Dispatches To America: A Route 66 Memoir

Hullo Jimmy. Interesting viewpoint but no other comment. Did someone say 'birth certificate'? Already shelved and backed. Please take a look at my book and thanks for that.
Linda Lou Long
Southern dis-Comfort
http://www.authonomy.com/ViewBook.aspx?bookid=11421

Jimmy, you have a great storyline. The premise is strong; the pace is steady and characterizations compelling. I really like the plot and the writing is good. You have a flair for building tension that explodes off the page, propelling the story forward.
Great storytelling
Scott
The Esrevinu Chronicles/Secrets of the Elephant Rocks

Backed with pleasure. In spite of a few minor errors, you have a good story. It's far more bitter than Kerouac's On the Road or Steinbeck's Travels With Charley, but 2001 and 2005 were not happy years. Sadly, Americans have too quickly forgotten the madness of the George W. Bush years and have blamed the recent economic disaster on Barack Obama. I'm not sure how to remind people of what that world was like. Your treatment of Clyde, Ohio was perhaps the strongest part of the book--especially your return to the town after Wal-Martization.

I'd be a little kinder to the Amish. Their rejection of technology is not for technology itself, but as a method of keeping their community together. And in spite of everything, it's worked.

Generation X is perhaps the second-most maligned generation in America next to mine. And I think it's maligned unfairly, especially by my fellow Postwar Baby Boomers. I hope you find a publisher for this. Yours is a voice that ought to be heard.

Steve Wylder.

As soon as I saw Dispatches To America I knew it'd be good. I am not disappointed. I would luv to have this on my
bookshelf for real. You have such a lively, entertaining and highly observant style. My only crit would be, there are areas that need slowing down - read aloud as for audio books and you'll see where the problems lay. [ I read the highly memorable Generation-X] and this is, I think far richer].
That's an interesting observation about Makes me Wanna Holler, Marvyn Gay's stuff just doesn't date. Every success with this.

Ch, 14: There were other buildings spared in the Great Chicago Fire, including Old St. Patrick's Church, just a few blocks from the O'Leary barn. The land on which the Great White City stood is hardly defunct--the Museum of Science and Industry is one of the original White City buildings (though it had to be virtually rebuilt). Field's is now Macy's--some Chicagoans were relieved when Macy's took over the May stores, in spite of the fact thet the Field name is gone. "It's future is not so bright." Should be "Its." Still, I'm enjoying this odyssey.

Steve Wylder

Working through the story and ran into "picked up a few loose rusted railroad ties." (Ch. 6) I think you mean "spikes." The ties are the long wooden planks or concrete beams that keep the tracks together. They don't rust and even the wooden ones are way too heavy to pick up.

Steve Wylder
See You in Chicago

This is absolutely great. I am not even an American but I love the concept. And more particularly I really respect what you have done here. Bringing in Gen X introduces a whole new point of view.
I could go on and on.
Thank you for sharing this with us.
I have it on my shelf and I should have paid for it.
A zoomer
Going Out in Style

I found this fascinating, you showed me an America we don't see from over here. The America we get is either the worst or the best, but rarely is it real. Here I felt I was seeing things as they are and despite the anger that came through every now and again, I felt I was in the hands of a safe guide.
I loved the detail, the small things which say so much. Your eye is very sharp and your pen reflects that accute observation.
Backed with pleasure.

Your anger at the socio/economic/political situation in the US most clearly comes through to the reader and your insights are shared by many. Your book is well written buy sometimes you tend to put too much information into a single paragraph. Other than that well done. Backed with pleasure.

Andrew Burans
The Reluctant Warrior: The Beginning

Boy, that's a serious insult to the Vlasic pickle. You mix it up in a bar with a Vlasic one night and come out the loser? Was that by chance Vlasic Dubya Pickle? Don't tell me -- he drove into YOUR mailbox, too.
Really enjoyed this -- all the best of luck with this project. Marianne (Saint Paddy and the Sundial)

I like this, and not just because I share your social, political and moral viewpoints. Your writing is very approachable and amusing. I am looking forward to when us Gen-X er's take over the world!

Backed with gusto!
Christa

I like your social comments better than your descriptive prose (nothing wrong with the descriptions, but tending towards the approach of a baedeker). Some passages are emotive, I would say lyrical and touching. I am old enough to have read ON THE ROAD when it first came out, and I like your style better. Aside from being contemporary, I think it blends intellectual discussion and visceral sentiments in a way that speaks to me more clearly, in a more meaningful way. I saw the America you went in search of through the windows of a train and twice through the glass panes of Greyhound buses, and I find your observations to be insightful. You may want to do another edit to double-check your use of ‘it’s’ and ‘its,’ and Ararat is misspelled as Arrarat. I hope you find a publisher.

Pollux

this has very little interest for me...HOWEVER, you write it so well, and convey enthusiam for the subject; you are on watchlist for now...
su dan [read SEASONS]

Nice juxtapostion of Gen X and the fading culture of the 1950's and 60's. Interesting pitch, though a little overly political. Maybe you want to let the reader discover your point of view through reading rather than right up front. In any case, great job! -Elizabeth Wolfe (Memories of Glory)

Hi Jimmy, This is a real tour of history and today starting from the hometown. You’ve given insight on the historical town's capitalist culture, the Amish and Pennsylvania places finding their earnings another way at your present. I enjoyed how you provided both the backdrop of the town survivals and what that same aim means today – especially the Amish dichotomy or hypocrisy seeming hip. Good details and I can see that following this would give an update at each stopover. Easily shelved – Katherine (The Swan Bonnet)

Jimmy, You have a warm colloquial story-telling style that brings this work alive. Thanks for sharing your poignent observations of America moving way too fast for its own good. Good luck with this. Backed.

Richard Bard
BRAINRUSH (2010 ABNA Quarter-Finalist)

Great pitch. Powerful story and thanks for telling me.
BAcked,
Bamboo Promise

Jimmy -

You've written very interesting book. To me, it sort f=of fell somewhere between Kerouac and Hunter Thompson, which ain't a bad place to be.

Happy to back this, and since my book is also about a road trip (although not nearly as many miles), I invite you to have a look.

Best of luck here, and thanks.


-Jeff Lee
THE LADIES TEMPERANCE CLUB'S FAREWELL TOUR

PS- Did you know that the Interstate Highway system (which was designed to replace roads like US 66) was an Eisenhower era defense project, inspired by Ike's post WWII exposure to the Autobahn? Next, I'll try obscure European capitals for $100...

A fasinating book as a brit I once had a client (Phillips Petroleum) who's logo was the shield and 66 I was told it was because the first petrol cars did 6.6 miles to the gallon hence route 66. Probablty rubish but a nice Idea. Good luck with your book
Sue Mackender
Knowing Liam Riley

Jimmy

Dispatches to America: A Route 66 Memoir - A journey West on The Mother Road - The Main Street of America from Chicago to Los Angeles. A haunting follow-up on Kerouac showing the state of the American dream a few decades on and what time does to places, to people. The writing easily carries the reader along with its poignant observations. I wonder if there'll be photos with the book, captured during those 3 hours before sunset. I too am a fan of the Sweet Light

Backed with pleasure. Pia (Course of Mirrors)

Dear Jimmy, I love your topic of Route 66 - lived on it 10 years in LaVerne CA. :) Your blurb is good, as is also your prologue, because it prepared me to read your book. Your story is good because you create interest by having short paragraphs & lots of dialogue, which makes me want to keep reading to find out what's going to happen next. I'm backing/commenting on your book to help it advance. Could you please return the favor by taking a moment to back/comment on my TWO books, "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not" & the unedited version? "Tell Me True Love Stories." Thanks, Susie :)

Nicely done. Backed, Dave

You pretty much had me at your list of favorite books--Devil in the White City, a recent love of mine, and Winesburg, Ohio. Can't believe that. Who puts Winesburg, Ohio? I didn't put it on my list but probably should have. One of the most influential books to me in terms of being a writer. And Flannery O' Connor...OK, so you had my attention. So the beginning. Although I pretty much agree with your assessment, I would probably tone down the first bit, the prologue. I just think it's harshly worded and would turn away too many. There are other, gentler and kinder ways to put this I suppose. After I started reading and realized that your style is very much in your face (and I liked and appreciated this), I wavered a bit about the prologue but in the end, came back to feeling it should be toned down. Anyway, I love this. Love the angle, sort of: educated, smart ass liberals travel Route 66. Don't be offended at that...I know that liberal is a bad word. And then again, maybe you're not. You have great descriptions (Rorschach blood patterns, corpses with dead grey lips, dropping mandibles, etc.). I became interested in what you thought of the places you traveled to. Your chapters on Chicago were so descriptive and evocative of place that I plan to refer back to them when I work on my current novel, which is set there. I lived in Chicago for 5 years, but sometimes have trouble remembering certain sights/smells/impressions. Your writing has helped me with this and I appreciate it. Great job on this; it's so unique and definitely worthy of notice.

Shades of Jack Kerouac, I love it! But I was too young to travel with Jack, and too old to travel with you. Except, of course, in your book. It makes a wonderful trip, indeed! Thanks for writing this. Best Regards, Jedward (Knut)

Despatches to America

Having done part of route 66 I had to read this. I wasn’t disappointed, your great writing style brought this alive for me.
I like the psychosocial insight you give this, it is a very well structured book.
A very impressive read. – I hope this does very well

Despatches to America

Having done part of route 66 I had to read this. I wasn’t disappointed, your great writing style brought this alive for me.
I like the psychosocial insight you give this, it is a very well structured book.
A very impressive read. – I hope this does very well

This is an unusual book. You gives us your views on life, the failure of the great American Dream, no longer viable for the people who elected George Bush; your memories of childhood vacations where your Dad lay about all day, and you were nearly sick with the smell of the pool, descriptions and histories of the places you go to, like Pittsburg with its 'piles of wrecked statuary and non-lead based outdoor paints,' and the stories of the people you meet, like Lazy Eye. This book grabbed me from the start and kept me reading. Your style is individual, relaxed, and nostalgic. Backed.
Gerry McCullough,
Belfast Girls.

Great idea. I'm backing your book. Would like to read it in print!

I like it. Backed

Great idea and great writing talent unite
to give us this fascinating book.
Shelved and looking forward to it.
mikegilli The Free

I have a fondness for the Southwest and Rte. 66, a compelling junction of historical culture and a peculiar era of commerce it travels through. Evolution or devolution? Modernist Americana signifying what? Sign posts to where, in truth? We shall see. I will be back to read more and offer up a comment or two when I have some time.

Gerry

Having lived at the western end of this historic route, I find myself biologically attracted to your tales here. I like the social commentary and edge to your narration.
So far, the opening chapter lays out promises of more scenic adventures. I look forward to reading on.
Backed,
Ellen (Thoughts of a Teenage Girl)

Excellent....excellent....excellent! I like the theme. I like the constuction. I like the use of words. I like the choice of descriptives. Having grown up in Chicago and its suburbs, having "gone west" then back east and then south to land in Florida, I know of some of the places you have written about. I also know of the death of small towns and main streets. I remember what Maywood, Illinois looked like in the 50s and 60s and I recoil at what is there now and cry for what has been lost, torn down, paved over in the ever demanding desire to "imporve". Improve hell, I want to scream at the morons whose visions destroyed this beauty of my childhood. Yes. Yes. Good job. Good read. Back with the desire to see this published and on my real book shelf. Sincerely, Gordon Kuhn

Firstly, I have a few admissions to make. I'm a Baby-Boomer, but I'm from South Africa, a country where the majority of whites live very much the way the middle class in america live. If I lived in the USA I would've been a Republican until Bush. Thereafter I would've been a Democrat leaning towards Libertarianism. In July 2001 I travelled along a very small section of the iconic route (root not raut) 66 from Kingman to Flagstaff. On my satellite TV service back home I watched a BBC production of a motorcylce journey along Route 66 all the way from the Windy City to La La Land. What you describe in your book is very much what I saw through the eyes of the man making that journey. I've travelled a bit in the USA and naturally I have my favourite and least favourite places. Favourite places include NY City, Boulder Co, San Diego Ca, parts of Santa Fe. Least favourite places include Los Angeles, Colorado Springs, parts of Santa Fe.

I am certainly going to read the rest of Dispatches.

This is wonderful. I'm not American, but I have travelled the country, and this took me straight back there as you described your settings. Very powerful stuff, and this clearly deserves a spin on my shelf.

Abi xxx
"Everyone knows the rule: Stay inside the Wall, but Tisha believes rules are made to be broken." - Relic

great concept and I have seen and done this. This will be a big hit in America, I know several people I would already buy it for. You're on your way to the ED...

Backed

I always used to listen to Alistair Cooke's Letter from America and miss that kind of laid back observation of a 'foreign' country so this was just the tonic! Route 66 is more than a road, it is an idea and you bring this to life very well. Jim Darcy The Firelord's Crown
ps notice that you are replying to comments in your own comment box. If you do this people will not see unless they revisit your page. To respond you need to go to their home page and message them there!

This looks like a fascinating read. Good luck. Straussy

Thanks a lot for that. I've even thought about ditching it altogether, but I backed away from that because I think I need to get the reason I traveled the road in the first place.

Again, thanks and I'm going back into it!

Jimmy J.

Okay, I read your prologue and nearly clicked away from the book. It's incredibly overwritten. But - the word choices were good and it was obvious that you have a gift.

Look it's just that you've front loaded. I get that. Any author gets that. Christ, we've all done it. So don't hear my words as a slap. See them as a suggestion to back up a bit. See a prologue is like the skin on a woman. We don't want it to be paper-thin. Oh hell no. You want it to read smooth and be inviting. You want to tempt the reader so that he'll turn and touch the pages. But ultimately when you shed the skin - you want a woman with a heart. You want marrow under all the moans and mounds. So - I clicked the page and started reading you.

I enjoy your book. Yeah. Very much. Well, I think it's a great document(ary) on culture. And I've traveled route 66.

I'd buy this book on the strength of the prose. Trim and tweak the prologue bro.

The rest is quite good.

Mark R. Trost
"Post Marked."

Okay, I read your prologue and nearly clicked away from the book. It's incredibly overwritten. But - the word choices were good and it was obvious that you have a gift.

Look it's just that you've front loaded. I get that. Any author gets that. Christ, we've all done it. So don't hear my words as a slap. See them as a suggestion to back up a bit. See a prologue is like the skin on a woman. We don't want it to be paper-thin. Oh hell no. You want it to read smooth and be inviting. You want to tempt the reader so that he'll turn and touch the pages. But ultimately when you shed the skin - you want a woman with a heart. You want marrow under all the moans and mounds. So - I clicked the page and started reading you.

I enjoy your book. Yeah. Very much. Well, I think it's a great document(ary) on culture. And I've traveled route 66.

I'd buy this book on the strength of the prose. Trim and tweak the prologue bro.

The rest is quite good.

Mark R. Trost
"Post Marked."

So much passion and Route 66 too. A near perfect combination.

Backed from the fireside.
Ms Darkniss - Sequinned Begonia

This is an interesting story. I used to live just outside L.A. on route 66 (Foothill Blvd) so your pitch jumped out at me. I read this all the way through. Love the way you describe the motels you stay in (I think I've been in some of them and reacted the same way). It's a great read. I’m adding this to my shelf. Burgio (Grain of Salt).

You have an interesting story here. But I think you can rework those pitches. You are telling us too much in both. Being Authonomy's #1 commentator and amateur pitch doctor, trust me, spend some time on your pitches; I cannot overemphasize how you need to master this basic sales technique to grab the casual reader. That's how you climb in ranking to gather more exposure and comments to better your novel. SHELVED!

I can use your comments on my book when you get the chance. Cheers!

JC
The Obergemau Key
Authonomy's #1 rated commentator

Hey, Jim, backed this gem. Always wanted to do Route 66 (even though a Brit) so really enlightening reading your trip. like the satire, the detail, the political edginess. A satirical eye, talented sir, I will read on with PLEASURE. Luke.

Read the first couple of chapters found them fun, informative and your writing has almost conversational qualities. Your descriptions make your story come to life, your descriptions of the hills and the Amish girls in particular.

Good luck with it, can't wait to dip in further.

Melxx

I half expected a sardonic sweep down Main Street and braced myself for profanity-strewn pearls of wisdom. (I was wrong). I liked, at the end of Ch 2, that you conceded that the Amish might have ' their Shoo-fly pie and eat it too' though the Ch heading didn't lead me to expect any concessions. Good, accessible style and a wealth of fascinating details made this quite an enthralling read. I have almost zero knowledge of America outside movies & TV - well, apart from one trip to Skagway, Ak. Backed. Hope this does well.