Spokesongs: Amazon.co.uk: Willie Weir: Books

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Thunder and Sunshine

by Alastair Humphreys

5.0 out of 5 stars (8) �5.97

Moods of Future Joys: Around the World by Bike - Part 1

by Alastair Humphreys

4.6 out of 5 stars (16) �5.23

› Explore similar items

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

(What's this?)

Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)

bicycle literature

Customer Reviews

7 Reviews

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.4 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great short adventures that whisk you away & make you smile!, 20 May 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Spokesongs: Bicycle Adventures of Three Continents (Paperback)

Willie has a great way of communicating the absurd and outrageously funny, while still standing back far enough from the culture he is cycling through to paint the everyday experience for us, as well as suck us into the feeling of adventure that courses through his journey. We get to share in his lonley moments and in his fear and disgust at what he finds along the roads and tracks he peddals. I certainly hope we get more "Spokesongs" from Willie Weir in the future, but meantime buy two copies of this one, one for yourself to read every few months, and one for someone you love!

Stephen Counsell

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Ok if you have a short attention span, 12 Mar 2005

By A Customer

This review is from: Spokesongs: Bicycle Adventures of Three Continents (Paperback)

Willie Weir is a genuine adventurer and a genuine cyclist and his stories give you some insight into his experiences and the places he visits. But this book is a bit like ordering a meal and getting a small bag of cheese puffs instead.
Part of the problem is the format, each of the very short chapters is a reprint of one of Willie's short newspaper columns. Most of them only run slightly over one page so around one third of the book is blank paper, very poor value indeed. And after a while the stories are very repetitive, Willie has a bit of a struggle or a misunderstanding, then he falls in with some truly wonderful Tamil, Lesothan, Afrikaaner, Slovenian etc character who invites him into the bosom of their family and they become lifelong friends.
So I envy Willie's travels and I admire his spirit, He's made me think that I too would like to cycle across South Africa or the Balkans, but I wouldn't advise buying this book until you've read all the other excellent cycling literature out there, starting with Dervla Murphy's "Full Tilt" (but I would avoid Josie Dew).
Actually I would make one exception. This would make a great set of readings for somebody running a cycling holiday or cycle-touring club. One of Willie's chapters is just right to read aloud before the evening meal, a short interlude for everybody to enjoy the feelgood spirit and feel their appetite develop.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!!--Each story whisks you away on a new adventure., 11 Jun 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Spokesongs: Bicycle Adventures of Three Continents (Paperback)

Reading Spokesongs was like a wonderful journey into places I have only dreamed about. Willie writes on such an absorbing and personal level that after reading each chapter, I found myself looking up and almost blinking when I realized I was still in Seattle. He takes us with him as he travels the world and what a wonderful adventure we are invited to share!

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 7 customer reviews...

Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars You'll laugh, you'll cry...Don't miss it!
In "Spokesongs", Willie Weir demonstrates the rare combination of indomitable spirit and poetic soul. Read more

Published on 5 Jun 1998

4.0 out of 5 stars an entertaining and inspiring collection of short stories
Besides being funny, Spokesongs is an inspiration to all travellers. Willie Wier seeks to find the best in every culture and has the ability to share his experiences in an... Read more

Published on 21 May 1998

5.0 out of 5 stars "Innocents Abroad" on a bike
Willie Weir is a wonderful story-teller. His lighthearted accounts of daily adventure in unfamiliar lands have an "Innocents,Abroad-like" quality that is very engaging... Read more

Published on 21 May 1998

5.0 out of 5 stars A riveting account of biking in places I only dream about
This book not only appeals to recreational bikers who dream of biking in "other worlds", but gives an arm-chair traveler a glimpse into the backroads of countries, into... Read more

Published on 20 May 1998

› See all 7 customer reviews...

Listmania!

My top ten cycling travel books.: A list by Cath Andrews "cathnmike"

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Look for similar items by subject

Feedback

Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.

Spokesongs (Hardcover)

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Product details

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Customer Reviews

Customer Discussions

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight

Start a new discussion

Listmania!

Look for similar items by category

Look for similar items by subject

Feedback

Your Recent History

	62% buy the item featured on this page: Spokesongs 4.4 out of 5 stars (7) �17.95
	38% buy Moods of Future Joys: Around the World by Bike - Part 1 4.6 out of 5 stars (16) �5.23