My Bike Tour in France Remembered

An Innocent Abroad in 1968

Non-Fiction - Autobiography
662 Pages
Reviewed on 02/23/2015
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Bernard Foong for Readers' Favorite

I must admit I was surprised by this well written, albeit rather long, account of a young man's summer bicycle journey through France in 1968, written from the perspective of a thoughtful grandfather to his grandson Austin. I am not sure how Austin liked it but I hope he found it equally interesting. As a young man, I imagined the author, Wayne Slingluff, fancied himself as an artist and painter. After weeks of wrangling, he convinced his reluctant parents to allow him a summer vacation in France where he would take in the world of art and history. His sojourn in France would ultimately challenge him in a way that would help influence the rest of his adult life.

I am also planning a road trip (by train and car) to France this year. It will encompass some of the same areas mentioned in this memoir. I found it especially enjoyable. Having done some travelling of my own as a young man, I find I have similar experiences that also helped shape my adult life. It was a way of reliving that era of wanderlust, so often craved for by young adults. The biking experiences in France these days have changed substantially since 1968. I'm sure some of the difficulties experienced by the author then may not necessarily apply today. All in all, it was an enjoyable read.