When a student decides to make her research project a bike ride from Eugene, Oregon, to Washington, D.C., she and the reader of her memoir are in for quite the adventure. Author Heidi Beierle documents her journey in her latest book, Heidi Across America. She shares the pains, triumphs, lessons, and just about everything you could think might happen and who she could meet along the way.
Often, with adventure or journey memoirs, the sights and the people one encounters elicit memories.
It also provokes epiphanies, which often manifest into transformational outcomes. This is no different. But it’s unique to the author. Her demons, desires, and dreams that surface are recounted in detail while offering a hand to those bearing similar scars and hope-filled intentions.
She also studied geography and the people and discovered a country she didn’t know. The kindness of strangers, the topographic beauty, and the path’s dangerous elements catch her off guard but simultaneously shore her strength and courage. She mulls social and climate justice questions, wondering how Americans might find a similar path to appreciation and desire for preservation. Her story melds together many thematic elements, making it a well-rounded read. The reviews say, “Gritty memoir,” and I must agree. The author leaves nothing to the imagination. But for those who want to feel as if they’re in the moment alongside Heidi on this extreme cross-country trip, this book is written for you.
Book and Image Courtesy of PR by the Book
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