Peking to Paris : Life and Love on a Short Drive Around Half the World

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? 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! (with 24 photographs) A Publishers Weekly Top-10 Travel Book: A couple embarks on an auto race, and whether it’s the antique car or the marriage, something’s bound to break down... Dina Bennett nicknamed her restored 1940 Cadillac LaSalle “Roxanne.” In the Peking to Paris Motor Challenge, it was known as Car 84, one of 125 classic cars competing in a breathtaking antique auto race. And so Dina embarked from China’s Great Wall with, at the very least, enthusiasm and a roomy front seat. It doesn’t matter that she’s the least likely navigator on any continent, or that she’s a daydreamer prone to carsickness, or that inside she’s riddled with self-doubt. Because behind the wheel is Bernard, her mechanically inclined, thrill-seeking perfectionist of a husband. Besides, the race is only eight thousand miles. What could possibly go wrong? As Dina and Bernard nurse Roxanne across the Gobi, Siberia, and the Baltic states and south to Paris, Dina wrestles with nuts and bolts, dodges rock-throwing Mongolians, endures a sandstorm facial, and locks horns with Russians seemingly left over from Stalin’s Intourist era. Yet never once does Dina abandon the absurd hope that she can turn herself into a person of courage and patience. Funny, self-deprecating, and marred by only a few acts of great fortitude, Peking to Paris is first and foremost a voyage of renewal. It’s for every woman who’s ever doubted herself, and for any man who wanted to join her on that road to re-discovery, albeit off the beaten tourist path. All in all “a fun ride, worth the trip” (Kirkus Reviews).

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 reader 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!

"In this thrilling journey 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 125 antique autos racing in the Peking to Paris Motor Challenge. The 1940 LaSalle is guided by Dina Bennett, the world's least likely navigator: a daydreamer prone to carsickness and riddled with self-doubt. She's married to the driver, a thrill-seeking perfectionist who is half-human, half-racecar. What could 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 renewal. As Dina and her husband, Bernard, nurse their car across the Gobi, Siberia, and the Baltic states and south to Paris, she wrestles with nuts and bolts, along with 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 you with her as she ducks rock-throwing Mongolians and locks horns with Russians left over from the Intourist era, endures a sandstorm facial, and is reduced to tears of joy over a bottle of red nail polish. It's a rollicking ride, one that shifts the line between possible and impossible, and gives new meaning to the phrase "off the beaten tourist path.""-- Provided by publisher 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 reader 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!