"Wagendorp's book manages to be funny, shrewd, and moving, with a
complex structure that never feels cumbersome, and a finale so intense
that you want to read it very slowly, almost one word at a time." --The
Guardian
"A wonderful blend of humor, suspense, and poignancy, which will
appeal to non-cyclists as well as those of us who understand what it
takes to scale a mountain as evocative, daunting, and symbolic as Mont
Ventoux." --Felix Lowe, author of Climbs & Punishment
During the summer of 1982, a group of friends--five boys and one
girl--travel to French Provence, three of whom climb the legendary Mont
Ventoux on their bicycles. A tragic accident claims the life of one of
them, the promising young poet, Peter. Thirty years later, the old
friends return to conquer the mountain and the demons of their past.
Ventoux is both a hilarious and insightful portrait of a generation
and a stunningly accurate depiction of male friendship. It's a glorious
tragicomedy for everyone who loves to read a well-crafted feel-good
novel and especially recommended for cycling aficionados who will
recognize Mont Ventoux as the scene of many classic races.
