Cost: $3.99US
Page Count: 300
"And you may ask yourself
Well, how did I get here?"
- Once In a Lifetime, Talking Heads
Sitting down to read Bicycle Diaries made me feel a little bit smarter; a little bit more cultured. This has everything to do with David Byrne's writing style and his obvious love for the written word. The dude just oozes high culture.
To be frank, I never really got into the whole "art rock" movement. Maybe it's because I hail from central Florida and nowhere near Central Park in NYC. But, I was never drawn to the avant garde or the true artist freak culture. Therefore, much music has not entered into my field of (aural) vision. Sonic Youth, Nico, The Velvet Underground...don't know much about them, at all. They seemed just a bit too "high society" for a poor Florida cracker who grew up on the teats of Creedence, Skynyrd, and Zepplin. But...I did like the Talking Heads. So, I've got respect for Byrne even though he is definitely more cultured than I.
While on tour and while traveling, David Byrne often tools around various cities on a bicycle. Hence, the name of the book. In my book, this is pretty cool. There is no better way to truly get to know a new place than from the saddle of a bike. Byrne writes about these jaunts through foreign cities in Bicycle Diaries. Paris, Sydney, NYC...they are all beautifully painted by Byrne in such a way that the reader can practically smell the shit on the city streets of Manila. David Byrne is an artist.
To some extent, Motley Crue singer Vince Neil is an artist. He creates music so that is an art. But, it's super one-dimensional. Not to disparage the Crue or Vince, but in the grand scheme of life their "art" is stupid as fuck. It plays to the retarded masses...that's why I like it.
But, there is something MORE to Byrne as an artist. Music, painting, photography, etc...these are all arenas in which I feel that the author could express a high level of expertise whilst in conversation. This level of artistry and knowledge weasels its way into his writing. The city streets become canvases; the bike his paintbrush; the words his paint.
This book, in my honest opinion, is fucking difficult to describe.
There are times during the stretch of Bicycle Diaries where Byrne is too wordy, a bit pretentious, a lot erudite, and sometimes pompous. It doesn't happen much but there are times when I was reading when I muttered, "Just get to the point, fucker". But, these moments are overshadowed by the fact that the book is well-crafted and amazingly well-researched. This author knows his shit. And he knows it.
It took me a long time to finish Bicycle Diaries. I read it here and there...never truly getting engrossed. I attribute this to the writing style; it can be heavy. It was read in chunks and pieces and not by chapter. It's probably because I am just a lowly blog-writing dude. But, this book, in the end, turned out to be pretty good. Very informative.
I must say that Bicycle Diaries ain't gonna be for everyone. But, those that stick with it are definitely going to learn something.
If you like music, musicians, and travel journals give this book a shot.
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