THE BOOKWORM
“Queen
of the Road”
by
Doreen Orion
c.2008, Broadway Books • $13.95 /
$15.95 Canada • 272 pages
Since way
last summer, you’ve been planning your dream vacation. It was always going to
be a road trip, somewhat reminiscent of the ones your parents took you on 40
years ago. You envisioned the fun: you, the family, the open road, and a few
kitschy tourist traps before the Big Destination.
Sure,
looking at the price of gas makes you a little sick. True, you’ve got stuff to
do at home. No doubt, you can barely afford it… but can you afford not to go?
Now
imagine a year-long vacation. The price of gas will still make you ill. Traffic
won’t be any better. And instead of doing stuff at home, you’re taking home
with you. In the new book “Queen of the Road” by Doreen Orion, you’ll read a
true story about a trip of a lifetime.
For most
of her life, Doreen Orion was pampered. As the self-proclaimed Princess from
the Island of Long, she cherished shoes, shopping, and clothes. She worked from
home - mostly from her bed - and was proud that she rarely ventured outside.
Orion’s
husband, Tim, is a psychiatrist with a client list that was exhausting. To
unwind, he loved to do small around-the-house projects and explore the
outdoors, but he always harbored a secret dream.
Tim
wanted to take a long, extended trip on a bus. Not on a Greyhound-type bus or
one of those organized trips. He wanted his own bus. A customized, tricked-out,
340-square-foot bus with mini-kitchen, teensy bedroom, and tiny closets.
Closets
that were way too small for a Princess’ normal wardrobe.
Knowing
that the trip had become important to Tim, and surprising them both, Doreen
agreed to board the bus for a year. The couple, their standard poodle, and two
cats set off from Boulder, Colorado to parts uncharted.
They got
stuck in the mud in Arkansas and almost snowed-in in New England. They battled
mountains in Nevada and regretfully missed Christmastime decorating in Key
West. They stayed at a nudist park in California and saw eagles on a stunning
Alaskan hike. For one year, through 47 states, they explored the U.S.
What they
found will make you smile.
There’s
just one thing better than going on vacation, and that’s taking a great book
with you to enjoy. If you haven’t decided what to take, let me make it easy for
you. You can’t go wrong with this book.
Reading “Queen
of the Road” is just like welcoming a friend back from a fabulous vacation: you
can’t wait to get comfortable and hear the inevitable stories from the road,
and author Doreen Orion has plenty. This book will make you snicker, you’ll see
yourself and several friends in these pages, you’ll laugh out loud, you’ll say “Awwww,”
and you’ll want to buy a bus and take a trip of your own.
Whether
you’re taking a vacation away this year or you’re enjoying a “staycation” at
home, this is a great book to grab. For you, “Queen of the Road” is a royal
treat.