions of the trip are enthusiastic, picturesque, heartfelt, but sometimes treacly ( Our highway was a starved motorcyclist's banana-split sundae overflowing with mile-high scoops of yummy custard ). Still, the advice, encouragement, and positive outlooks she proffers will be of much help to those traveling a similar path in life, with motorcycle or not, by accepting life's twists and turns, constantly changing routes, and the uncertainty of blind curves. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)