Pictures from a Trip

by Tim Rumseys

Follows four young people--Mark, Ben, Leslie, and Mark's brother--into the Badlands as they search for lost American heroes and the biggest dinosaur bone in history

Genres: Fiction, Travel

Mass Market Paperback

First published December 1, 1984

Reviews

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps 3.5 stars. As I was well into the book, I was thinking if it wasn't for the prologue I probably would've stopped reading. It wasn't "bad" at all, but it was a little dull and a story I couldn't really relate to. Two brothers and their blind friend, all in their early 20's, go on a road trip through the Badlands looking for dinosaur bones in the mid-70's. So, it's a buddies sort of story, a brotherly bonds sort of story, a sowing your wild oats 70's sort of story. Free love, farts, foul language, eating beans out of cans. Not the sort of thing that appeals to me so much. But the attention-grabbing prologue kept me going and I'm glad it did. It was a very poignant story, a bit philosophical without being heavy-handed about it. And there were some sniffles from me at the end, if not outright tears. A good read, and maybe more so for people who might find it more relatable. I'm going to give it to a friend.

[Mitch Sutton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was interesting, funny, entertaining, and adventurous. It kept me interested and amused the entire book. It is a great story about three characters from St. Paul, who take a road trip out West in search for dinosaur bones and fossils. It gives interesting facts about the places they travel, funny background stories of each character, and keeps the reader entertained with classic road trip and male bonding comedy. I liked how realistic and relaxed it was, making me feel as though I was on the road trip with them. Although it slows down a bit at times, it does so in order to give more detail and background, which is helpful within the story. The characters, (Ben, Mark, and the Narrator), first arrive in the Dakota’s to begin their journey. The way the scenery and atmosphere is described in detail is simply amazing. It causes the reader to feel in the same scene and experiencing the same amazing features. It really brings the reader in the entire story and keeps the reader involved. Each character has their own interesting features that make the story that much more interesting. For example, Ben is blind. Yet he is able to climb down the cliffs with them through his other strong senses and the guidance of their voices. Small things like that make the book cool and interesting. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an entertaining read. Especially if you enjoy traveling, exploring and road tripping, then this is the perfect book to relate.

[JodiP · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most moving, originally-written books I've read in a long time. Curt Schultz recommended it when we were down in KC for his graduation from med school. I checked it out the next week, and slowly savored it. What a book. Practically every page has a line that makes you laugh, or say, "that's so true." It looks like Mr. Rumsey just wrote the one book; he's still practicing medicine at United Hospital. It's a gem, though, how he created the relationship between the brothers through the telling of the trip to the badlands and what happens afterwards. You get such a sense of their personalities, what original, quirky thinkers they were.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an amazing story of Dr. Rumsey, his brother and friends. Dr. rumsey has dedicated his career to helping provide medical care to the large underserved population of St. Paul through his compassionate care and by establishing the Helping Hand Clinic and now as part of Uniteds family practice service

[Ryan Baker-Branstetter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read about two brothers and their blind friend on a fossil hunting adventure. The banter is great, and the adventure is well captured. I really enjoyed this one, even through the end. Well-written, interesting, and very entertaining. Worth a read.

[David Ward · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pictures from a Trip by Tim Rumsey (William Morrow & Co. 1984)(Fiction). This is a first novel by a physician. Thank goodness he has a sideline. I could not engage. DNF. My rating: 5/10, finished 8/26/14.

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book made me want to visit the Badlands of North Dakota, but I still haven't visited there.

[Susan]

Colchester Library Book Sale - June 25, 2011 Actually thought Cyn might like this as it's about the Badlands (setting)

[Jinx · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice story about a road trip. Lots of interesting factoids about the places they go.