Travel Writing: A Darkly Comedic Psychological Crime Thriller – Satirical Tale of Obsession

by Peter Ferry

Pete Ferry, our narrator, teaches high school English in the wealthy Chicago suburb of Lake Forest and moonlights as a travel writer. On his way home after work one evening he witnesses a car accident that kills a beautiful woman named Lisa Kim. But was it an accident? Could Pete have prevented it? And did it actually happen, or is this just an elaborate tale he concocts to impart the power of story to his teenage students? Why can’t he stop thinking about Lisa Kim? And what might his obsession with her mean to his relationship with his girlfriend, Lydia? With humor, tenderness, and suspense, Travel Writing takes readers on fascinating journeys, both geographical and psychological, and delves into the notion that the line between fact and fiction is often negotiable.

Genres: Fiction, Travel, Mystery, Contemporary, Unfinished, Writing

294 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Peter Ferry is a teacher, writer, and editor. He has written textbooks for Rand McNally and travel pieces for the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun Times. His short stories have appeared in StoryQuarterly, Overtures, The New Review of Literature and McSweeney's. He has won the Illinois Arts Council Award for Short Fiction. He lives in Evanston, Illinois.

Reviews

[Shozo Hirono · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was hard to put down and I got really involved in the plot and characters. The book accurately reflected the ambiguities, difficulties, and capriciousness of real life and real people, but at the same time, the plot came to a very neat, well-constructed resolution that tied up all the loose ends in a satisfying way, similar to a Dickens novel or Hollywood movie. So this book combines the best of both worlds--the sophistication and truthfulness of serious literature and the careful plotting and page-turning momentum of a good popular or genre novel. I think I enjoyed this novel more than any other I've read that was published during the last couple of years.

[Nancy (Hrdcovers) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too Much "Travel Writing" In This Book

As I begin to write each review, the first thing that comes to mind is whether or not I couldn't wait to get back to the book I'm reading each time I put it down. I wish I could get this feeling more than I do but I'm satisfied with the possible dozen or so times each year this situation will occur. Did it occur with Travel Writing? Sad to say it didn't. I'm so in the minority here, however, based on all of these other reviews. Not only did I not look forward to picking it up again but I actually couldn't wait to finish it and move on to all the other good books I have waiting here for me to read. That's right....John Irving's book just came out!!!

I know an argument can be made about why I just didn't stop reading it and move on to something else. I'd like to be able to do this but, once I start a book, I always finish it. This is why you'll see many reviewers with only four and five star reviews in their repetoire....they put down the books they don't like and, consequently, don't review them. It's also why many books here are actually rated higher than they should be because the ratings don't take into account all of the people who read a few chapters and decide that the book wasn't for them.

So why didn't I like it? I'm a very black and white person; very cut and dry. It either "is" or it "isn't". When an author writes a story that is perhaps true and perhaps not true, yet parts are definitely true while other parts are definitely not, he/she loses me. I don't like to play guessing games when I'm reading. I don't mind this when I'm reading a mystery/thriller and I know from the first page what I signed up for. That's fine with me. But this story within a story, whether it's real or not, just does not fly with me. The bottom line is that I don't like to be confused when I'm reading. Challenge me...yes!!! Confuse me...no!!!

Every other reviewer has already told the story about Peter Ferry, teacher/travel writer, who witnesses a car crash and begins to tell the story to his writing class. From that point on, the reader is not sure if it ever actually happened or if only part of it happened. It reminded me of Toni Morrison's books where you never really know what happens and, according to her, if you have to ask, she won't tell you anyway.

Since the author is also a travel writer (as is the narrator), the book is flooded with little paragraphs and chapters of travel snippets that bored me to death and had nothing to do with the story. As a matter of fact, they messed up the fluidity of the story as far as I was concerned.

I know others might feel I'm being a bit too critical but I tell it like it is....or at least how I feel it is. Now if that's "real" or "not real", that's for you to decide.

[Gertrude & Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not that it matters much, but I'm writing this review for the second time. The first review I ended up deleting the following morning realizing it was utter garbage. I wrote it while drinking and watching the Olympics. I think that says enough.

There were many things I liked about this story. Let me list some: (1) the writing was quite good as far as contemporary works go. (2) the narrative was carefully put together. (3) it was humorous, and that's pretty important sometimes. (4) the travel pieces were fun to read, and added an element of romance or adventure, if that's your thing. (5) I could, at times, closely relate to the narrator/main character. (6) finally, the ending was quite intriguing and well-thought-out.

There were a few negative things but mostly only minor nuisances, so overall this book was worth my time; however, to be quite honest, I prefer reading books that were written long ago by men/women who have been forgotten to those written today by men/women who should just as well be forgotten.

[Christine (booktumbling) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Peter Ferry, narrator in Travel Writing, is a high school English teacher and part-time travel writer. In an effort to inspire his somewhat apathetic students, he tells them a story about an incident that happened to him on his way home. Peter was driving behind an obviously impaired driver. When they reached a stop light, there was a brief moment of eye contact with the stunning woman driver, then the other vehicle sped away and Peter witnessed the deadly crash of the other car and the death of its driver Lisa Kim. He believes he may have been able to prevent the car crash and embarks on a mission to discover Lisa Kim’s history and what may have led to her accident. The mission soon turns to into an obsession which threatens to destroy his job and his relationship. Peter attends Lisa Kim’s funeral. meets members of her family under false pretenses, searches for an ex-boyfriend, and investigates her doctor who seems to have somehow contributed to her death. The book not only tells the story of Peter’s preoccupation, it also is s study into the disintegration of the relationship with his long-term girlfriend mixed with discussions with his friends and flashbacks to his some of his travels.

When Peter’s students recognize the name of a counselor and some other characters, they ask Peter whether the story is true. Peter explains that some but not all of the elements are based on facts.

“I don’t understand,” says Nick.
“Well, it just works better that way,” I say.
“I’m not sure I agree,” says the girl whose hair is blue today, “and I definitely don’t buy this hypnotism stuff. That sounds hokey to me. Sounds like Seinfeld or something.”
“But that’s the part that’s true,” I say. “Gene really does use hypnotism and he really did use it on me.”
“Now let’s see,” says Nick. “You put something in that isn’t true because it works better, and you put something in that doesn’t work because it’s true. I’m not sure you can have it both ways.”
“Sure I can; it’s my story,” I say.

Sounds like a pretty straight-forward book. Then you realize that Peter Ferry, author of Travel Writing, is also a high school English teacher and part-time travel writer. This brings up the question – is the story of Lisa Kim based on an experience of the author? Did he actually jeopardize his relationships? Did he tell this story to one of his English classes.

Travel Writing is a truly creative work. I was caught up in the story and caught up in the question of how blurry is the line between fact and fiction.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this is Ferry's first novel, he demonstrates mastery of language, setting and character throughout most of the book.

I scouted over at Amazon for a review, because I wasn't quite sure where to go with my comments. Lo and behold, the Washington Post piece pegged my problem with "Travel Writing," why I couldn't give it five stars.

The classroom scenes and travel scenes are phenomenally well done. They're so powerful I actually want to search out some of Ferry's magazine travel writing on line when I get a chance. He captures the scene and the setting perfectly, dribbling in personal details in precise measure; not too much, and not too little.

The heart of the book, though, is the murder mystery surrounding the narrator witnessing a young woman's death, and how that event unravels the rest of his life. The main character's live in love, Lydia, is strongly drawn, and the reader feels for her as the narrator pulls further away into the morass of what he perceives as a murder.

One major failing - as far as I'm concerned - is the light touch Ferry gives to the death of Peter and Lydia's expat friend, Charlie Duke. Charlie colors the couples stays in Cuernavaca, but his death glances off the narrator like water off an umbrella. I expected more.

This is a solid book, and one which bodes quality future tales. But its treasures lie from midway through the read and on, so don't let yourself get bogged down early.

That said, I'm knocking it back to three stars.

[Terry · Rating 2 out of 5]

(Thanks, Dad and Sally, for the Christmas gift.)

This book wants to be the kind of mystery novel that raises questions about fact and fiction (all the blurbs on the dust jacket promise as much), and it takes an interesting angle on the question (the protagonist, like the novelist, is a high school teacher who is telling the story to his class as a way of illustrating ideas about story-telling). But after its initial flourishes it turns out to be just an interesting story--or an interesting set of stories that are woven together but don't really comment on each other. The story of the writer's/narrator's personal life and the mystery that he is trying to solve are both well written and end satisfyingly, but they never quite close the circuit together. The light never quite comes on.

[Trish · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was one weird collection of linked stories. I actually thought it creepy. (And I don't have purple hair.) I listened to it over a period...maybe a year?!...when I ran out of downloaded audiobooks and somehow thought it might develop a point. Peter Ferry is a teacher of writing. Perhaps one of his lessons for his students is to write--write what you know, write anything at all, just so long as you are writing--but, you know what? After listening to/reading this I might come down on the nature side of the nature/nurture debate. Either you can write or you can't. You can always improve, but if you don't have something interesting to say, no matter how you say it, it isn't going to be interesting.

[Alex Templeton · Rating 2 out of 5]

All in all, I found this book disappointing. It is about an English teacher who is telling a story (that may or may not be true) to his class about an obsession he (may not have) had with a young woman whom he witnessed being killed in a car accident. I felt it was a muddled story that claimed to be about the shifting lines between fiction and reality, but threw in too many other things (seemingly unrelated travel writing, midlife crises, relationship issues) to be coherent and, in the end, mean much to me.

[Joline Atkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I WANTED to love this. And at first, I did. But I think I was more drawn the locale: Chicago. And more specifically, the north shore, where I spent 20 years of my life. I hung on Pete's movements - Sheridan Road, Green Bay Road, Lake Forest, Glencoe, etc. But as for the story, I really struggled to remain focused, and as is a sign of my interest, I wasn't compelled to crack the spine and dive into it every day. It just proved to bring up 20 years of memories. But the story? Meh. (And the author lives in Evanston, so now I feel even more like a heel.)

[Merrill · Rating 1 out of 5]

I like to know whether I'm reading fiction or non-fiction when I pick up a book. I absolutely hate being teased by an author who makes his audience wonder if the story he's telling actually happened or not. It's just weird that the main character in the "novel" has the author's exact same name and exact same occupation. Just get on with it and call it non-fiction. Or better yet, I'll just read something else, thank you.

[eb · Rating 2 out of 5]

In his blurb, Dave Eggers says this book isn't coy. What nonsense! It's coy as hell. Metafiction isn't sticky enough to hold together a narrative so diffuse and boring. Travel writing, a murder mystery, classroom discussions about love, Hemingwayish descriptions of food--zzzzzzzzzzzz.

[Monica Caldicott]

Does one of your teachers ever tell you weird stories? Seemingly to tempt you? Stories you may not get to hear the end of? Are the stories even true, or is he or she just trying teach you something?

Read p. 1: Sometimes I try to show my students the power of the story ... and that is why stories are so powerful."

The narrator of the story is Peter Ferry, a high school English teacher. He is also the author of this fictional book. Pete earns extra money by writing travel pieces for magazines and newspapers, a pretty good gig when you think about it - you get a free vacation, and all you have to do it write about it.

Pete's story is very powerful. He continues, telling his class that he drove behind the young woman (who really wasn't naked - he did make that part up to make Nick, the guy who had been doing his Spanish homework, pay attention), until her car careens off the road and is airborne, slamming into a telephone pole. Later, Peter rads in the newspaper that Lisa Kim was DOA - dead on arrival.

The policeman at the accident scene assures Pete that there was nothing he could have done. He couldn't have prevented a drunk driver from killing herself. His friends assure him that he should just let it go.

But Peter can't let it go. He can't stop thinking about Lisa Kim. How will this thing - this obsession - affect him, his job, his relationship with his girlfriend, Lydia?

"With humor, tenderness and suspense, travel Writing takes readers on fascinating journeys, both geographical and psychological, and delves into the notion that the line between fact and fiction is often negotiable."

[Jim · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you know me, you might be able to guess why I picked this novel up (hints: name and locale).
The very beginning of the 'story?' with the exotic girl who might be driving drunk and naked drew me in. But then there is a misunderstanding at the funeral home. Like a tv situation comedy, the misunderstanding could easily be cleared up by a mature adult. But then there would be no story. I want to scream at the dopey protagonist teacher- "Just correct this. "


I also lose interest when writers talk about writing. Way too self absorbed. Numerous diversions are encountered, none of which advance the story or bring characters to life.

So I skimmed to the end to see what happened to the girl. ("Spoiler alert") see below.





Sexual abuse and drugs. Lovely.

[Cathy Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite a curious book, where the author merges and intermingles travel writing, fictional travel writing and fiction; truth, fiction and account of the relationship between truth and fiction, so that by the end you still don't really know whether it is entirely fiction or whether some of it is true. The author gives the protagonist his own name, you know that at least some of it is true, so the extent to which it is true is not only the conundrum he is presenting to his creative writing students, but to us as readers. Plus it's a good mystery story. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the writing more than the story. An English teacher tells his students a story that may or may not be true and may or may not be a story.

He travels. He writes about travel. He dates a woman...kind of. It's open, then not. He's not sure he loves her and isn't terribly upset to lose her. He witnesses a fatal car accident and becomes obsessed with the driver, a beautiful woman (of course). He stops everything - his teaching, his writing, his relationship - to find out what happened to cause her accident. He insinuates himself into her life, meets her family and friends and exes, just to get to the truth. And, in the end, it's....meh.

[Clare · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a curious, compelling story that keeps spinning you round in circles, an unusual sort of blending of fact and fiction that also mixes up genres - memoir, mystery, travel tales. It kept me interested, but I'm not able to give it 4 stars, perhaps because there's something about the author/narrator that I don't really like. I have no way to know to what degree they are one and the same. Definitely worth reading.

[Jennifer Slottje · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a former LFHS student, I was interested to read a book from a LFHS teacher. While the book didn't blow me away by any means, I will say that it increasingly got better the further I went. I'm very interested to know what is real and what is not. Still.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a story, a narrative thread that wove all the way through, but this just didn’t work for me. I spent a lot of it wondering what in the world was going on. There were good, lucid, coherent moments, but overall, I don’t recommend it.

[Tomj · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the best novel you've never heard of. Literary fiction (with a protagonist named "Peter Ferry" who resembles the author in some ways, in good postmodern fashion) but with an interesting mystery-thriller plot.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A neat take on fiction vs. non-fiction - author blurs the lines and keeps you guessing.

[Tara Cignarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe 3.5.. the begining totally pulled me in. Parts were interesting but others made me keep saying where is this all going. A cohesivness was missing for me.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable read that I picked up by random from my local library. The story itself isn’t particularly original or exciting, but the way it’s been written make for a very satisfying read.

[Mr. Wakiki · Rating 5 out of 5]

The construction of this novel is amazing...

[Helene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend this book to any expiring travel writer. It’s charmingly written.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

[This review originally appeared on Andi's Book Reviews.]

Travel Writing by Peter Ferry follows the author as narrator throughout a series of intertwined stories that seems to combine fact and fiction.

Pete Ferry is a high school English teacher. He seeks to demonstrate to his students the power of telling a good story. He tells them about his supposedly made-up experiences following a car accident he witnessed. The accident occurred when Lisa Kim drove into a pole and died. Pete had come across her as she came careening along beside him, obviously intoxicated. At one point, he was next to her at a stoplight and wanted to jump out and take her keys to prevent her from driving. Of course, he didn't, and the result was her death.

Pete is haunted by this and becomes obsessed, trying to track her down to find out who she was and why she was in her condition. Who would want to kill the beautiful Lisa Kim? And why did her friends at the funeral think he was her boyfriend?

At the same time, he alienates his girlfriend Lydia, who cannot handle his obsession. Their already tumultuous relationship strains even further, and Pete is forced into self-reflection when he ends up with a lot of alone time.

Interspersed in the story about Lisa Kim are scenes of Pete in his classroom. Students keep asking him questions about writing a story and are desperately trying to figure out if the story is true or not. Also sprinkled throughout the story are travel essays written by Ferry. Some illustrate his relationship with Lydia, while others are designed to be informative about the destinations.

Ferry further blurs the lines between fact and fiction by including his real-life biography and writing experiences into his character's bio. It's the perfect example of putting yourself into your own story.

Trying to figure out what is fact and what is fiction in this book can make your head spin. It's better to just take the information as it comes and try to enjoy each part. Or think of it as reading three different books simultaneously. The pages will turn quickly and your brain will definitely get some exercise.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Thomas Benz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a richly textured contemporary novel explores the nagging doubts of a man who failed to act in the midst of a traffic situation, resulting in the death of a stranger. It tells the story of how he becomes drawn into her world, even though she is no longer alive to guide him, in order to address the elemental question of what really happened that day on the winding curves of Sheridan Road. Beyond this, as the narrator seeks out adventure in Mexico and Thailand and other places, he delves ever deeper into his own mysteries.
He is in a relationship with a free-spirited woman he does not quite understand. He tries to explain the nature of fiction and reality to his students at a high school in an affluent community, the line between them always seeming to blur. His friends, both at home and abroad, are a diverse cast of characters, from a jaded writing mentor to the local cop who tries to ward him away from any investigation of the accident and the rummy expatriate in Mexico whose many tales are fascinating but suspect.
Ferry’s style has a Hemingwayesque lucidity and reserve and beautifully conveys the narrator’s search for answers. His descriptions of the various settings always find the salient details and highlight the ways in which they lend perspective on life back home. The plot’s twists and turns pull the reader pleasantly along through the shadows of multiple ruses and possible explanations. But for me the narrator’s convincing quest for love and meaning, from his northside apartment to the ends of the earth, is what really marks the novel as a literary gem.

[The Milkcrate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe I picked it up at the right time of my life. Maybe it's because this book is about an English teacher. Maybe because it delves into some of the 3rd world issues I've thought about. Maybe it's how Peter Ferry crosses the boundaries between past, present and future tense (something I've never experienced in one book). Maybe it's the use of mystery, suspense, memoir and fantasy all in one.

I know this sounds like a lot for one novel but Peter Ferry writes this book so you don't even notice all the styles he's flipping. The story itself is entertaining.

A teacher is driving home and sees an intoxicated woman crash and die. He tells this "story" to his students, friends and girlfriend. We learn their personalities by their reaction to the story. Soon we find the story is true and Peter is obsessed with this dead woman (think Ask The Dust - but a little more on the deceased side). He is determined to find out this woman's story and in the process he learns a lot about himself and the people around him.

I guarantee this story will entertain and impress. The twist at the end is more than I expected.

Order it online if you can't find it at the bookstore. It's worth it.

The Milkcrate Bandit

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

High school teacher Pete Ferry (you may notice the similarity with the author’s name) sees a woman driving erratically one night and watches in horror as she crashes and dies. The police say it’s an accident, but Pete is not convinced. His guilt at not having stopped her fuels his obsession with finding out everything about that night and the victim, Lisa Kim. Pete’s distraction takes it toll on his relationship with his girlfriend of many years and he can’t seem to work up enough energy to save it.

Of course, this may all be a lie, a story. Pete is telling this story to his students so they see how a great story is pieced together, with truth and lies. What is real and what isn’t? Or is it all a dream?

This clever concept was interesting, and it mostly worked. I guess I had more of an issue with Pete. I didn’t ever quite warm up to him or understand his motivations. And if I was to take his character at face value I guess I didn’t really like him much.

I thought it was original and I liked the alternating storylines and flashbacks. It’s a solid debut that will keep you guessing to the end.

[Maureen Pierre · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has a dull, slow start but grows more compelling with interesting plot twists. He weaves a tale of a staid and boring life in the Midwest, teaching high school writing classes on crafting story. In the process Ferry shares how to to travel and post articles and how to misuse the trust of others by using "I am a writer" as a shield and universal free pass. Into this cauldron he adds a long term relationship, an obsession with a dead woman, and adds in perhaps solving a murder and identifying a trusted doctor who abuses vulnerable women in psychotherapy. Much of the sub plotting centers on issues of TRUST between the sexes. Oh, and he throws in the sub-characterization of a vigilante with guns who is a stalker himself, and enjoys drinking lots of beer and wine. What else can I say? Would I want to know any of the characters in this book? Absolutely not. I would be bored out of my sandals. But then, all protagonists certainly do not have to be likable. Let me know what you think.

[TJ · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is actually a few different story lines put together, but they don't exactly tie together. The first story is about how the author see's a woman in a car in distress and he is trying to decide to help her or not and as a result of not deciding he doesn't do anything and she drives off, crashes into a pole and dies. This first part had my attention held, I was really interested in this story line. However I had to read through other sections to get back to this story line and most of it was dull and uninteresting although it tried to be witty. Then what I thought was the finale wasn't really and it left you asking more questions than I would have liked. The book is also loaded with details that are uninteresting and have nothing to do with the story, for example he explains about how his visitor has gum disease, what??? I read the last 50 pages fast because I couldn't wait for this book to be over.