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Peking to Paris
- Life and Love on a Short Drive Around Half the World
- Narrated by: Katherine Dyer
- Length: 9 hrs and 44 mins
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Peking to Paris
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Summary
In this thrilling road trip from "Peking to Paris", a woman tries to save her car, her marriage, and her confidence from breaking down.
In May 2007, leaving China’s Great Wall is Car 84, one of 128 antique autos racing in the Peking to Paris Motor Challenge. It’s guided by one Dina Bennett, the world’s least likely navigator: a daydreamer prone to carsickness, riddled with self-doubt, and married to a thrill-seeking perfectionist who is half-human, half-racecar. What could possibly go wrong?
Funny, self-deprecating, and marred by only a few acts of great fortitude, Peking to Paris is first and foremost a voyage of transformation. The listener is swept on a wild, emotional ride, with romance and adversity, torment and triumph. Starting in Beijing, Dina and her husband, Bernard, limp across the Gobi, Siberia, Baltic States, and south to Paris in a 1940 Cadillac LaSalle, while Dina nurses the absurd hope that she can turn herself into a person of courage and patience.
Writing for every woman who’s ever doubted herself and any man who’s wondered what the woman traveling with him is thinking, Dina brings the reader with her as she deftly sidesteps rock-throwing Mongolians and locks horns with Russians left over from the Interpol era - not to mention getting a sandstorm facial and racing rabbits on a curvy country road. Come along for the ride with a dashboard diva!
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Editor reviews
Dina Bennett is a worrywart with a penchant for daydreaming - the combination of which landed her on the 35-day Peking to Paris Motor Challenge with her husband, Bernard, and a trunk full of anxiety. Bennett's worries and flights of fancy come alive in Katherine Dyer's spirited narration, which charmingly captures the young woman's formative moments (including the first time she walked, and how she fell in love with her dashing French husband) up to the 7,800-mile car race that could conceivably ruin her marriage. Funny, emotional, and transformative, Peking to Paris: Life and Love on a Short Drive Around Half the World is a travel story that will charm even the most reluctant armchair adventurer.
What listeners say about Peking to Paris
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- East Stander
- 08-11-23
Well narrated and good story
Really enjoyed this book. Whinsed at some "American English" but rejoiced that I never heard the word "Acclimated".
Pity the cover photo wasn't the real car but nevertheless an enjoyable listen.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 30-04-23
Great story, Dina keeps you cruising while listening
This book is perfect if you are planning a duo road trip!
Not of course with the mechanical parts but with the relationship ones!!
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mandy
- 03-03-22
Great story, not so good narration
This is obviously a funny account of the epic trip from Peking to Paris
I should have read the book instead, as by the end the narrator was irritating me with her monotone voice. With a bit more enthusiasm, I’m sure I’d have been laughing out loud.
But overall, I still enjoyed
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 19-02-23
An enchanting listen!
An immersive account of an wonderful adventure read with sensitivity and skill. One of the best books I’ve heard! Very uplifting!
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Jo
- 10-07-23
A fun alternative to a novel
Generally amusing and interesting, the narrator occasionally made me cringe, but all in all a good listen.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- R
- 07-02-20
Fantastic!!!!
Brilliant book. One of those stories that draws you in. One of the most entertaining travel logs I have listened to.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 16-10-22
Perfect listening for a wanderers soul!
Beautifully narrated, felt every bump in the road. Lovely tale of camaraderie, obstacles to overcome and quiet intimacy of a great partnership. And I fell in love with Roxanne.
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 24-11-22
could have been do much better!
I couldn't finish this as the narrator was so awful. It should have and could have been a great listen...
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Q..
- 29-04-22
interesting account from the p2p
slow start, first 2.5 hours is essentially a background and repeating a lot, if condensed to 30 mins would have really made for a better pace - it did start of to a homage to her, her life and felt like an autobiography.
A well off couple go for a jolly halfway around the world with their rich friends and have lovely time. they embody those travellers you meet where you really wonder how they made it so far. the she isn't well informed enough to explain or tell us much except how far , poorly dressed or how badly everyone's hair is cut, bit was cringeworthy in spots. It did come across as her complaining most of the time - how much her back hurt but the 5* hotrls masseuse fixed that for her etc. not really my travel type stories that I love, it is quite fun in parts and interesting but I wouldn't pick it up again and I was glad to finish.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Nicole
- 02-01-23
Tedious
I couldn’t listen to more than 6 minutes of this. The author makes the mistake of assuming we are fascinated in learning all about her. The word “I” is used countlessly. I have no interest in learning any more about this self obsessed boring writer and her dull story. Please Audible - be more selective
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