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A Ride in the Neon Sun: A Gaijin in Japan
 
 
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A Ride in the Neon Sun: A Gaijin in Japan (Paperback)

by Josie Dew (Author) "There is something about being hopelessly lost that is strangely enjoyable ..." (more)
3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Paperback: 699 pages
  • Publisher: Time Warner Paperbacks; New edition edition (1 Jun 2000)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0751517550
  • ISBN-13: 978-0751517552
  • Product Dimensions: 17.7 x 10.8 x 2.2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 591,175 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

Fast paced and humorous, Josie Dew's sometimes absurd experiences riding through Japan are delightfully recorded in A ride in the Neon Sun. Cycle enthusiast or not, anyone considering a trip to Japan would do well to prepare themselves with this book. A Ride in the Neon Sun, informative and coupled with the author's social observations, provides the reader with a true picture of a country and its people. Josie Dew embraces the culture of Japan in a whirlwind Tour de Nippon, told from the saddle of her bicycle.

For the tested Far-Eastern traveller or the tourist ready to venture further afield, A Ride in the Neon Sun is an eye-opening account of a " 'Gaijin', (foreigner) in Japan." Dew's social observations are honest and detailed. Her appreciation and acceptance of the bizarre epitomise the open-mindedness with which one must explore different cultures. Dew takes us on a wonderful yet wacky trip around Japan. She does not simply list the events as they happen, but instead explains the Whys?, Whens? and Hows?.

From Tokyo to Yokohama, armed with an ineffectual phrasebook including key conversation pieces such as: "Well, by gosh, I am from Missouri" and her trusty bicycle, the reader is introduced to all that is Japan. A Ride in the Neon Sun is set to follow in the successful slipstream of her previous books, The Wind in My Wheels, (Shortlisted for the 1992 British Books Travel Writer of the Year Award.) and Travels in a Strange State. --Jon Smith



TLS

`A female Bill Bryson...A Ride in the Neon Sun is full of delights'
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Customer Reviews

18 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
3.7 out of 5 stars (18 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Best Travel Book Ever, 5 Oct 2005
By A Customer
This review is from: A Ride in the Neon Sun (Paperback)
I don't like travel books. I found Bryson at school very, very dull, and that was my opinion of travel writing: dull.

So why did I read 'A Ride in the Neon Sun'? My grandmother happened upon this book and said it was very funny. Funny? Travel writing? Having an interest in Japan, I thought I'd get a copy.

This book is stunningly well written. It goes into just enough detail, and Dew make many witty observations about Japan. True, she occassionally uses the same jokes over and over again, but the books feels like a journey. It feels like you are exploring Japan with Ms Dew, and her very English sense of humour. She only reiterates what you would really notice over-and-over again.

Basically, whether or not you like travel, this book is a must-read. I sat giggling at this book on the bus, at the bus stop, at lunch, waiting in the street. Anywhere I could read it. And it's lasted well too.

Amazing. Possibly one of the best books I've read for several years now.

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Accurate, insightful and funny, 29 Oct 2001
By A Customer
Unbeknownst to me, Josie and I cycled through Japan at the same time (my excuse was I was living there at the time and was a "weekend cyclist"). Reading of her travels has brought back many wonderful (and awful) memories. Josie uses a style that makes it quite easy for the reader to gain a "first person" perspective and is highly addictive. My only criticism (and this is aimed at fate rather than Josie) is that the tales end too quickly. "Pah! To all you of short attention span" say I, "not 100 pages less but 200 more......"
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars For anyone considering going to Japan, 12 Jan 2003
By A Customer
My daughter is currently teaching in Japan for two years and so I thought that this book would be helpful to me as an insight to the Japanese culture. I was not disappointed.
From what my daughter has told me and after reading the book, I am compelled to say that the book is an excellent guide to this strange culture. For anyone considering going to Japan and wondering what lies ahead, this is an accurate reflection of the Japanese people.
I found it informative, witty and a great read. This is my first Josie Dew book and I will be looking for more.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars She makes me wish...
...I could ride a bike! I can't, but I've read most of Josie's books and fully intend to read the rest. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Mrs. H. E. Freeborn

4.0 out of 5 stars An entertaining joy-ride for the newby gaijin!
Having read some of the scathing reviews by some sour parties on here, I thought I'd add my say.
If you are interested in Japan and have no in-depth experience of the... Read more
Published on 26 April 2006 by M. Summerell

1.0 out of 5 stars badly-written and tedious
i had high hopes for this book, having picked it up in a bookshop recently. however, on getting home and settling in on the sofa, i quickly became exasperated at the style of... Read more
Published on 3 Nov 2004

1.0 out of 5 stars Japan: magnet for brainless, aspiring travel writers...
This book is shockingly poor. The Japan I have lived in for 5 years (as an English teacher) bears no resemblence to the Japan depicted by this trite slab of pulp unworthy of its... Read more
Published on 17 Nov 2003 by s_bate

2.0 out of 5 stars Interesting but repetitive
I bought the book because I saw a friend reading it, and enjoyed what I was reading at first. However, I'm now about 2/3 the way through and am now finding it highly repetitive... Read more
Published on 4 Jul 2002 by P. E. Holmes

5.0 out of 5 stars Wacky and enthralling, both the author and the subject
Stumbling across this book by accident was a highlight in my reading year. Josie manages to combine an unusual sense of fun and wacky observational skills with an obvious... Read more
Published on 15 Dec 2001 by Roger Macdivitt (romac@euphony.net

3.0 out of 5 stars Too long, too detailed, not Josie's best book!
Having read both previous books i was keen to read this. I was a little dissapointed as i feel now she has made a name for herself this book appears to be more forced and... Read more
Published on 11 May 2001

4.0 out of 5 stars Don't take any notice of the comments below
...Ms. Dew's comments are insightful and her style has certainly matured since Wind in my Wheels. I leant the book to a Japanese friend of mine whom is an English teacher and an... Read more
Published on 20 April 2001 by Matt Pointon

3.0 out of 5 stars Japan for beginners
Three stars for a book that is very much middling. Looking forward to a nice fat read, I found myself losing interest after the first 100 pages or so as Ms Dew served up cliche... Read more
Published on 4 April 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars ..inspiring!
As a fellow intrepid cyclist, I could really relate to Josie Dew's experiences. You can imagine you are there in her place as she describes the exhileration of mountain climbs,... Read more
Published on 24 Nov 2000 by oompah18

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