ARC Review: Riding the Edge: A Love Song to Deborah

September 02, 2021

In 1980 Michael Tobin and his girlfriend of six years, Deborah, leave their psychology practices on the US East Coast and set out on a six-month bike ride. They are happy with their comfortable lives, committed to each other but not yet married. Yet both of them feel a longing for more, a need to connect with deeper truths and parts of themselves that get lost in the day to day rhythms of life. Deborah wants to visit her familial home in Lebanon, and Michael wants to visit Israel. And so their journey begins, through Europe and into the Middle East.

Forty one years later Michael has recalled that journey and shared it with us all through this book. And he’s done an absolutely amazing job. This book is very well written. Michael kept a journal of their trip, and has referred back to it to reconstruct not only the physical, but also the spiritual and psychological journey he and Deborah went through. 

What starts as a simple story of their ride’s progress, slowly builds layers of meaning as the journey unfolds for Michael and Deborah. Each of them, it seems, has tasks to fulfill along the way. By the end of the journey, and the end of this book, you appreciate what a remarkable “Love Song to Deborah” this truly is.

I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. I am not a religious person, so struggled a bit with the religious awakening aspect. But even that resonated and touched me, as it’s plain it comes out of Michael’s own truth. I highly recommend this book. Five Stars .

NOTES: I listened to the audiobook version of this book as narrated by Luke Welland. The audiobook was released last Wednesday, August 25th. I received this book through Netgalley and Greenleaf Book Group in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Riding the Edge links:

  Borrow this book: Find out if your library has the ebook or audiobook available.

Buy this audiobook: Amazon | Libro.fm | Scribd 

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