Book Shorts. Reviews in a Nutshell.
FEATURED REVIEW
Life Is A Wheel.
Love, Death, Etc., and a Bike Ride Across America. By Bruce Weber.
A captivating memoir about a cross-country bike trip, taken by a New York Times writer, that’s much more than a cycling story. The book manages to blend travel writing, personal reflection, philosophy, memory - all with intelligence, and a delicious sense of humor. As Weber cycles across the United States, he reflects on aging, family, the meaning of life and I often found myself laughing at his observations - even when he’s ruminating about life and death. He’s charming, entertaining, and completely honest as he cycles across the American landscape, at the slow pace of a bicycle, and meets the many different kinds of people who populate this country. I had no desire to put this book down, even when it was bedtime. He kept me awake for all the good reasons one reads. It’s a thoughtful, easy read, even for people who aren’t interested in cycling.
PERSONAL NOTE: After finishing the book I was so taken with it I wanted to sit down with Weber for a drink and dinner.
Review by Lynda Bernard
April 30, 2026
So many books, so little time. Right, right - we’ve all heard it many times. Hummingbird's BOOK SHORTS will present book reviews you can read in a minute and capture the essence of the story, thumbnail reviews that hopefully will entice you into your next read. I read constantly. My tastes vary, so I’ll review books that I love, not necessarily current books. Other HB contributors will review books that follow their interests, both newly published and past. All in all, we’ll review books we think are captivating, compelling, unputdownable. If you’re looking for a good book to take to the beach, make that long commute shorter, or curl up with, hopefully our reviews will help you find it. Lynda Bernard
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