The Ridiculous Race
While preparing for a recent cruise to Bermuda, I came to the inevitably difficult decision of which book would make the trip with me. Since I don’t typically read fiction, I selected a fun, fast-paced adventure tale to while away the time on board ship. The Ridiculous Race was without a doubt the perfect choice. So perfect, in fact, that I spent the bulk of most days prying it out of my husband’s hands, trying to ignore his raucous laughter, or begging him to stop spoiling the plot.
The book chronicles the crazy experiences of two 20-something Americans engaged in a fierce competition to race each other around the world without using airplanes. What makes the narrative so great, though, is that rather than merely zipping through countries without really experiencing them, Steve and Vali do slow down enough to take in surprisingly substantial aspects of the varying cultures they encounter. The Ridiculous Race is beyond difficult to put down and the best travel book I’ve read in ages.
This sounds like “The Amazing Race” in book form. I am a fan of that show, so I think I would love to read this. There are always events that happen when you travel that you’ll never forget—sometimes funny, sometimes not. I will put this on my reading list
As Diane’s husband I can vouch that she did indeed have trouble prying it from my hands. A very entertaining book. Definitely worth a re-read!!