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The Road to Somewhere: An American Memoir
A photo memoir of one man's travels through America that is as sprawling and chaotic as the country itself.
One day James A. Reeves realized that he no longer understood his country or what he should be doing in it. There was a time when the road to manhood was clear--go to war, find a job with a big company, wear a tie, and start a family --but then the wars got strange and companies changed. He decided to go for a drive to clear his head. What resulted is a scattershot journey spanning five years, forty thousand miles, twelve speeding tickets, and several moments of unexpected kindness through the neon corridors and dark corners of America.
Reeves drove along the back roads taking pictures and looking for answers, kept company by the nervous chatter of talk radio and the ambient drone of twenty-four-hour diners, as he drifted toward a slow reckoning with his own compulsions and sudden loss.
One day James A. Reeves realized that he no longer understood his country or what he should be doing in it. There was a time when the road to manhood was clear--go to war, find a job with a big company, wear a tie, and start a family --but then the wars got strange and companies changed. He decided to go for a drive to clear his head. What resulted is a scattershot journey spanning five years, forty thousand miles, twelve speeding tickets, and several moments of unexpected kindness through the neon corridors and dark corners of America.
Reeves drove along the back roads taking pictures and looking for answers, kept company by the nervous chatter of talk radio and the ambient drone of twenty-four-hour diners, as he drifted toward a slow reckoning with his own compulsions and sudden loss.
416 pages, Paperback
First published August 15, 2011
About the author
James A. Reeves
2 books6 followersJames A. Reeves is a writer, teacher, and motorist. He lives in New Orleans.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 18, 2012
Perfect coffee table book.
I dare you to read it straight through and not feel underwhelmed and, well, pretty bored.
It's one of those books you flip through and read random passages.
Like I said, perfect coffee table book. So much better than the usual mindless picture/art books that occupy those figurative coffee tables.
Hmm... one day I hope to own one of those coffee tables. Until then, my coffee mug shall rest on my desk, dangerously close to my laptop.
I dare you to read it straight through and not feel underwhelmed and, well, pretty bored.
It's one of those books you flip through and read random passages.
Like I said, perfect coffee table book. So much better than the usual mindless picture/art books that occupy those figurative coffee tables.
Hmm... one day I hope to own one of those coffee tables. Until then, my coffee mug shall rest on my desk, dangerously close to my laptop.
February 5, 2021
This was a story of a talented tortured artist who was attempting to discover what it meant to be a man and what America meant to him. It is certainly a product of its time (Iraq War, Bush, Katrina) but it also captures the flyover country and the hidden margins of the country that you always read about but never see. For that reason alone, I think its worth some of the more overwrought passages. I think Reeves is a bright man and would be a great lawyer and I hope he is successful in his endeavors. I was appreciative of his journey across the highway system of the U.S. although I think that the omission of Maine was unfortunate.
December 14, 2019
As an attempt to reinvent the American Road/Man discovers Meaning book it is a clever idea - pictures matched with explanatory text. Dipping in and out as the mood strikes. Good photographs and his journey is interesting, if a bit predictable (sorry Mr. Reeves but I have heard much of this before.) Still, worth a look.
September 23, 2011
I enjoyed nearly everything about this photo essay book. I am intrigued by the idea of road
tripping across America, although as he says, "Leave the politics, guns and sprawl aside: America frightens me on purely geographical terms." I liked Reeves' voice, it's a very personal story. He wants to know what it means to be a man and an American and he explores these questions through travel, family, work. Some of the trip takes place after the death of his mother and he shares his grief and confusion. There's a lot of humor in these United States and he's funny a lot too, albeit most of it's a bit dark. I liked that he thanks the International Delights series of coffee creamers in his special thanks. My favorite line: "This is why I take these trips: to put faces, voices, signs, buildings and towns to *them*. The only thing I didn't like about it was the physical book - it's almost square with a plastic cover and it's about 400 pages, so it's heavy and awkward to read in bed. I think I got the first copy from the library too. But it did make me wonder if it would be a funner read in electronic form.
tripping across America, although as he says, "Leave the politics, guns and sprawl aside: America frightens me on purely geographical terms." I liked Reeves' voice, it's a very personal story. He wants to know what it means to be a man and an American and he explores these questions through travel, family, work. Some of the trip takes place after the death of his mother and he shares his grief and confusion. There's a lot of humor in these United States and he's funny a lot too, albeit most of it's a bit dark. I liked that he thanks the International Delights series of coffee creamers in his special thanks. My favorite line: "This is why I take these trips: to put faces, voices, signs, buildings and towns to *them*. The only thing I didn't like about it was the physical book - it's almost square with a plastic cover and it's about 400 pages, so it's heavy and awkward to read in bed. I think I got the first copy from the library too. But it did make me wonder if it would be a funner read in electronic form.
September 29, 2011
This is much more than another book about a journey across America. This is a memoir of discovery both of the author and of his native country.
Beautifully illustrated throughout, with the authors own photographs, this book tells the story of many times when the author would take off and try to find both himself and his country.
There is an openness and honesty about both the words and the pictures, that kept me repeatedly picking the book up, and being disappointed when I had finished it. So much so, that I know I will be picking it up again in the near future to read through again.
Beautifully illustrated throughout, with the authors own photographs, this book tells the story of many times when the author would take off and try to find both himself and his country.
There is an openness and honesty about both the words and the pictures, that kept me repeatedly picking the book up, and being disappointed when I had finished it. So much so, that I know I will be picking it up again in the near future to read through again.
March 30, 2012
I loved this book, especially the pictures which were amazing. It makes me just want to jump in my car and take out across America. Of course, I have always wanted to do this anyway, but reading this book just intensified the desire. My only wish is that I were talented enough to document it in such a beautiful way...words and pictures. Mr. Reeves did a truly awesome job and I am so glad to have won this in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway!
March 26, 2016
I loved this book. It's the kind of book that's still worth buying in paper, rather than on Kindle/whatever. (Buy it from Civic Center! You get some stickers and a hand signed card! Very cool). I was surprised to see the other review that didn't like the format of the paper- I loved it. I had a fine time reading it in bed.
Anyway - I loved the writing style. I felt like Reeves really effectively communicated the tone/atmosphere of his experiences.
Anyway - I loved the writing style. I felt like Reeves really effectively communicated the tone/atmosphere of his experiences.
April 1, 2013
Most of what he writes in this book is very relatable-- of course, I am an artist who enjoys photography and roadtrips. But mostly it's his view of the world that I can understand deeply. He has a way of illustrating deep truths with short blurbs and visuals that just put you in that moment. It's a quick and interesting read. I read it in a few days' time.
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October 14, 2014Pretty pictures, limp prose.
If there were more pictures and less words *and* a different layout overall, this book would be much better. It's a cool concept that's killed by piss-poor design.
If there were more pictures and less words *and* a different layout overall, this book would be much better. It's a cool concept that's killed by piss-poor design.
March 3, 2014
My friend Lucas recommended this to me. The prose and the images communicate beautifully. The writer treads pretty lightly over some very rough ground. Incredibly observant and a little depressing.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews