Somewhere Fast

by Bob Beltz

John Calvin had it all--and threw it away. He wanted to put as many miles between him and as Chicago as possible. As he hits the road, the highway has other ideas for him. And with each twist and turn, he realizes he just may end up finding himself along the way.

Genres: Fiction

264 pages, Paperback

First published September 6, 2005

Reviews

[William Roushey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somewhere Fast, by Bob Beltz, is a fictional story written in the order of Pilgrim's Progress. The main character, John Calvin, is a broken man in need of some answers.  An extramarital affair has cost him everything; his job as a pastor, his children, marriage and friends.  He has reached a point where he doesn't know what he believes.  John decides to embark on a solo motorcycle trip along Route 66 to clear his head and gain a new sense of direction.

Along the way, he plans encounters with a few sages whose opinion he respects.  In addition to the planned interactions, he has several unexpected encounters with complete strangers.  Part way through his journey, one of the encounters leaves him overwhelmed by grace.  The book conveys a gradual revelation of knowledge relevant not only to John Calvin but to readers as well.  Somewhere Fast is good read, especially for those of the male gender.

[Mattie Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book, even though I am probably not the typical audience for it.

Our main character's life is falling apart, and slowly, piece-by-piece, he will be given the tools to build it back together.

I love the message of this book almost as much as the nostalgia-inducing descriptions of the places I've explored on Route 66 and the varied cast of secondary characters he meets along the way.

Spoiler alert: this is a Christian book, but the author's goal is not shoved down your throat nor is it unrealistic in its resolution.

It is also just a well written, easy to read book written by a talented author that kept me turning pages until it was finished only a few days after I had started it (quite the amazing feat considering I have two children under two at the time)

I'm so glad I found this book and there will be a few people I certainly recommend it to.

[Stephen Wisthoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the five best books I've ever read. It gives amazing insight into the stages of a man's life, all set in a motorcycle ride on Route 66. I hope this book gets reprinted and disseminated to all men who struggle with their own identity. I've given away a dozen copies to men facing these same struggles.

[Joshua Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can identify with some of the experiences of the main character but definitely have a lot more life to live and won't make the same mistakes he did. After reading this book I hope I will become an a wise and humble fool when I grow up!