Off the Map: Bicycling Across Siberia

by Mark Jenkins

Book Overview

With this brilliant account of his journey--at once edge-of-your-seat exciting and literary--Mark Jenkins established himself as the master of adventure/travel writing. In 1989 he and six... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0688095461
• ISBN13: 9780688095468
• Release Date: January 1992
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 254 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.5" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Fascinating Travel Literature

I truly enjoyed this book. When I'm not reading fiction I like to read travel books. Obviously the subject matter was fascinating (to me, anyway) - a road bike trip across Siberia - much of which was essentially roadless; but this one was unique in a couple of ways. First of all it was an unusual shape - the book. Tall narrow pages. Different. But more importantly it was well edited. This book could have been seven hundred pages but it was joyfully succinct. The author didn't feel the need to tell us everything that happened along his four or five month bike ride across Siberia; instead he focuses on certain interesting aspects of the trip and skips the rest. He follows Elmore Leonard's advice: "Leave out the parts people skip." But the best part was the unique writing style. The author sticks to standard narrative style for the most part, but switches, at times, to interior monologue and even stream of consciousness - but just enough to remain interesting. A fascinating work of travel literature - highly recommended.

Shows the real Russia/USSR

Rather than review the book itself, which I'll summarize by saying is an excellent and enjoyable read, I write to comment on a particular aspect of it ... its portrayal of Russia, the Russian people, the USSR, and Soviet people. I was in the USSR in 1988, approximately the same time as the author had his adventure through that country. I experienced great difficulty in conveying to people upon my return home what the experience was actually like, and what was so deeply sociologically interesting about it. Only upon reading Mark Jenkins' book did I realize the critical piece I was failing to convey: I hadn't explained the critical distinction between Russian and Soviet. I won't spoil your read of this worthwhile book by stating it here, not to mention that my explanation would ring hollow without the variety of experiences in the book that fill in the context necessary to understanding. What I can say is that reading this book will give interested persons a tremendous insight into understanding the people in that part of the world. The book is a great read on its own, but that insight is itself worth 5-stars.

Best Book I Have Ever Read

The title says it all. This book is filled with intriguing stories filled with symbolism and philosophy. Also a great book to read if you like biking or want to learn some history about Russia and the Soviet Union.

An inspiring adventure story

Jenkins does an excellent job of conveying the feelings he experienced during this trip. Sometimes spirits were low and sometimes they were high. His writing captures the reality of the trip and reveals the spirit of the Russian people with great emotion. I disagree with the review above that states Jenkins hated Siberia. He clearly had a great appreciation for the people he met there and valued his experience. It was obvious that he had a problem with Communism, and hence did not understand the Soviets. This is a book about people. Who cares whether they were the first group to ride across the country? The objective of the book was to describe a journey, and that has been done very well.

An interesting and captivating adventure.

This book is amazing for the way Mark Jenkins moves his readers from village to village and along one stretch of trail to another. His emphasis on, and respect for, the cultural backdrop of this trip was what held my attention the most. I felt like I was there. The cultural emphasis also makes the reader realize that there is a more important aspect to a ride like this than the athletic accomplishment. This adventure gave me an understanding for another culture that I most likely will never experience, especially as a tourist. If nothing else, it gave me a whole different perspective on what cycling could be.