Detours

by Richard La Plante

Sturgis, South Dakota, that famous motorcycle rally that began as a small gathering of Jackpine Gypsies MC in 1938 grew to become the Mecca of American motorcyclists. For author Richard La Plante, Sturgis was an armchair fantasy, and now that he was fifty-three, newly remarried, and about to become a father for the first time, Richard could honestly say that the dream was dead. Then came the summer of 1999. A second child was on the way, the family was temporarily homeless, he had writer's block, but that Big Dog motorcycle that he had been designing by telephone was finished and ready to ship. Out of the armchair and into the saddle. On a borrowed bike, Richard set off. At the end of the ride was a week long party, a cast of outrageous characters, a sea of chrome, steel, rock 'n' roll, and his Big Dog custom-made motorcycle. But there were miles in between. Many miles of crazed introspection, sheer euphoria, sunrises, sunsets, the wind in his face, and anguish of being hopelessly lost. In the end, La Plante's journey becomes a metaphor of life. Told in La Plante's humorous and self-deprecating style, Detours is a wild ride, all the way home.

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Bfg1971 · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Detours" wasn't too bad. (I didn't hold out a whole lot of hope after reading the other Goodreads review of the book.) The author isn't someone that I can relate to on a personal level. The thing that I found compelling about the book was his description of being on the road. They are very similar to what I have personally experienced. His descriptions of the Sturgis motorcycle rally did not inspire me to want to go there. As a matter of fact, I think the last place I would want to be would be the Black Hills of South Dakota anywhere in the timeframe of the Sturgis motorcycle rally.

[Greg · Rating 1 out of 5]

Non-fiction, autobiographical account of portions of the author's life, seen in flashbacks as he travels to the Sturgis MC rally. Its been a long time since I've read something as self-centered and depressing as this author's account of his experiences! That one person could be so shallow, so superficial, so focused on materialism that he can't even see the smallest things that will bring him happiness just astounds me. Negative and depressing, with little redeeming value. What a messed up life he has had! Normally, I wouldn't even finish a book like this, but would move on to the next one after a chapter or two, but this was like watching a train wreck unfold in slow motion.

[Koren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasn't really what I thought it would be. I thought it would be a travel memoir, which it is a little, but mostly it is about him. I was hoping to read about Sturgis but once he finally gets to Sturgis, that is pretty much the end of the book. Mostly this is just a whine about the weather and mechanical problems along the way.

[Ellison · Rating 3 out of 5]

a hapless author decides to ride to sturgis, he share his experiences, encounters, and previous experiences. does unnumbered chapters indicate a lumbering read? no pix. occasional quality word usage.