I think a lot of people who panned the book were avid bikers who received the book as a gift by some well intentioned friend or relative who didn't know much about bikes. The recipients may very well not have known who the author is. It is not really a bike book, with hard technical knowledge about preparing for races, or the most scenic bike routes in the Berlin area. Biking is a part of the book but it is only a small part of the picture. So some people get outraged because the content is wrong. I can understand. I was pretty annoyed when I discovered that there were no French Connection style car chases in Driving Miss Daisy.
The other haters seemed to be the American Super Patriot type, who don't brook dissent, unless of course they are in disagreement with things. They complain that Liberal David Byrne, a known freedom hater and punk rock subversive, is out bashing stuff again, with his internationalist, cosmopolitan, euro-hopping car killing socialism. Blah. Blah. Blah. Makes you wonder if they read the book.(doubt it). Those sort of comments would make Mr. Byrne appear to be a pretentious sort. In reality, while David has strong convictions on issues, he is pretty low key and unassuming in the book, almost to a fault.
But I thought it would be an interesting read. David Byrne is a creative soul, an intelligent person who seeks out new and interesting things. He is a thoughtful person, a man who straddles the art and music world. He has the eclectic Luaka Bop music label. So is this a great great work of erudition, or as in the enlightened vernacular of today, a must read? Not particularly. But I enjoyed it, much as I enjoy a lot of comedies. There are great bits in it, that made me think, made me laugh. I learned a few things. On a lot of his big ideas, it sometimes felt like I was on a tandem bike with him. But like any bike ride there are ups and downs. And in reality Byrne does not have high aspirations here.
First of all, as I said, it is not a bike book. The Bike Motif is a literary foil that connects his travels and his thoughts as he goes about his life. It is not a particularly great travel book either. You get little snippets, little snapshots and philosophical musings about places, and some of the people who are creating things in these places. His destinations include places like Manila, Berlin, San Francisco, Istanbul, and Buenos Aires. But the book is more like the title a diary, or perhaps a blog. Certainly the text is embellished with numerous photos and images. I'd like to imagine that the title Bicycle Diaries is a homage to Basketball Diaries by the late poet-musician Jim Carroll, but since he doesn't mention it anywhere I am probably off base. Unless of course it is that painfully obvious.
Bicycle diaries is not particularly revelatory, at least not in the Hollywood Tell-all style. So Talking Heads fans will not want to read this to find out juicy details about the author. There are just numerous musings on art, music, individuality, architecture, urban society, public policy, global ecology. Belly dancing. The East German Secret Police. It's interesting to hear what he has to say on a myriad of topics. But he seems to be a pretty self effacing person. He is very much a third person in this chronicle, an outside observer. In a way, it's kind of refreshing. So many people visit a place for a few weeks and think they have uncovered timeless secrets and insights. It's more about them than the place, a sort of verbal imperialism. But he doesn't try and dictate what things are so much, or what people should or shouldn't do.
It's not always so clear cut.
But he gets impressions of places through his bike journeys, and puts a lot of thought to more universal ideas. I particularly like his musings on "outsider" art made by school janitors and mentally ill people, and how similar artworks by big name "sane" and savvy downtown artists command respect and big dollars. I think he basically said that if archaeologists uncovered two similar examples of such art by disparate authors, they would not be able to make many qualitative distinctions. I guess there is at least a little bit of hype in everything.
So I would recommend this book, if you've read what I've said about it and are intrigued. The book grew on me as I continued reading. It's like having a conversation with a really smart reflective guy who travels the world with his eyes wide open. With a quirky sense of humor to boot. Most people reach a certain age and decide what they like and don't like and become set in their ways. They don't want to know about new things--well, maybe they will go on some trips and take pictures of the Pyramids or a Norwegian Dragon Church. But other people have a thirst for knowledge and for experiencing and interacting with the world that is boundless. They don't fall for those stereotypes that are often fostered by ignorance. And in a way I consider that to be a form of respect for other people, something that we need more of in this world.
I'm just saying that this sort of questing attitude should keep going, not stop when you throw your cap in the air after graduating High School or when you get a real job. Keep your mind sharp--you might have to use it some day.
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