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Average Customer Rating:

Someone Unchain Dave - Let His Writing Flow!

Customer Rating:

Dave Gorman for me is one of the founding fathers of the recent quest comedy novels that have filled my non-fiction shelves. With his `Are you Dave Gorman' and his `Googlewack Adventure' I was entertained and educated. `Unchained America' follows a similar path to these two earlier books, but with some major differences. Gorman has made TV shows out of all of his books, but whilst previously he adapted them using the photos and short films he made himself, this time he goes out to make a documentary. Unfortunately, this means that the book suffers. I have not seen the TV show, but having read the book it seems like it was a difficult undertaking. Dave set out across America to go from the East coast to the West with only using unchained stores, gas suppliers and motels. What should have been a fun adventure meeting quirky characters is repeatedly broken up by the importance of filming things. A lot of momentum is lost in the book because they have to stop and start all the time to change film or help the camera woman. For me this book lacked some of the joy that made the others so good. In the second half the narrative does flow better and some of the usual Gorman wit comes to the fore. It is a shame that this wit is few and far between.

More normal but no less hilarious

Customer Rating:

Having been a fan of Gorman's since the explosion of the 'Are You Dave Gorman?' project my one fear about his work since is where could he go from there? How many amazing accidents and coincidences can happen to one man? Thats where this project comes in. No drunken bets, no amazingly serendipitus events - just a man wanting to see another side of life and documenting where that desire takes him. And it takes him on an incredible journey - by turns hilarious, moving, scary, joyess - but above all human. Highly recommended as both a travel book and a personal memoir of exploration.

A Book Of Two Halves

Customer Rating:

A good idea for a book and it very nearly comes off as a good read. When Stef is cameraperson there is much more feeling to the book. The detours to visit places make excellent reading. Unfortunately after she has to quit through injury the sparkle goes out of the book. Enter Andy and it all goes downhill. It becomes apparent that the idea is to get to the finish line as quickly as possible with no thought to what places may actually be missed by this style of travel. They could just as well have flown instead of driving for the last part of the book for the interest shown. If Andy was so desperate to see his daughter why volunteer for the assignment in the first place? DVD sales of the book is all that comes to mind to me. In this case the last part of the book is a let down. All the stars are for the part with Stef in it.

A recommended read

Customer Rating:

I have been to the USA five times on holiday and I have had the best holidays of my life there. Therefore, I have an interest travel writing in the states. Rich Smith's 'You can get arrested for that' is a good book on his tavels accross the USA. Dave Gorman's idea of chain free travel is a genuine heart-felt idea of giving hope to family run businesses still trying to beat away the corporate big gun companies trying to take over. You have to admire Dave taking on this task as he went through troubled times on virtually the whole trip. Dave's book is very well written, his use of English is easy on the eye and his emotional feelings throughout the trip are evident because of his honesty. He decribes scenery, people and towns etc in great detail and you do feel your on the trip with him. I felt, however, that Dave gives a lot of irrelevant info during the book. For example the Mormons business goes way over the top on detail and only a few other times I was left slightly frustrated at the lengty detail given on some history topics. Overall though I enjoyed this book and would recommend it.

Raod Trip!!

Customer Rating:

A truly amazing read which kept me wanting more throughout. I would have to recommend this to anyone with a sense of humor! This being the first book of Dave Gorman's I have read I approached it reluctantly, after in all honesty, not finding myself interested with the ideas behind his previous books. How wrong could I be? The book takes us on a trip through an unchained America, and asking "can you really travel from one coast of the US to the other without giving money to "the man". You really can't manufacture the situations that this trip finds itself in. At times I found it quite hard to grasp the landscape and the scenario's within which the book was placed, this being to the description being too over complicated and annoying at times. Also felt the book was cut short at the end, leaving me wanting more, but I guess that's a good trait to have as a writer. Just ordered the DVD to see the words in motion. Overall well written book, which I'm sure I will be reading again, very enjoyable.