I am not the audience for this book. I don't enjoy NASCAR, and the book did nothing to change my mind. Our book selected this book which a Chaucer-expert faculty member understood was a modern retelling of the Canterbury Tales. He discovered the characters to be odd mixtures of Chaucer's characters--sometimes exhibiting characteristics of more than one. Of course, McCrumb's book had fewer characters on their pilgrimage, but it really disappointed. An odd assortment of characters go on a tour of the NASCAR circuit to pay tribute to the deceased Dale Earnhardt. Before they begin, one character sights Dale as he stops to help her change a tire along the side of a North Carolina road. One couple plans to marry in Bristol. A New Hampshire priest brings along a dying boy. A judge comes along with her sister. The guide was a man who lived and breathed NASCAR and had even raced a little on the circuit. I breathed a sigh of relief as we reached the conclusion. McCrumb writes about Appalachian themes, and people in Appalachia certainly love NASCAR for the most part. I'm just not one of them so my distaste for the sport extended to the book--regardless of McCrumb's ability to write. ( )

I really liked this story! Fascinating characters, both dead and alive. I'm not a NASCAR fan but this book made it come alive for me. I well remember when Dale Earnhardt died and people I knew truly mourned for him. This is a good read and very hard to put down. I liked the way we learned about each track that the tour group visited and loved the stories about the drivers. ( )

Love Nascar, But this story and I, never clicked- Had to work, to finsh. Yet some of the other
Sharyn McCrumb storys, are far better. Like She walks these hills and The Rosewood Casket
Her writing style, is fantasic, I just never, cared about, what happened in St. Dale. ( )

Not one of Sharon's best works, but the Earnhardt fan will probalby enjoy it.
Even if you are not an Earnhardt fan, it was an amusing departure from McCrumb's usual style.
A bit difficult to get through, (I'm not a racing fan) but.... it's on the re-read list. ( )

A diverse group participates in a Dale Earnhardt memorial tour, and each one has his own story and reason for relating to Dale. Very reminiscent of the Canterbury Tales. McCrumb tells her story with humor and compassion for her characters. ( )