🚵🏻‍♂️ 🏞️ 🏕️ “The Persistent Road” (Bicycle Adventure Series #1) (2023) 🏕️ 🏞️ 🚵🏻‍♂️ – Book Review

 

MY REVIEW

 

 

Series: Bicycle Adventure Series (Book #1)
Paperback: 368 Pages
Publisher: Open Road Press (June 20, 2023)
Language: English
ISBN-13: 979-8986012506
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information

 

“There’s always an escape. Sometimes you need to search long and hard for the right one.

 

After losing all he once cherished, Doug Zimmer follows his wife’s parting breadcrumbs and rides up the Pacific coast—on a bicycle. Armed with a revolver and only a vague plan to get through the months ahead, he aims to end his depression one way or the other.

 

As spiritual forces wrangle for his soul, he pedals eastward across America. He meets Lauren Baumgartner—a younger adventurer with a vibrant spirit—and a band of zealots who confront his aversion to religion. Accompanying Doug are not only sunny days and the beauty of nature but also the perils of the road, fellow travelers with their own stories, and the hollow silence of solitary campsites playing host to unseen creatures of the night.

 

A jarring episode on a climb through a treacherous pass brings Doug face-to-face with life and death. Will Doug’s adventure deliver him from loneliness and lament . . . or hurtle him to an abrupt end?”

 

Thank you in advance to the author, Tim Bishop, for providing an advanced review copy through his launch team. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by the author, and it looks like this is his first work of fiction.

 

Right off – for those looking for a “happy ending” or a “feel-good” read – this might not be exactly what you’re looking for. There are some dramatic themes in this book which might be triggering for some readers. These are depression, repeated suicidal thoughts, gambling addiction mention, a drug-dealing storyline, and a death from cancer. There is also a graphic mention of a bicycle rider’s hit-and-run accident and subsequent “death” due to wild animals. At one point, there is a step-by-step description of an attempted gun suicide which is detailed in the book.

 

Another word of warning – a bathroom “experience” is slightly detailed, so one might want to refrain from eating while reading this. I say this because some folks tend to snack while reading.

 

As a result of the content, this can be mentally taxing and emotionally overwhelming read. To be honest, I didn’t know it’d be as “overwhelming” as it was. The premise did sound interesting which is why I decided to read it. And, for the most part – it was a rather enlightening read.

 

That said …

 

The cover is reflective and stirring, which is what this book is – reflective and spiritual.

 

Bishop introduces us to:

 

🚵🏻‍♂️ Doug

🚵🏻‍♀️ Lauren

⛪ Brother Jim (Pastor in Missoula)

👒 Maggie (Jim’s wife)

🚵🏻‍♂️ Fred (Cyclist who meets up with Lauren and saves her life)

⚖️ Jeffrey (Lauren’s fiancé and an attorney)

 

While there are six (6) main characters, the entire story is told from Doug’s POV in third person. I would’ve liked Lauren and Brother Jim’s POVs, especially deeper into the story.

 

This begins with words NO ONE wants to hear … “I’m sorry. Your cancer is spreading …” especially close to the holidays. But, that is what Doug Zimmer has to deal with. However, his wife Ruth is passing up treatment and accepting that she’s going to die – and go to heaven. It’s obvious that Doug has an issue with her faith, but still loves her.

 

That isn’t all, he ends up being fired from a job he held for 30 years. It was over something he’s adamant he never did.

 

However, the loss of his job complicates his wife’s care due to the insurance. But, on Christmas Eve, she passes. She leaves behind an “adventure” for Doug. She also wants him to “move on” after she’s gone. Yet, at 60, Doug finds himself at a serious point in his life.

 

After settling a few things, Doug gears up to go on a bike ride. And, it is something that causes him to see many different things. Yet, there is a deep cynicism there despite the letters his wife has written to him. Letters that contain biblical passages.

 

He then meets Lauren who is engaged and getting in a final “tour” before getting married (though she ends up calling off the engagement). While Doug doesn’t like getting preached to, he doesn’t mind listening to Lauren who reminds him of Ruth.

 

That isn’t all that Doug is dodging – along the way his depression and thoughts of suicide plague him. Each time a tragedy unfolds, the demon of depression nags at him, dragging him deeper under.

 

As they travel and connect intermittently, Doug opens up to Lauren.

 

It isn’t until another cyclist comes along and an accident happens that Doug seemingly unravels. He’s drawn to call a number and reaches Brother Jim, a pastor, and Jim’s wife Maggie. Due to the search being called off, Doug is compelled to find the missing cyclist who saved Lauren’s life.

 

It is Jim and Maggie who end up saving Doug’s life after another near tragedy sends him to the bottomless pit called depression.

 

And, Doug realizes there is yet another adventure out there – leaving the ending open and ready for a sequel.

 

This is, for me, was not one of those “can’t-put-it-down” kind of reads. The short chapters and descriptive writing kept the story going though. I did want to keep reading it to see what was going to happen to Doug. I will state that his behavior at a campsite with a group of “religious people” earlier in the novel almost had me wanting to stop reading the book, at best I really didn’t care for him.  

 

To give a bit of perspective – someone from the group had slipped a bible into his bag and he threw it away, same with a handmade wooden cross. Also, a breakfast that was made and left for him – he spat in it and threw it. Given what a sweet woman his wife was and her love for God, I thought that was almost a slap in the face of her memory. I honestly wonder what Ruth would’ve thought of him in that moment. I also wondered if Ruth hadn’t put these people in Doug’s life to urge him on and comfort him, so I really despised him in that moment and for a while.

 

There are also moments where he’s hustled at pool and can’t stop betting, he ends up spending $25 on an in-room movie (which seems kinda high in price), and it is eventually revealed that he lied to his wife, along with having a gambling problem. Thus, he wasn’t the perfect husband, or a likeable guy for most of the book.

 

I have to agree with one reviewer, the first part of this can feel like a “travel read” with such descriptions about the routes. I did find myself sort of skipping those parts as I wanted to get to the heart of the story, which is about halfway in and quite remarkable and inspiring. Those who want to “travel” and not leave home – this is actually a great way to see the sights.

 

The Persistent Road is the first in a series, which is slightly noted on the back of the book. Readers will likely need to read future releases to see Doug’s story progress. I am definitely interested to see what Bishop has planned next for the characters. There were a few loose ends I wanted to see wrapped up. Lauren and her fiancé are a loose end I’d like to explore, though I’m wondering about her relationship with Fred since he inadvertently saved her life.

 

Overall, while naïve, Lauren was the best character. Brother Jim was also one of the more solid “leads”.

 

As of note, despite not caring too much for him, I did want to see Doug sue his former employer for the wrongful termination. Not for revenge, but he does deserve his full retirement given what he is told in a letter from a co-worker. As realistic as this is written, I hope the author does rectify that part of the story in future releases. Doug’s termination seemed rather “shady” from the beginning, and I am certain he could’ve gotten the unemployment office in California to look into it.

 

Anyway …

 

Those looking for a deeply emotional and spiritually engaging book will likely enjoy this. However, as this is a Christian fiction book, it can lean heavily on the proselytizing in many sections. Some Christian readers enjoy such books, others might not.

 

 

 

RATING: 

 

4 (3.8) ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads 

 

4 (3.8) ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub 

 

4 (3.8) ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html; update: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2022/07/what-goes-into-my-reviews-2022-edition.html)

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

 

TIM BISHOP has bicycled many of the roads that Doug Zimmer travels in The Persistent Road. And having coached people struggling with similar issues, the author is familiar with his protagonist’s problems. Tim and his wife, Debbie, are co-authors of the award-winning Wheel of Wisdom.

 

 

He can be found on the following social media accounts:

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TimBishopWrites

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TimBishopWrites/

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TimBishopWrites

 

Website: https://timbishopwrites.com/

 

 

 

 

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