Traveling Music: The Soundtrack to My Life and Times (by Neil Peart)
Continuing my literary journey of Neil Peart’s writing with his third book, Traveling Music: The Soundtrack to My Life and Times. The book picks up right where he left off in Ghost Rider. Now married to his second wife, Carrie, Neil drives to Big Bend National Park while she is on a week-long getaway with friends. He carefully selects a variety of music CDs to accompany him on this journey, which also triggers a flood of memories. In Traveling Music, Neil shares his experiences driving to Big Bend, talks about the music he was listening to, and opens up about the stories that came to mind during his trip.
Neil crafted a captivating memoir of his life, weaving together his journey from Ontario to London, where he honed his craft and sought out bands to collaborate with. He then returned to Canada, where he met his first wife, Jackie, and embarked on an audition for Rush. Through his eloquent storytelling, Neil invites readers into his world, sharing his experiences of touring with Rush and his incredible adventure of bicycling around the globe.
Neil is a master storyteller! His stories seem to jump around in different times and places, but only Neil Peart can make them so coherent and easy to follow. I’m so lucky to get a glimpse into his life through his music. Music was the heart and soul of his stories. Neil listened to a wide range of artists on his trip, from Frank Sinatra to Linkin Park, Madonna, and Vertical Horizon. I love how he became friends with Matt Scanell, the lead singer of Vertical Horizon.
I absolutely adore how Neil ends his book. He’s gearing up for Rush’s 30-year anniversary tour and brainstorming ideas for his next book. I’ll definitely be reading it soon! I purchased Traveling Music through my Audible subscription. The narration by Brian Sutherland is excellent!
For your listening and viewing pleasure, I am closing out my review with a video of Neil’s drum solo during that 30th anniversary tour. Enjoy!
You can read my reviews of Neil Peart’s other nonfiction books below.
The Masked Rider: Cycling in West Africa
Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road
If you’re a fan of Rush, and want to learn more about the band, you can read my review of Geddy Lee’s autobiography below.
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