I love the original Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance. I’ve read it twice and it amazed, bewitched, provoked just as much the second time around. This travelogue retracing the journey, and digging into the story behind ZATAOMM was therefore too tempting to ignore.
The author uses others research to ride the route as closely as he can, stopping at the same or very similar motels, restaurants, rest areas etc. Along the way he meets many of the people who appeared in the original work, who all seem very used to a few random travellers turning up per year.
Like all well written travelogues it delivers a wish-you-were-there vibe, and reminds that people everywhere are generally kind and well meaning. It’s a great reminder to open conversations with strangers, and to take the road less travelled
The background to the problematic and ultimately tragic family life of the Pirsigs is really neatly woven into the book, and provides the real tension; the author hints at his own life struggles throughout but if I’m honest they feel a little confected. Perhaps harsh but they aren’t expanded upon enough really add to the tale, and the mini-enlightenment at the end is tidily convenient. But then again it appears Pirsig added fictional aspects to his telling as well so all’s fair I guess.
But I grumble; this was a really compelling read, and makes me want to read ZATAOMM for a third time, preferably on some long journey of discovery.
