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Promise of Departure
A broken mechanic packs his motorcycle and heads to Haiti to repair his own crumbling life.
My dearest little Maggie,
I'm sorry in ways you may never understand. Please know that I never wanted to leave you....
It wasn't the traditional birthday letter Greg had written his daughter four times before. But traditions, like everything else, had utterly unraveled.
Adrift in a workaday society he no longer recognizes, Greg is rattled in unexpected ways by the heartbreak in Haiti that clear January morning when he spots an unusual opportunity in the looped nightly news, something he can do - a small way he just might be able to help.
Facing divorce and an anesthetized hereafter, Greg shucks tradition and packs his motorcycle, headed to a shattered country to unexpectedly find the one thing he's abandoned.
My dearest little Maggie,
I'm sorry in ways you may never understand. Please know that I never wanted to leave you....
It wasn't the traditional birthday letter Greg had written his daughter four times before. But traditions, like everything else, had utterly unraveled.
Adrift in a workaday society he no longer recognizes, Greg is rattled in unexpected ways by the heartbreak in Haiti that clear January morning when he spots an unusual opportunity in the looped nightly news, something he can do - a small way he just might be able to help.
Facing divorce and an anesthetized hereafter, Greg shucks tradition and packs his motorcycle, headed to a shattered country to unexpectedly find the one thing he's abandoned.
290 pages, Paperback
First published August 16, 2012
14 people are currently reading
4660 people want to read
About the author
L.W. Montgomery
2 books41 followersLW Montgomery spent his youth lost in the library. He would spend years sacking groceries, building hard drives, and co-founding the game studio Gearbox Software before returning to his first love.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
November 20, 2012
(I was provided with a complimentary copy of the book for review.)
Promise of Departure is a rare animal indeed. It is, at times, humorous and comforting, beguilingly so, stripping bare the darker elements of our nature in such stark, raw detail as to force self-examination of one's belief systems, a forceful fact-check of our own personal and most trusted, accepted ideologies. A paper-thin fairy tale it is not. What it is, rather, is a dark and wholly honest observation of the oft-unforeseen pitfalls of the American Dream not many discuss openly.
Retired at the age of thirty-seven, Greg has everything he's ever desired to in life: financial freedom, a healthy, happy family, and the accomplishment of having achieved personal goals established as a child. To his dismay, however, he discovers an overwhelming sense of emptiness in this effortless existence. Depressed and alone in his withdrawal from the workaday world he once knew, he appears to teeter on the edge of mental instability, often fantasizing of suicide, and seemingly uncertain of an unchallenged future he no longer desires. It is his relationships with those closest to him which suffer the greatest cost, and when his wife files for divorce, Greg succumbs to a very primal instinct: fight or flight. He does not fight. He leaves the not unsubstantial investments accumulated in his lucrative days to his wife and daughter before loading up his motorcycle to set sail for uncharted waters. Greg wanders the far Western United States for a while, settling down in Portland, Oregon with a friend where he remains on the lam from a family back in the state of Texas he ironically believes he's protected from heartache of a broken home. It's when tragedy strikes Haiti in early 2010 that he sees an opportunity to offer up what little usefulness he feels he still possesses in an unlikely and most unusual fashion: he will travel to Haiti to repair and maintain the fleets of motorbikes the locals rely upon in their day to day lives. Masquerading as a generous display of selflessness, Greg's dubious intentions are generally regarded as respectful to his friends, if not odd, but he alone commits himself to this act with the understanding that he will likely not survive the journey, instead seeing it as an opportunity to end his frustration and despondence in a final act of 'charity'.
Throughout the novel, Greg deals with themes not uncommon to many 'Gen-Xers' today: finding success at an early age only to ask themselves 'What now?' as they wrestle with the knotty untangling of self-imposed guilt, uncertain if the efforts, the very work itself, ever truly warranted the rewards. Paradoxically, Greg suffers from low self-esteem and a shaky view of what feels like a bleak future not only for himself, but for society in general. As an example, he defends his decisions to shun social media as an acceptable replacement for what he believes is meaningful interaction, instead preferring a classic form of letter writing that appears in several instances throughout the novel. He describes the inherent benefits of a so-called 'technology cleanse', and even stops looking up simple scientific queries, content to examine them himself or ‘chew them over first', as he puts it. Many issues like these are often humorous in their innocence and inclusion, but the book deals with heavy realities in ways not immediately comparable to other works today. The cold nature of divorce and the limited prospect of single parenting from a male perspective is discussed in raw detail. Suicide is an omnipresent theme and met head-on. It is not an easy read at times, and is simply put, extraordinarily sugar-free in its delivery. It is the steady dissection of a thinking, feeling person who, once away from the pursuit of said American Dream, begins to think and feel in the broad, lateral ways he used to. In that light, the novel is also very much a sad reflection of a slow descent into a world of social isolation, the story of a man cloistered from the day-to-day working world that provides most people with their network of friends and personal interactions.
Through either direct dialogues with himself, or in deeper, near pitch-perfect conversation with Beth, a volunteer doctor in Haiti, Greg reflects on his 'midlife chrysalis', as he describes it, and his disappointment in what most people strive for all their lives. Initially, this voice contrasts sharply to the narrator's outlook on just about everything, but as the story unfolds, the two voices draw nearer to a harmonious center of someone humbled by the destruction in Haiti, an open mind seeing the world a bit more clearly through the rediscovery of some small semblance of life in the empty inner hell he has created for himself. The love story that develops organically throughout the later-half of the novel was admittedly somewhat unexpected, though realistically portrayed in a manner more or less befitting the work. This chance meeting with Beth is the real catalyst here - a slap across the face, a reminder of what truly matters to Greg.
The proper secondary character of the novel, however, is an inanimate object: a motorbike that Greg arranges and ships to Haiti to operate as his mobile base of operations. Loaded to almost comical proportions, the bike acts as a relative anchor for him, his trusty steed, and the very conveyance by which he is able to lend his rather limited assistance throughout Haiti. Greg thinks of the motorcycle as a partner, not a mere piece of hardware, but a traveling companion offering up the facsimile of a friend, a form of comfort. I imagine that to those who also ride, the story will find concrete connections in the intricacy of the details. I personally do not, though found the technical aspects he deals with interesting and compelling enough to never mire the page.
In summary, Promise of Departure is in this reviewer's opinion, an exercise; an experiment in written word that isn't easily discussed without laying bare essential clues of the intended goal of the author. There are many, and the observant reader will likely come away having heard a very different tale than the casual reader. It can be a challenging read. It will not leave you warm and cozy at points, though for some readers so troubled as Greg finds himself, it may often do precisely that. On more than one occasion, the comfortable and personable nature of the storytelling lulled me into forgetting this was not in fact someone's very personal travel diary. This, I believe, was my strongest reaction to the book: it made me forget these were not very real people in a very real, often cold, world. Ultimately, this is one of the braver debuts I've seen in quite some time. Greg would likely call it 'calculated stupidity'. I call it a calculated success.
Promise of Departure is a rare animal indeed. It is, at times, humorous and comforting, beguilingly so, stripping bare the darker elements of our nature in such stark, raw detail as to force self-examination of one's belief systems, a forceful fact-check of our own personal and most trusted, accepted ideologies. A paper-thin fairy tale it is not. What it is, rather, is a dark and wholly honest observation of the oft-unforeseen pitfalls of the American Dream not many discuss openly.
Retired at the age of thirty-seven, Greg has everything he's ever desired to in life: financial freedom, a healthy, happy family, and the accomplishment of having achieved personal goals established as a child. To his dismay, however, he discovers an overwhelming sense of emptiness in this effortless existence. Depressed and alone in his withdrawal from the workaday world he once knew, he appears to teeter on the edge of mental instability, often fantasizing of suicide, and seemingly uncertain of an unchallenged future he no longer desires. It is his relationships with those closest to him which suffer the greatest cost, and when his wife files for divorce, Greg succumbs to a very primal instinct: fight or flight. He does not fight. He leaves the not unsubstantial investments accumulated in his lucrative days to his wife and daughter before loading up his motorcycle to set sail for uncharted waters. Greg wanders the far Western United States for a while, settling down in Portland, Oregon with a friend where he remains on the lam from a family back in the state of Texas he ironically believes he's protected from heartache of a broken home. It's when tragedy strikes Haiti in early 2010 that he sees an opportunity to offer up what little usefulness he feels he still possesses in an unlikely and most unusual fashion: he will travel to Haiti to repair and maintain the fleets of motorbikes the locals rely upon in their day to day lives. Masquerading as a generous display of selflessness, Greg's dubious intentions are generally regarded as respectful to his friends, if not odd, but he alone commits himself to this act with the understanding that he will likely not survive the journey, instead seeing it as an opportunity to end his frustration and despondence in a final act of 'charity'.
Throughout the novel, Greg deals with themes not uncommon to many 'Gen-Xers' today: finding success at an early age only to ask themselves 'What now?' as they wrestle with the knotty untangling of self-imposed guilt, uncertain if the efforts, the very work itself, ever truly warranted the rewards. Paradoxically, Greg suffers from low self-esteem and a shaky view of what feels like a bleak future not only for himself, but for society in general. As an example, he defends his decisions to shun social media as an acceptable replacement for what he believes is meaningful interaction, instead preferring a classic form of letter writing that appears in several instances throughout the novel. He describes the inherent benefits of a so-called 'technology cleanse', and even stops looking up simple scientific queries, content to examine them himself or ‘chew them over first', as he puts it. Many issues like these are often humorous in their innocence and inclusion, but the book deals with heavy realities in ways not immediately comparable to other works today. The cold nature of divorce and the limited prospect of single parenting from a male perspective is discussed in raw detail. Suicide is an omnipresent theme and met head-on. It is not an easy read at times, and is simply put, extraordinarily sugar-free in its delivery. It is the steady dissection of a thinking, feeling person who, once away from the pursuit of said American Dream, begins to think and feel in the broad, lateral ways he used to. In that light, the novel is also very much a sad reflection of a slow descent into a world of social isolation, the story of a man cloistered from the day-to-day working world that provides most people with their network of friends and personal interactions.
Through either direct dialogues with himself, or in deeper, near pitch-perfect conversation with Beth, a volunteer doctor in Haiti, Greg reflects on his 'midlife chrysalis', as he describes it, and his disappointment in what most people strive for all their lives. Initially, this voice contrasts sharply to the narrator's outlook on just about everything, but as the story unfolds, the two voices draw nearer to a harmonious center of someone humbled by the destruction in Haiti, an open mind seeing the world a bit more clearly through the rediscovery of some small semblance of life in the empty inner hell he has created for himself. The love story that develops organically throughout the later-half of the novel was admittedly somewhat unexpected, though realistically portrayed in a manner more or less befitting the work. This chance meeting with Beth is the real catalyst here - a slap across the face, a reminder of what truly matters to Greg.
The proper secondary character of the novel, however, is an inanimate object: a motorbike that Greg arranges and ships to Haiti to operate as his mobile base of operations. Loaded to almost comical proportions, the bike acts as a relative anchor for him, his trusty steed, and the very conveyance by which he is able to lend his rather limited assistance throughout Haiti. Greg thinks of the motorcycle as a partner, not a mere piece of hardware, but a traveling companion offering up the facsimile of a friend, a form of comfort. I imagine that to those who also ride, the story will find concrete connections in the intricacy of the details. I personally do not, though found the technical aspects he deals with interesting and compelling enough to never mire the page.
In summary, Promise of Departure is in this reviewer's opinion, an exercise; an experiment in written word that isn't easily discussed without laying bare essential clues of the intended goal of the author. There are many, and the observant reader will likely come away having heard a very different tale than the casual reader. It can be a challenging read. It will not leave you warm and cozy at points, though for some readers so troubled as Greg finds himself, it may often do precisely that. On more than one occasion, the comfortable and personable nature of the storytelling lulled me into forgetting this was not in fact someone's very personal travel diary. This, I believe, was my strongest reaction to the book: it made me forget these were not very real people in a very real, often cold, world. Ultimately, this is one of the braver debuts I've seen in quite some time. Greg would likely call it 'calculated stupidity'. I call it a calculated success.
December 12, 2012
** If I could give this a 3.5 star rating, I would. I liked it more than just 3 stars' worth!
Montgomery’s debut novel grabs you from the very first page in which our protagonist, Greg, writes a letter to his soon-to-be ex-wife to semi-adequately explain his reasons for disappearing. The opening of Promise of Departure—which delineates both the inciting event and numerous conflicts and, thus, is simultaneously satisfying and tantalizing—grabs you from the get-go. We journey alongside Greg as he journeys to Haiti in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake and tries to redefine his idea of happiness. He is armed with little more than his passport (which he promptly loses), his motorcycle, and any essentials that can fit in the bike’s storage boxes. At times pitiable (who doesn’t miss their kids when they’re away?), often infuriating (how could he just leave his very comfortable life and daughter?), always well-meaning (what else can you say about a guy who wants to help the devastated Haitians?), Greg gives us a glimpse of a person who has achieved his dreams—although his marriage has fallen apart—and now needs something else to keep him going. Promise of Departure is a nice story about man’s search for meaning and the paradoxes that present themselves when we are forced to part from that which we love.
Story & Pacing: 7
This is a road-trip novel. Most of the story revolves around Greg’s first week in Haiti and his (mis?)adventures. I enjoyed his recollections about the various events that caused him to give up his job and journey to Haiti. I also liked reading about the different people he meets. There is A LOT of talk on motorcycles—mainly because his bike-fixing skills are what he offers as help to people. There is A LOT of thinking—Greg’s stream of consciousness was tedious at times. There is so much thinking that satellite characters comment on Greg’s tendencies to overthink, too.
Characters: 7
Despite his jibber-jabber, and although some people will never truly understand why he leaves his life in Dallas, Greg is a likable character for the very sole reason that he means well. He wants to help; he has the same insecurities that we do; he is actually in Haiti rather than thinking he should be in Haiti. The colourful cast of characters that Greg encounters add spice to his travels and most are memorable.
Setting: 8
I’m not sure if Montgomery has actually visited Haiti or how accurate his descriptions of the island are, but I enjoyed learning a little bit about the island. Haiti, itself, is like a character, teeming with possibilities and hope in the midst of such devastation. I would have liked a bit more information about Haiti beyond the scenery and the people (presumably Greg would have done some research about the place).
Style & Writing: 7
Montgomery’s prose is easy to understand. His voice shines very clearly in his narrator’s liberal use of italicized/emphasized thoughts, informative asides, and parenthetical ideas. He has long stretches of narrative, which were not always to my liking. I noted a few typographical errors, but none so major to irk the discerning reader. I would happily read more works by this author.
Learnability & Teachability: 7
If you enjoyed Cormac McCarthy’s novel The Road or the film One Week, which starred Joshua Jackson, you may enjoy this story!
POTENTIAL TEACHABLES
History and geography of Haiti; the earthquake and its aftermath; motorcycles and motorcycle parts; volunteer organizations like the UN, Doctors Without Borders, etc.; mapping out locales based on author’s description; California-Mexico border tourist spots.
Montgomery’s debut novel grabs you from the very first page in which our protagonist, Greg, writes a letter to his soon-to-be ex-wife to semi-adequately explain his reasons for disappearing. The opening of Promise of Departure—which delineates both the inciting event and numerous conflicts and, thus, is simultaneously satisfying and tantalizing—grabs you from the get-go. We journey alongside Greg as he journeys to Haiti in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake and tries to redefine his idea of happiness. He is armed with little more than his passport (which he promptly loses), his motorcycle, and any essentials that can fit in the bike’s storage boxes. At times pitiable (who doesn’t miss their kids when they’re away?), often infuriating (how could he just leave his very comfortable life and daughter?), always well-meaning (what else can you say about a guy who wants to help the devastated Haitians?), Greg gives us a glimpse of a person who has achieved his dreams—although his marriage has fallen apart—and now needs something else to keep him going. Promise of Departure is a nice story about man’s search for meaning and the paradoxes that present themselves when we are forced to part from that which we love.
Story & Pacing: 7
This is a road-trip novel. Most of the story revolves around Greg’s first week in Haiti and his (mis?)adventures. I enjoyed his recollections about the various events that caused him to give up his job and journey to Haiti. I also liked reading about the different people he meets. There is A LOT of talk on motorcycles—mainly because his bike-fixing skills are what he offers as help to people. There is A LOT of thinking—Greg’s stream of consciousness was tedious at times. There is so much thinking that satellite characters comment on Greg’s tendencies to overthink, too.
Characters: 7
Despite his jibber-jabber, and although some people will never truly understand why he leaves his life in Dallas, Greg is a likable character for the very sole reason that he means well. He wants to help; he has the same insecurities that we do; he is actually in Haiti rather than thinking he should be in Haiti. The colourful cast of characters that Greg encounters add spice to his travels and most are memorable.
Setting: 8
I’m not sure if Montgomery has actually visited Haiti or how accurate his descriptions of the island are, but I enjoyed learning a little bit about the island. Haiti, itself, is like a character, teeming with possibilities and hope in the midst of such devastation. I would have liked a bit more information about Haiti beyond the scenery and the people (presumably Greg would have done some research about the place).
Style & Writing: 7
Montgomery’s prose is easy to understand. His voice shines very clearly in his narrator’s liberal use of italicized/emphasized thoughts, informative asides, and parenthetical ideas. He has long stretches of narrative, which were not always to my liking. I noted a few typographical errors, but none so major to irk the discerning reader. I would happily read more works by this author.
Learnability & Teachability: 7
If you enjoyed Cormac McCarthy’s novel The Road or the film One Week, which starred Joshua Jackson, you may enjoy this story!
POTENTIAL TEACHABLES
History and geography of Haiti; the earthquake and its aftermath; motorcycles and motorcycle parts; volunteer organizations like the UN, Doctors Without Borders, etc.; mapping out locales based on author’s description; California-Mexico border tourist spots.
April 3, 2013
Book Review - "Promise of Departure" by L W Montgomery - 4 Stars and a "Grab Your Riding Gear" Shout out!
The book begins with a "picture" of a typed letter to Janet from Greg, telling her he is stepping out of the picture as a result of his own inability to deal with their divorce. I liked this unique start, this presentation of the letter, it made me want to see what other surprises would be included and I wasn't disappointed. Chapter 1 begins with Greg fussing over having dropped his motorcycle while off loading from the ship that had only just brought him to Haiti. Right away this character begins to immerge, flawed and realistic, mentally past his edge that was once sharp and dedicated to his career and his family and clearly battling depression and alcoholism while not falling into any cliché patterns but instead, drawing me along into an intriguing storyline that would not allow me to put this book down.
I appreciated the author's witty prose as he crafted enlightening yet brief flashbacks to establish the needed history behind Greg's decision to write the letter and to venture to disaster torn Haiti. The supporting characters and the very descriptive imagery as the storyline moved through emotional highs and lows, despair, hopelessness and Greg's search for himself were written with great skill and talent and presented through Greg's eyes. The characters were so completely human and realistic that relating and feeling a connection to them was natural. As the reader, I felt like a passenger on the back of Greg's motorcycle while he showed me Haiti after the earthquake tragedy of 2010, the people that lived there and some of the volunteers, including Beth and Ben. Upon meeting Beth, a dialogue that was so natural and realistic occurs between them and Greg is greatly affected by all that he sees and experiences in the company of her and the other members of her volunteer medical unit over the course of just a few days. True to a well written protagonist, Greg sticks to his original mission and soon meets a colorful character named Ben. From here the story moves a bit quicker as Greg finds where he is needed most, revisits working on things with Janet and becoming part of his daughter's life again. As the last page is turned and you see the back cover art of this wonderful novel, you can't help but wish for more!
The way this story discusses the profound impacts of career on family life and on an individual struggling to find the right balance in both, the resulting failed marriage that was based not on sensational events but on a slow deterioration and the great love of a father for his daughter was so real, so not dramatic and so refreshingly presented. The complexities, the reality in the issues and the author's skill in crafting imagery of places and events was exceptional! I personally would love to read a sequel to this book just to check in on Greg again. In the battle to rise above the millions of authors and books vying for number one these days, it was quite courageous to leave out vampires, monsters, psychopaths, elves and the like and write a real story like this!
~~~~~~~~~~~reviewed by Debra L Hartmann, Owner of The Pro Book Editor, published author, aspiring blogger Stay tuned for an exclusive Talk Radio with NO Radio Author Interview with Mr. Montgomery on my show this week!
The book begins with a "picture" of a typed letter to Janet from Greg, telling her he is stepping out of the picture as a result of his own inability to deal with their divorce. I liked this unique start, this presentation of the letter, it made me want to see what other surprises would be included and I wasn't disappointed. Chapter 1 begins with Greg fussing over having dropped his motorcycle while off loading from the ship that had only just brought him to Haiti. Right away this character begins to immerge, flawed and realistic, mentally past his edge that was once sharp and dedicated to his career and his family and clearly battling depression and alcoholism while not falling into any cliché patterns but instead, drawing me along into an intriguing storyline that would not allow me to put this book down.
I appreciated the author's witty prose as he crafted enlightening yet brief flashbacks to establish the needed history behind Greg's decision to write the letter and to venture to disaster torn Haiti. The supporting characters and the very descriptive imagery as the storyline moved through emotional highs and lows, despair, hopelessness and Greg's search for himself were written with great skill and talent and presented through Greg's eyes. The characters were so completely human and realistic that relating and feeling a connection to them was natural. As the reader, I felt like a passenger on the back of Greg's motorcycle while he showed me Haiti after the earthquake tragedy of 2010, the people that lived there and some of the volunteers, including Beth and Ben. Upon meeting Beth, a dialogue that was so natural and realistic occurs between them and Greg is greatly affected by all that he sees and experiences in the company of her and the other members of her volunteer medical unit over the course of just a few days. True to a well written protagonist, Greg sticks to his original mission and soon meets a colorful character named Ben. From here the story moves a bit quicker as Greg finds where he is needed most, revisits working on things with Janet and becoming part of his daughter's life again. As the last page is turned and you see the back cover art of this wonderful novel, you can't help but wish for more!
The way this story discusses the profound impacts of career on family life and on an individual struggling to find the right balance in both, the resulting failed marriage that was based not on sensational events but on a slow deterioration and the great love of a father for his daughter was so real, so not dramatic and so refreshingly presented. The complexities, the reality in the issues and the author's skill in crafting imagery of places and events was exceptional! I personally would love to read a sequel to this book just to check in on Greg again. In the battle to rise above the millions of authors and books vying for number one these days, it was quite courageous to leave out vampires, monsters, psychopaths, elves and the like and write a real story like this!
~~~~~~~~~~~reviewed by Debra L Hartmann, Owner of The Pro Book Editor, published author, aspiring blogger Stay tuned for an exclusive Talk Radio with NO Radio Author Interview with Mr. Montgomery on my show this week!
April 23, 2015
I received this book from a giveaway on Goodreads. I suppose this book just wasn't for me, as it was hard to get into it.
Couldn't really find myself liking the characters, the main one being too impulsive and the female being too coarse.
In terms of writing, some of the phrases and wording didn't seem to fit with me: "this atmospheric collection formed and completing the journey." Unsure if grammar or just style that I found odd. In addition, there were times where I simply couldn't follow the descriptions the narrator was giving. Sometimes he gave too much unneeded information, and sometimes he didn't give enough for me to paint a complete picture in my head.
Couldn't really find myself liking the characters, the main one being too impulsive and the female being too coarse.
In terms of writing, some of the phrases and wording didn't seem to fit with me: "this atmospheric collection formed and completing the journey." Unsure if grammar or just style that I found odd. In addition, there were times where I simply couldn't follow the descriptions the narrator was giving. Sometimes he gave too much unneeded information, and sometimes he didn't give enough for me to paint a complete picture in my head.
February 6, 2013
I found this book to be a true home run. One of the ways I can always tell a winner is my not wanting it to end and this read certainly fit the bill.
As other reviewers have mentioned it's a complex piece with real characters dealing with real questions and issues we can all relate to. No cardboard cutouts here or facade and pretense which I find most refreshing. Our protagonist Greg has hit the wall mentally and is running away from an all too lifelike troubled marriage in attempt to assist those ravaged by the Haitian tragedy of 2010. He's an extremely likable principle with his openness and honesty pulling you in as the pages turn. At any moment sheer elation will be displaced by utter depths of despair as each layer of the onion is peeled away. Of particular joy is the banter / budding relationship between Greg and Beth, a volunteer doctor also wishing to assist those injured in Haiti.
For those who have ever enjoyed traveling via motorcycle this book will resonate on an even higher level. Montgomery's grasp of the subtleties of riding is almost borderline spiritual, and his knowledge of the BMW brand is particularly comprehensive. If he didn't write so well I'd accuse him of being a crack BMW mechanic in another life.
Bottom line if you want to read a vapid paint-by-numbers novel while waiting on a delayed flight at your airport of choice, this book is not for you. However, if you're the kind of person who values content, real emotion, deeply interesting characters, witty dialogue, and keen settings this is a wonderful page turner. I look forward to Montgomery's next work.
As other reviewers have mentioned it's a complex piece with real characters dealing with real questions and issues we can all relate to. No cardboard cutouts here or facade and pretense which I find most refreshing. Our protagonist Greg has hit the wall mentally and is running away from an all too lifelike troubled marriage in attempt to assist those ravaged by the Haitian tragedy of 2010. He's an extremely likable principle with his openness and honesty pulling you in as the pages turn. At any moment sheer elation will be displaced by utter depths of despair as each layer of the onion is peeled away. Of particular joy is the banter / budding relationship between Greg and Beth, a volunteer doctor also wishing to assist those injured in Haiti.
For those who have ever enjoyed traveling via motorcycle this book will resonate on an even higher level. Montgomery's grasp of the subtleties of riding is almost borderline spiritual, and his knowledge of the BMW brand is particularly comprehensive. If he didn't write so well I'd accuse him of being a crack BMW mechanic in another life.
Bottom line if you want to read a vapid paint-by-numbers novel while waiting on a delayed flight at your airport of choice, this book is not for you. However, if you're the kind of person who values content, real emotion, deeply interesting characters, witty dialogue, and keen settings this is a wonderful page turner. I look forward to Montgomery's next work.
December 26, 2012
This guy basically wrote a new zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance. My dad and I have always been big into harleys and he made me read that back in the day. I liked zen, and it was a good book and all but a litlte long. The bike parts were the best. Well, this guy wrote what's like a whole new generations version of that book. I'm not big into romance stuff, so that was the one thing I didn't really care about much. It's real sounding and not how most movies or books deal with it which is fine, its just not my thing. But the bike stuff he gets so totally right it makes up for it. Most guys I know talk a big game and never screw up and they are totally perfect everytime they toss a leg over. Reality is that most real folks who ride mess up all the time! This guy nails that in this book. He has alot of problems and talks about it in ways you actually think and feel about stuff like that. It really remmdinded me of that motorcycle diaries movie about Che. I had to go watch that after finishing this book and there's tons in this book that reminds me of it like the bike stuff and helping people. Learned lots about haiti I dind't know about. Made me want to ride. Great stuff.
December 31, 2012
I won this book in a Goodreads FirstRead giveaway.
Promise of departure - the road to realization for our main character Greg, who on his travels wonder about the past present and future in a not too deep but in way it's easy to relate to.
Greg travels far and wide on his bike and though the storyline isn't always full speed ahead I was never bored expect for a few times when i found the descreptions of the motorcycles a little too detailed.
This book definately exeeded my expectations - thoughtful, reflective and a good read.
Promise of departure - the road to realization for our main character Greg, who on his travels wonder about the past present and future in a not too deep but in way it's easy to relate to.
Greg travels far and wide on his bike and though the storyline isn't always full speed ahead I was never bored expect for a few times when i found the descreptions of the motorcycles a little too detailed.
This book definately exeeded my expectations - thoughtful, reflective and a good read.
January 20, 2013
( I was one of the winner of the giveaway )
Promise of Departure, one of my favorite books. The story is some of the best I can find, especially in my country. My family enjoyed reading it, even the young ones.
Promise of Departure serves comedy, tears, and laughs for the readers to enjoy. Though there are a few part that I didn't understand. But that's okay, though. I've re-read it for a few times and now I came to understand more about those parts.
Well, I can only recommend this book to all of you!
Cheers!
Promise of Departure, one of my favorite books. The story is some of the best I can find, especially in my country. My family enjoyed reading it, even the young ones.
Promise of Departure serves comedy, tears, and laughs for the readers to enjoy. Though there are a few part that I didn't understand. But that's okay, though. I've re-read it for a few times and now I came to understand more about those parts.
Well, I can only recommend this book to all of you!
Cheers!
November 16, 2013
Promise of departure has a little something for everyone. It has the masculine side with lots of motorcycles, but there is a softer side to it as well.
Motorcycles. Travel. Drinking Problems. Romance. There is a little bit of everything.
I wasn’t expecting to get into this book as much as I did. The beginning of the book is a little slow, and it takes about a chapter to officially figure out what is going on.
The further you read, the more it pulls you in. You slowly feel as though you are in Greg’s world and experiencing his adventures and his rides with him. It really comes out of nowhere. You are trying to figure out where this book is going, then, all of a sudden it is impossible to put down.
Greg has had a strange life. He started up his own video game company with some friends of his. But, then he realizes making so much money really isn’t all it is cracked up to be. He leaves his company, his marriage goes downhill, and all that he has left is his bike Sissy and thoughts of his daughter back home.
He travels to Haiti with the intention to help fix motorcycles after a severe natural disaster. When he gets there, he gets himself into something he never would have imagined.
The character development is really well done, especially for Greg. But even the supporting characters have great arcs, and you aren’t really left asking questions…. Well, at least about the characters.
Then comes the end …. A HUGE cliff hanger! I was almost screaming ‘WHO IS IT’ at my book. I know who I want it to be, but I will save that for the spoilers.
read more at BaumanBookReviews.com
Motorcycles. Travel. Drinking Problems. Romance. There is a little bit of everything.
I wasn’t expecting to get into this book as much as I did. The beginning of the book is a little slow, and it takes about a chapter to officially figure out what is going on.
The further you read, the more it pulls you in. You slowly feel as though you are in Greg’s world and experiencing his adventures and his rides with him. It really comes out of nowhere. You are trying to figure out where this book is going, then, all of a sudden it is impossible to put down.
Greg has had a strange life. He started up his own video game company with some friends of his. But, then he realizes making so much money really isn’t all it is cracked up to be. He leaves his company, his marriage goes downhill, and all that he has left is his bike Sissy and thoughts of his daughter back home.
He travels to Haiti with the intention to help fix motorcycles after a severe natural disaster. When he gets there, he gets himself into something he never would have imagined.
The character development is really well done, especially for Greg. But even the supporting characters have great arcs, and you aren’t really left asking questions…. Well, at least about the characters.
Then comes the end …. A HUGE cliff hanger! I was almost screaming ‘WHO IS IT’ at my book. I know who I want it to be, but I will save that for the spoilers.
read more at BaumanBookReviews.com
August 2, 2015
I do not usually read literary fiction, but this foray hasn't let me down.
Despite my minuscule knowledge of motorcycles and the culture surrounding them, it didn't take me long to get engrossed in this book. Yes, all the shop talk is a bit hum-drum and if you don't know anything about motorcycle culture it can take you out of the action, but there are only a few occasional where the talk becomes so technical that your eyes start to glaze over. And it never lasts for long.
However, the real draw of this book comes from the emotional journey that the protagonist, Greg, goes through. There are two scenes that make this book more than just "worth reading" and the first comes from the beginning on the book, while Greg is explaining the events that brought him to Haiti. I don't often cry when I read, but there's a scene in here that made me make a scene on the bus. (No more explanation: spoilers would be involved.)
My second favorite scene is the very last one. The last twenty pages tie you up in an emotionally satisfied knot (with a few loose ends) and then the last paragraph makes your heart leap. While definitely not an emotional roller coaster (there were no loops and the change in tone was gradual, not sudden) it's probably more accurate to say it was an emotional... motorcycle ride? A bit bumpy, but satisfying.
If you like travel essays, this is a pretty darn good one to pick up. Good job to L. W. Montgomery.
After reading it, all I really want to know is: Who was the last one to make the bell ring?
Despite my minuscule knowledge of motorcycles and the culture surrounding them, it didn't take me long to get engrossed in this book. Yes, all the shop talk is a bit hum-drum and if you don't know anything about motorcycle culture it can take you out of the action, but there are only a few occasional where the talk becomes so technical that your eyes start to glaze over. And it never lasts for long.
However, the real draw of this book comes from the emotional journey that the protagonist, Greg, goes through. There are two scenes that make this book more than just "worth reading" and the first comes from the beginning on the book, while Greg is explaining the events that brought him to Haiti. I don't often cry when I read, but there's a scene in here that made me make a scene on the bus. (No more explanation: spoilers would be involved.)
My second favorite scene is the very last one. The last twenty pages tie you up in an emotionally satisfied knot (with a few loose ends) and then the last paragraph makes your heart leap. While definitely not an emotional roller coaster (there were no loops and the change in tone was gradual, not sudden) it's probably more accurate to say it was an emotional... motorcycle ride? A bit bumpy, but satisfying.
If you like travel essays, this is a pretty darn good one to pick up. Good job to L. W. Montgomery.
After reading it, all I really want to know is: Who was the last one to make the bell ring?
March 31, 2013
I received the novel Promise of Departure via Goodreads firstreads giveaway. Thanks to the author LW Montgomery for the signed copy! This was a thought-provoking read for me, to which I truly enjoyed. The novel shares the story of Greg Maurus, a man who is emotionally tormented by the life he is seeking and the one he left behind. He travels to Haiti in hopes of finding the man he wants to become, in an attempt to escape the man he recognizes that he did not want to be. The author's writing captures the internal conflict that the main character is experiencing, while others question the choices he has made. The novel reminds us that things aren't always as they appear and that true happiness is never black and white. It tells of the resilience of people who have faced heart-wrenching loss and despair. There are many parts of the novel whose theme of "stop and smell the roses" comes through loud and clear. I find myself reviewing what is truly important in my life and considering what do I need to do to get to where I have always wanted to be. I would recommend this book to all and hope that LW Montgomery continues his journey of writing future novels and share his appreciated talent in story-telling.
February 5, 2013
Promise of Departure is a solid first novel from L.W. Montgomery. In the beginning, the mechanical jargon of motorcycle riding and repair left me left me slightly bewildered. I know next to nothing about engine mechanics and even less about riding motorcycles. However as the narrative continued, I found a common ground with the character of Greg, his journey, and the different people he met along the ride.
Promise is a personal narrative of Otherness and finding hope in the most hopeless of places and situations. Beyond the core personal struggles Greg has with depression, alcoholism, and his relationship with others, there is the visceral understanding of a desperate man trying to hold on to the only thing he believes he has left to provide the world. Paired with the rich descriptions of the beauty and horror of post-earthquake Haiti and the joyous descriptions of the native Haitians, Promise of Departure is a very solid read that allows us to see through the often bleary, but tragically sobering eyes of Greg.
Promise is a personal narrative of Otherness and finding hope in the most hopeless of places and situations. Beyond the core personal struggles Greg has with depression, alcoholism, and his relationship with others, there is the visceral understanding of a desperate man trying to hold on to the only thing he believes he has left to provide the world. Paired with the rich descriptions of the beauty and horror of post-earthquake Haiti and the joyous descriptions of the native Haitians, Promise of Departure is a very solid read that allows us to see through the often bleary, but tragically sobering eyes of Greg.
January 10, 2013
I received this book through a First Reads giveaway on Good Reads.
I loved this book and completely related to the story of a person who have achieved success in the world and has reached a point of saturation. He is now looking for more, something bigger than success in the worldly sense. Questioning life's purpose is something everyone goes through. The fascinating aspect of this particular book is how Greg(the character whose journey the book follows) deals with this struggle of realizing how the tomorrows he faces might not be enough for him.
He finds purpose in a strangely endearing way that just might have something to do with fixing motorcycles ;-)
It's a fantastic read; great content, wonderfully written. I am not really into motorcycles and yet I enjoyed the detail that was put into their description. To be able to hold my attention even while I was not too interested in that part of the content, is truly some masterful writing. Kudos to LW Montgomery!
I loved this book and completely related to the story of a person who have achieved success in the world and has reached a point of saturation. He is now looking for more, something bigger than success in the worldly sense. Questioning life's purpose is something everyone goes through. The fascinating aspect of this particular book is how Greg(the character whose journey the book follows) deals with this struggle of realizing how the tomorrows he faces might not be enough for him.
He finds purpose in a strangely endearing way that just might have something to do with fixing motorcycles ;-)
It's a fantastic read; great content, wonderfully written. I am not really into motorcycles and yet I enjoyed the detail that was put into their description. To be able to hold my attention even while I was not too interested in that part of the content, is truly some masterful writing. Kudos to LW Montgomery!
July 1, 2013
Promise of Departure... First off, I am not one to admit I am the sappy type, but the last line of the book, sealed the deal on this story.
It took me a while to get going on this book only because I wasn't making enough time to sit and read. But today I finished the last third of the book or so in one sitting. It got the point in the story where I was anxious to see what was going to happen next and I just couldn't wait.
Much of me throughout this book wanted to be Greg, or at least wanted to be a traveling partner, or even just a fly on the wall. Greg becomes, in many ways, the guy many of us adventure seeking guys daydream of becoming. Even though how he got where he ended up wasn't all that glamorous per se, it's the adventure, it's the dealing with life, and it's the tough decisions that put you where you end up - good or bad - and how he ended up dealing with these things that make this story amazing.
It took me a while to get going on this book only because I wasn't making enough time to sit and read. But today I finished the last third of the book or so in one sitting. It got the point in the story where I was anxious to see what was going to happen next and I just couldn't wait.
Much of me throughout this book wanted to be Greg, or at least wanted to be a traveling partner, or even just a fly on the wall. Greg becomes, in many ways, the guy many of us adventure seeking guys daydream of becoming. Even though how he got where he ended up wasn't all that glamorous per se, it's the adventure, it's the dealing with life, and it's the tough decisions that put you where you end up - good or bad - and how he ended up dealing with these things that make this story amazing.
June 7, 2013
What an amazing journey to read. Greg thinking he is lost within his personal life. Not seeing his qualities within himself; fatherhood, friendship and his compassion for his fellow being. My interpretation is he's not lost but finding his path in life; to love again & sharing his talent of repairing motorcycles. It's obvious he loves motorcycles (endearingly naming them) old or new and wants to pay it forward in his own humble way by repairing them. His detailed description of Haiti and the people in the aftermath of the earthquake is both beautiful & sad. I am looking forward to reading more of his work.
June 22, 2015
Promise of Departure introduces Greg with a vulnerable letter to Janet, followed by an uncomfortable scene in which he deals with his dropped motorcycle. Greg remains unambiguous throughout the book, making him a character to both admire and dislike. This fallibility coupled with the naturally flowing dialogue are enough to hook the reader, motorcycle fanatic or not. Similarly, the images of Haiti invoke tears, laughter, and wonder, and share an intimate experience of the country through the people Greg encounters. I finished the book with a heightened awareness of tragedy in the things we can't control, and the beauty of moving forward in the face of hopelessness.
February 21, 2014
I won this book through Goodreads and am so happy that I did! Initially I didn't think I would like the book; I thought the book was going to be primarily about motorcycles, but this book really is about our journey through life. I think anyone over 35+ would relate to Greg, his failures and struggle to find meaning and value in his life. His failures might be different than our own, but his struggle to find meaning is an universal struggle. Thank you LW for writing this book...it's definitely a "good read".
April 30, 2015
Artful, layered, honest, and sweet, Promise of Departure is still on my mind months after finishing it. Although a bit technical at times (the motorcycle stuff was mostly lost on me), the larger commentary on human compassion and overconsumption makes for a powerful, thought-provoking read. I spent as much time gazing out the window contemplating Greg’s journey as I did engrossed in Montgomery’s beautiful prose.
February 24, 2013
I had won this book through a giveaway here on Goodreads.
I have one thing to say on this book: It's brilliant. The writing is sentimental and heartfelt, the writer's choice of words is striking and connects to the reader.
Although it drags on in some chapters, this book is definitely worth a read.
I have one thing to say on this book: It's brilliant. The writing is sentimental and heartfelt, the writer's choice of words is striking and connects to the reader.
Although it drags on in some chapters, this book is definitely worth a read.
October 12, 2013
Not my type of book.I started it three times And the third time I made myself finish it.I'm sure a male biker would find it enjoyable but I just found it boring.
Lreceived this book fron goodreads."Promise of Departure" by L.W.Montgomery
Lreceived this book fron goodreads."Promise of Departure" by L.W.Montgomery
January 10, 2013
Promise Of Departure is a story of a man on a journey to self-discovery. The main character, Greg, is flawed and easy to relate to. LW Montgomery is an expert at imagery. I was able to picture every detail of Greg's ride through Haiti. Well written!
March 11, 2015
Super slow build. Laden with mechanical information that was more appropo for a series of motorcycle enthusiast magazine short stories. The book was well-written and MC well-developed, just not my cup of tea.
Might be a read I revisit after a mid-life crisis?
Might be a read I revisit after a mid-life crisis?
May 22, 2013
I received this as a Goodreads first-reads winner and I enjoyed it very much. Definitely worth reading!
November 1, 2012
The storm scene is some of the best writing I've read :)
Read
November 11, 2012Sé pah pou moi.
Want to read
December 21, 2012Received today in the mail. I won it in a Goodreads giveaway.
January 6, 2023
Hidden gem
How many of us dream about just leaving everything behind and go volunteer in areas of the world where anything you offer is a feel good moment and of real value to the people who live there. Greg does just that in Haiti after an earthquake. Super enjoyable.
How many of us dream about just leaving everything behind and go volunteer in areas of the world where anything you offer is a feel good moment and of real value to the people who live there. Greg does just that in Haiti after an earthquake. Super enjoyable.
November 17, 2014
5-star Amazon review by Sean R.
"Loved it. A page turner.
The main character, Greg, is immediately relatable and carries us forward through the story with ease.
I love that the character is flawed, honest about those flaws, and willing to do the hard work to expose those flaws. It's always a joy to read a character that's a human, rather than "a character".
I expect I'd like to have a beer with this Greg guy.
As an aside, the motorcycle motif worked really well for me. It's interesting to me... by using a motorcycle we're both given enough abstraction to move quickly through the terrain but not so much as to be separated from it. The authors language and clear ownership of this motif comes through so clearly that I, as someone who's never ridden a motorcycle, come away feeling like a seasoned rider.
I'm looking forward to what else LW Montgomery has in store! Pretty outstanding first book."
"Loved it. A page turner.
The main character, Greg, is immediately relatable and carries us forward through the story with ease.
I love that the character is flawed, honest about those flaws, and willing to do the hard work to expose those flaws. It's always a joy to read a character that's a human, rather than "a character".
I expect I'd like to have a beer with this Greg guy.
As an aside, the motorcycle motif worked really well for me. It's interesting to me... by using a motorcycle we're both given enough abstraction to move quickly through the terrain but not so much as to be separated from it. The authors language and clear ownership of this motif comes through so clearly that I, as someone who's never ridden a motorcycle, come away feeling like a seasoned rider.
I'm looking forward to what else LW Montgomery has in store! Pretty outstanding first book."
August 20, 2016
Loved the Story for the Most Part
I really liked the premise of Greg giving up material things to help aid in Haiti and fix bikes. The story was well-written, with the characters and relationships believable until he meets Beth.
We are supposed to believe that this determined, heartbroken man falls in love within two days with a little wisecracking Danica Patrick look-a-like. Right. I didn't think his character was even written by the same author in this part, he seems to have turned into an idiot and lost all vocabulary.
Thankfully, he gets back on track and I was able to enjoy the rest of the novel. It's clever, and also keeps the reader engaged through the entire story.
I really liked the premise of Greg giving up material things to help aid in Haiti and fix bikes. The story was well-written, with the characters and relationships believable until he meets Beth.
We are supposed to believe that this determined, heartbroken man falls in love within two days with a little wisecracking Danica Patrick look-a-like. Right. I didn't think his character was even written by the same author in this part, he seems to have turned into an idiot and lost all vocabulary.
Thankfully, he gets back on track and I was able to enjoy the rest of the novel. It's clever, and also keeps the reader engaged through the entire story.
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