Strange 66

Route 66 has been an integral part of American travel history for years. It’s fondly remembered as THE vacation route before the advent of the Interstate system. This book takes a look at some of the darker stories of the Mother Road and shares stories most people won’t know. Quirky and fun, a must for travelers, both real time and armchair

I’ve always been interested in American history and this is one with a creepy side to it. Discovering a different side to the iconic Route 66.

This was a really cool book and I think it would make for a great road trip companion! While I’m not a huge fan of creepy and supernatural stories, I liked that each one was quick and concise and accompanied by visuals like photographs. I love finding out about quirky parts of the US, and a big portion of the book did just that. From ghost towns to oversized sculptures, this book had it all! Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC!

I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. 

I've always wanted to drive Route 66 and have been fascinated by it for as long as I remember. 

I loved this book and the wonderful pictures that came with it. The Author did a great job with detail. At times I felt like I was right in the pictures.

I highly recommend this book.

Having always wanted to travel Route 66, this book piqued my interest as soon as I saw it, and it turned out to be as intriguing and compelling as I thought. Written by Michael Karl Witzel, an established authority on the history of Route 66. I have come to expect Quarto publications to be super fascinating, and this book is no exception. They have swiftly become one of my favourite non-fiction publishers. You cannot go wrong with this title or any others released by them.

The book is split into seven different sections, all featuring exciting stories that really held my interest for the duration. The first section entitled "There's A Killer On The Road" covers such events as Al Capone travelling the route, Jesse James's cave hideout and Bonnie & Clyde's shootout in Joplin, Missouri. The second section "Mysteries and The Unexplained" discusses the paranormal, including alien vistors, ghosts and poltergeists. "Memorable Structures and Crazy Constructs" is all about the far-out buildings, signs and structures that infuse Route 66 with a unique personality and charm. "Tales Of The Infamous and Legendary" pays tribute to the important pioneers, visionaries and events that were responsible for the creation, promotion and ultimate notoriety of Highway 66. The fifth section "Roadside Tributes and Other Monuments" takes a look at the strange creatures who inhabit the route and the mysterious roadside monoliths and commemorative statues that capture tourists' imagination. "Exemplary Eats and Roadside Treats" focuses on the cornucopia of offbeat and unusual eats that are an iconic part of travelling the route. The seventh and final part "Won't Come Back From Dead Man's Curve" takes a pedal-to-the-metal look at the road segments that earned it the notorious nicknames such as "Bloody 66" and "Death Alley".

The book tells you where each of these occurences took place and would make a fantastic travel companion if you are planning to drive the route. There are also some evocative photographs that accompany each of the stories, and at times I felt like I was actually there. If you are looking to find out more about the history of Route 66, then look no further. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I learned many new things, but the stories were so, so dark and interesting too. Creepy, seedy, quirky, fun and weird are just some of the words that amply describe this book. It definitely deserves all of the stars, so five stars it is!

Many thanks to Quarto Publishing Group – Voyageur Press for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Strange 66 by Michael Karl Witzel
Myth, Mystery, Mayhem, and Other Weirdness on Route 66

As a child my mother would pack the suitcases. Dad would put the suitcases on the top of the car. A mattress was put into the back of the station wagon and then usually mom would start the long trek from Des Moines, Iowa to Glendale, California to see her parents. Dad would usually fly out to join us later and we often drove back to the Midwest as a family. Those trips were magical and most of the time Route 66 made up the greatest portion of the trip. We stopped at night and along the way of there were sites to see sometimes detouring to see a park someone thought was worth our young eyes seeing – one was the petrified forest. 

Anyway, this book brought back many memories though the ones I have were not really found in the book – not many of them anyway. A couple that were happened to be the MacDonald’s Arch spanning the highway…I do believe we stopped to eat there at one time AND the Pasadena Suicide Bridge we used to cross when we lived in Eagle Rock and would head over to Pasadena. I enjoyed learning about the man who was instrumental in the building of Route 66 and why it was so very important as the automobile replaced horses for transportation. I learned of killers, mysterious happenings, haunted buildings, ghostly hauntings, monuments, artistic endeavors, historic eating establishments, interesting buildings, musical anecdotes…and so much more. I had fun looking at the beautiful photos and came away thinking that at some point in time I would love to travel Route 66 again and take this book along with me to make sure I didn’t miss anything. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Voyageur Press for the ARC – This is my honest review. 

5 Stars

After reading this book, be ready to start planning your Route 66 trip, I am. Great book! I just loved reading this book and would definitely read it again. This book is divided into 7 sections: “A Killer on the Road” with Al Capone, Jesse James, Bonnie and Clyde, “Mysteries and the Unexplained” with Ghosts and Hotel Monte Vista, “Memorable Structures” with Wigwams and Ghost towns, “Tales of the Infamous” The Troubadour and Grapes of Wrath, “Roadside Monuments” BlueWhale, Spacemen, Totem Poles, “Roadside Treats” World Largest Ketchup Bottle, Ku Ku Burger, Pops Soda Ranch, and “Dead Man Curve” with Suicide Bridge and much, much, more.  The book is also filled with beautiful historical and current pictures and interesting facts.....this is a must buy.

I live in Northeastern Oklahoma right on Route 66.  I thought I knew everything there is to know on this historical road through the heart of the nation.  I was wrong.  I so enjoyed the book, I posted a suggestion on our Forgotten Oklahoma Facebook site letting all interested parties know to read and enjoy.

Growing up, my family would travel Route 66 each year during spring break.  I was always fascinated by the iconic American route.  So when I had the opportunity to review this book, I snapped it up.  

I was surprised about how much I didn't know about Route 66.  The stories in this book are riveting.  This book makes me want to pack by bags and hit the road again!

Such a fun and fascinating book - as if Atlas Obscura was focused only on a single place: the Mother Road, America's Main Street, Route 66. History (from the Trail of Tears to Bonnie & Clyde), myth (Dead Man's Curve and the vanishing hitchhiker), and kitsch (the Wigwam motel and the birthplace of the corn dog) collide in this chronicle/guidebook to the quintessential American wild and weird. Planning my next vacation now.

This was an interesting collection of famous people, attractions and history surrounding Route 66 - everything from murders to odd buildings to places to eat and more. It was a fun read and would be great to have along on a road trip.

Thank you to Michael Karl Witzel, Quarto Publishing Group – Voyageur Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. All comments are my own, unbiased opinion.

Never has perhaps such a convoluted title delivered in producing the book it suggests.
I don’t know what I expected but this book delivers more than anyone could imagine.
Split into seven sub chapters which again depart from serious journalism yet meet the specification of this interesting account about a truly remarkable road. That even from across the pond I can see is indelibly seared into the consciousness of the American public. 
Route 66 was until it was overtaken by the Interstate a road that epitomised the spirit of early settlers and in the new age of the horseless carriage. It made it possible to connect this large country from one side to the other and helped states connect and forge into a country.
Since it’s demise from the late 80’s it has shown that where something is an institution and lives in the hearts of a community or is part of a national identity it will never die. 
This unique book and it’s detailed account of both the history and resurgence of this route makes the chance of it slipping into the forgotten past impossible to contemplate.
It isn’t making something out of nothing because the land has little historical voice after the indigenous peoples were silenced, contaminated and re-located. It is a real history spanning over 100 years and at it’s heart it shows how the spirit of American evolved, nearly expired and forever re-invigorates itself.
Route 66 has some notable history and the larger than life stuff you might associate with the need to accommodate, feed and sustain visitors and travellers along its way. 
I found this fascinating and sometimes larger than life. The stories of its function during the Great Depression broke my heart but the forced march of the Indian Nations crushed my spirit.
A book that made me laugh and cry. Pop Art and Culture making itself the story and proudly remembered and commemorated made me view the USA very differently.
I can see why many still pay homage to this historic route and visit its many tourist attractions. For those unable to make such a trip in the immediate future. They will delight in this book that takes them on a journey few will forget.

This isn't a very big book, but it's full of interesting trivia and background history of events, places and things along Route 66.  Author  Michael Karl Witzel begins the book with Chicago and its gangster history in the 1930s.  He also mentions other notorious killers who were active along the Motherlode.

This short book is divided into eight parts covering the before-mentioned killers, mysterious places, strange landmarks like the Cadillac Ranch outside Amarillo, legends, roadside tributes, iconic restaurants, famous haunts.  While I have driven many parts of Route 66, there were a few interesting stories I did not know.

The book is filled with photographs and maps to make the reading more graphic.  The writing style is simple and is designed to make the traveler quickly decide whether the event or place is worth checking out in more detail.   It's not very detailed and is not presented in a chronological order along the route.

Everyone in the US and some other countries have heard of Route 66. Over the years many places and things have come and gone but there are still some out there from the beginning. Thsi book is filled with photos of the many many stops along the route. It also gives you the strange history of some events that have taken place at many of the stops. Things like a hideout for Bonnie and Clyde in Baxter Springs, Kansas. The Trail of Tears tribute in Jerome, Missouri.  and so much more. This is a thrilling book and would make a great conversation piece as a coffee table book. I personally think ever Doctors office on the planet needs to have a stack of copies of this book, I hae going to the doctor's office, you have an appointment and end up setting there an hour after before you get called back, this book would keep your mind busy and you may get upset when they finally do call you back. This is a great book very interesting and the numerous photos take you there. 



I received this book from the Author or Publisher via Netgalley.com and chose to leave this review.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Quarto Publishing Group, Voyageur Press and the author, Michael Karl Witzel, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of Strange 66 in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion.
I thought the book was well written. Full of weird and creepy stories regarding an iconic road in America, it kept me intrigued until the end. Definitely worth a read.

A fascinating collection of stories - both historical, and more mystical - photographs, and attractions to visit; all based along one of America's most famous highways.
This would be a fantastic book to help you plan a roadtrip along this well known route, and is sure to make you want to see it for yourself!

I had some difficulties getting it to display properly on my android tablet, however having the book as a physical copy would obviously prevent this.

Full review forthcoming...............................................................................................................................................................................