Queen of the Road: The True Tale of 47 States, 22,000 Miles, 200 Shoes, 2 Cats, 1 Poodle, a Husband, and a Bus with a Will of Its Own

A pampered Long Island princess hits the road in a converted bus with her wilderness-loving husband, travels the country for one year, and brings it all hilariously to life in this offbeat and romantic memoir.

Doreen and Tim are married psychiatrists with a twist: She’s a self-proclaimed Long Island princess, grouchy couch potato, and shoe addict. He's an affable, though driven, outdoorsman. When Tim suggests “chucking it all” to travel cross-country in a converted bus, Doreen asks, “Why can’t you be like a normal husband in a midlife crisis and have an affair or buy a Corvette?” But she soon shocks them both, agreeing to set forth with their sixty-pound dog, two querulous cats—and no agenda—in a 340-square-foot bus.

Queen of the Road is Doreen’s offbeat and romantic tale about refusing to settle; about choosing the unconventional road with all the misadventures it brings (fire, flood, armed robbery, and finding themselves in a nudist RV park, to name just a few). The marvelous places they visit and delightful people they encounter have a life-changing effect on all the travelers, as Doreen grows to appreciate the simple life, Tim mellows, and even the pets pull together. Best of all, readers get to go along for the ride through forty-seven states in this often hilarious and always entertaining memoir, in which a boisterous marriage of polar opposites becomes stronger than ever.

Customer Reviews:

Great Fun!

I read about this book on Jen Lancaster's site and picked it up! It was a fun read with lots of laugh out loud moments! Our bookclub has added it on as an 'honors' read for the month of October. (meaning in addition to the original pick!) So far I have heard great feed back about it.
The book even helped me to avoid a speeding ticket! I was driving along at a pretty good clip, not reading mind you, when I passed a Prevost bus conversion on the highway. I had to slow down to check it out and just then came around a corner to see a nice highway patrol with radar pointed right at me!
The book is a fun read and I highly recommend it!
Kristy Peacock

2008-10-07

Great read!!

I loved this book!! It was laugh out loud funny, and I got a real feel for the places that Doreen and her husband got to visit. When I was finished reading I was so sad that the trip was over, made me want to go right out,buy a renovated bus and hit the road. Unfortunately not possible for me at this time, but at least I got to live the life vicarously through Doreen's great story telling. One of the things I came away with from this book (besides some really imaginative and delicious sounding martini recipes featured in the beginning of each chapter, so fun and practical!!) was a strong sense of wanderlust, a real desire to see more of this country! Thanks Doreen, looking forward to more stories.

2008-09-29

Great book, what an adventure!

I bought a signed copy at Border's in NYC. I am a huge fan of travel memoirs and this one was a smash. It was part love story, part adventure, a lot of mishaps and a lot of laughs! I really enjoyed seeing how this trip changed both Doreen and her husband. I won't say more as I don't want to spoil the adventure. You won't be let down.
Many thanks to Doreen! Can't wait for your next book!

2008-09-22

I am in agreement that this is a good book, but!

It is definately not worth five stars. I find that her humor is abit stale, that is unless you enjoy self-depricating humor. I personally don't. I think where whe excels by far is in her description of all the people and sites that she has traversed over her year long trip; they are simply amazing. I am not saying that the book couldn't be a five star book for someone else but for me it left a bit something lacking. Do pick it up you will be glad that you did, remember one man's trash is another man's gold.

2008-09-21

2 Shrinks on a Bus...Hilarity and Humanity Ensues

So take a skeptical homebody psychiatrist and throw her on a careening bus with an optimistic adventuring psychiatrist and what do you get? A fabulous, faceted read that keeps the chuckles coming. The book is not only hilariously sarcastic, but also offers a sensitive look into the lives of two people reconnecting and prioritizing and just being brave and up for something new. Doreen makes no excuses for the person she is (a "Queen from the Island of Long") and pet lovers out there will truly appreciate the hijinks involving pets on a bus! And because Doreen is cerebral, the book isn't just a bunch of silly, funny travel notes; there is depth and conscious contemplation that gives the reader something meaty to hold onto. Enjoy!

2008-09-18