slferg's review against another edition
4.0
I like his books - the country side, the people he talks to, the tales he hears are all quite interesting and some are hilarious! The clincher for me was the first section of the book was the little known exploration into Arkansas and Louisiana at the time of the Purchase. I think it was before Lewis and Clark set out, sone stories of the expedition and the fact that there was an exhibit of that exploration at the Clinton Library which I wantex to see but some unforeseen family occurrences made it unable for me to go.
The focus is on quoz and his preoccupation with words beginning with q. In fact he calls his wife Q.
The focus is on quoz and his preoccupation with words beginning with q. In fact he calls his wife Q.
emmymau's review against another edition
1.0
I’m having a hard time putting my finger on why I didn’t enjoy this book. I loved Blue Highways, Least-Heat Moon’s solitary journey through the forgotten backroads of America. Though Roads to Quoz is very similar in content, and the flowery prose is both creative and entertaining, the book itself failed to draw me in. Perhaps it’s a lack of a feeling of authenticity? The sense of navel-gazing is much stronger this time around, and the travels in this story were undertaken ostensibly to feed this very book, whereas Blue Highways had the feeling of being a personal odyssey that would’ve taken place whether there was a book deal in it or not. I don’t know if this is actually the case or not, but there’s something below the surface that makes Roads to Quoz feel more cynically mercenary at its heart.
grayduck's review against another edition
Reviewed on 5/21/2009
Another wonderful book by my favorite travel writer. He wrote Blue Highways, which changed my life; River-horse, which I read in Prague instead of being out and enjoying Prague (bad planning on my part, I should have brought a boring book); and Prairy-Erth, which I couldn't finish but I figured was pretty good anyway.
So...what is this mysterious "Quoz" anyway? He explains: "quoz" (rhymes with Oz) means anything out of the ordinary: "anything strange, incongruous, or peculiar; at its heart is the unknown, the mysterious." In the first book, he drove off in search of himself. In the second, he traced Lewis & Clark's journey by boat. In the third, he did a "deep map" on foot of one county in Kansas. In this book, he goes off in search of "strange and mysterious things."
Hell, I'd read it if he went off in search of Cheerios at his local Safeway.
His writing style is so damned engaging. I love it. I would read his shopping lists if he published them. If he wrote a weekly column in his local paper (in Missouri), I would subscribe just for the pleasure of 1000 more words arranged by William Least Heat-Moon. His books put me in a contemplative, observant place and I LOVE IT.
I can't say that this is his best book. Blue Highways still stands undisturbed on top of that pedestal. He used to sleep in his van, now he stays in motels. He brought along his wife for this trip - and, as is par for the course when it comes to his travelling companions - we learn absolutely nothing about her (except that she's witty and good for quips). But I don't care. He could bring along the Verizon guy and his crowd. I'll still be first in line for ANYTHING this guy writes.
As for you, astonished readers, I would suggest you find yourself a copy of Blue Highways. That's my suggestion and gift to you all.
Another wonderful book by my favorite travel writer. He wrote Blue Highways, which changed my life; River-horse, which I read in Prague instead of being out and enjoying Prague (bad planning on my part, I should have brought a boring book); and Prairy-Erth, which I couldn't finish but I figured was pretty good anyway.
So...what is this mysterious "Quoz" anyway? He explains: "quoz" (rhymes with Oz) means anything out of the ordinary: "anything strange, incongruous, or peculiar; at its heart is the unknown, the mysterious." In the first book, he drove off in search of himself. In the second, he traced Lewis & Clark's journey by boat. In the third, he did a "deep map" on foot of one county in Kansas. In this book, he goes off in search of "strange and mysterious things."
Hell, I'd read it if he went off in search of Cheerios at his local Safeway.
His writing style is so damned engaging. I love it. I would read his shopping lists if he published them. If he wrote a weekly column in his local paper (in Missouri), I would subscribe just for the pleasure of 1000 more words arranged by William Least Heat-Moon. His books put me in a contemplative, observant place and I LOVE IT.
I can't say that this is his best book. Blue Highways still stands undisturbed on top of that pedestal. He used to sleep in his van, now he stays in motels. He brought along his wife for this trip - and, as is par for the course when it comes to his travelling companions - we learn absolutely nothing about her (except that she's witty and good for quips). But I don't care. He could bring along the Verizon guy and his crowd. I'll still be first in line for ANYTHING this guy writes.
As for you, astonished readers, I would suggest you find yourself a copy of Blue Highways. That's my suggestion and gift to you all.
writesdave's review
5.0
William Least Heat-Moon has mastered a sense of place, and it doesn't matter how little time he spends there; he has it pegged. His wife, Q, is the traveling companion every traveler should want — equal parts deadpan comic relief, ballbuster, conscience and instigator.
Indeed, his lack of focus puts off some readers, but given the nature of his travels that's kind of the point. He keeps an open mind for whatever lurks around the next bend or over the mountain. Even if you care not a whit about any of the parts of the country he discovered for you, the history he discovers pulls you in and his prose keeps you interested. Can't wait to complete his canon.
Indeed, his lack of focus puts off some readers, but given the nature of his travels that's kind of the point. He keeps an open mind for whatever lurks around the next bend or over the mountain. Even if you care not a whit about any of the parts of the country he discovered for you, the history he discovers pulls you in and his prose keeps you interested. Can't wait to complete his canon.
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