Way Off the Road

Discovering the Peculiar Charms of Small Town America

By: Bill Geist

Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor

"In rural Kansas, I asked our motel desk clerk for the name of the best restaurant in the area. After mulling it over, he answered: 'I'd have to say the Texaco, 'cuz the Shell don't have no microwave.'"

Throughout his career, Bill Geist's most popular stories have been about slightly odd but loveable individuals. Coming on the heels of his 5,600 mile RV trip across our fair land is Way Off the Road, a hilarious and compelling mix of stories about the folks featured in Geist's segments, along with observations on his 20 years of life on the road.

Written in the deadpan style that has endeared him to millions, Geist shares tales of eccentric individuals, such as the 93-year-old pilot-paperboy who delivers to his far-flung subscribers by plane; the Arizona mailman who delivers mail via horseback down the walls of the Grand Canyon; the Muleshoe, Texas, anchorwoman who delivers the news from her bedroom (occasionally wearing her bathrobe); and the struggling Colorado entrepreneur who finds success employing a sewer vacuum to rid Western ranchers of problematic prairie dogs.

Geist also takes us to events such as the Mike the Headless Chicken Festival (celebrating an inspiring bird that survived decapitation, hired an agent, and went on the road for 18 months) and Sundown Days in Hanlontown, Iowa, where the town marks the one day a year when the sun sets directly between the railroad tracks.

Along the wacky and wonderful way, Geist shows us firsthand how life in fly-over America can be odd, strangely fascinating, hysterical, and anything but boring.

©2007 Bill Geist (P)2007 Tantor Media Inc.

Critic reviews

"Geist's low key, deadpan humor hits the mark, and he has a gentle way of writing just to the point of ridicule before he backs off. Readers will find nearly 30 tales that will amaze and amuse and maybe inspire some extra stops on their next road trip." ( Publishers Weekly)

Much Better if Bill Geist had read it himself...

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Some of the stories were entertaining. But the narrator never caught my attention, or I was so disappointed that it wasn't Bill Geist. I love his voice and the way he turns a phrase. So although I did give the book a chance... It just never really grabbed me but for a few stories. SIGH!!! - So I suggest you buy the actual book and you can hear his voice in your head instead. (Yes, I know it was my fault for not listening to the preview...but previews don't play on an iPad because Audible still is requiring Flash on their website to play the stuff... Audible... get with the future)

Would you listen to another book narrated by Patrick Lawlor?

Maybe... I would give him a chance when I wasn't expecting someone else.

Was Way Off the Road worth the listening time?

Sometimes yes, sometimes I sped up the reading speed on the app because I wanted to get through a chapter.

Any additional comments?

Repeating what I said above... So I suggest you buy the actual book and you can hear his voice in your head instead. (Yes, I know it was my fault for not listening to the preview...but previews don't play on an iPad because Audible still is requiring Flash on their website to play the stuff... Audible... get with the future)

What Goes On Here?

If you are a small town and ANYTHING has EVER happened in your town no matter HOW weird, you have got a tourist attraction!!

Fun trip

I enjoyed this, however it would have been more fun in Bills voice. My brain kept switching voices...confusing? Yes!

Disappointed

I admit that I hastily downloaded this book expecting to hear the familiar voice of the author reading his book. So while the words are entertaining and engaging they lack the much anticipated vocal inflections an uncommon nuance I have come to expect and enjoy from the years of seeing AND HEARING Bill Geist on TV.

Not Bill Geist

A Bill Geist book should only be read by Bill Geist.
You hear him in the writing but the delivery is lacking his tempo and inflections that would make this work "so Bill".

Way Off the Road - an hour wasted!

I wasted about an hour listening to this book. It did not hold my interest. I ended up deleting it and loading another.