“Zookymoon” is an adventurous book about an old dude, his sassy motorcycle and their adventures together from the Arctic Circle to Machu Picchu.
The novel is based on the real-life adventures of Tupelo native Dan Mathews, who gets a crazy haircut and decides to act on it. His trusty motorcycle, affectionately named Zookymoon, helps tell the story of their great adventure.
Jacquelyn C. Allen, also a Tupelo native and the author of “Zookymoon,” went through multiple drafts to make sure the book was true to life, according to Mathews.
“Each trip story had multiple drafts,” Allen said. “So after I would add something to one trip story, I would print it off and get Mr. Mathews to read it and make sure I had things the way he wanted them.”
Both Zooky and Mathews are likable characters with unique voices that bring the story to life. With Zooky fulfilling the role of the self-assured woman and Mathews as the clumsy and take-it-as-it-comes kind of man, the two make up a perfect pair, no doubt.
“The idea to allow Zookymoon to have a voice was Mr. Mathews’ idea,” she said. “At first, he wanted he and Zookymoon to be talking back and forth to each other, but he soon realized that most people wouldn’t go for that.”
So, they chose an alternate route of having Zooky’s thoughts in the book. Allen said she was the creator of Zookymoon’s thoughts, and Mathew only told her a few times to tone down the smart-aleck responses from Zooky.
“Zookymoon” is a wild ride with a comical and refreshing tone. The novel is a timeless tale of a unique man and his quirky, quick-witted motorcycle out on the open road living their lives to the fullest. Mathews never shied away from being true to himself. He’s portrayed as a genuine character, and even when readers can’t help but shake their heads at him, they have to love him, too. He loves adventure, sometimes so much so that it gets him into quite the pickle.
Zookymoon provides a fun contrast as the sassy motorcycle with a bit of an ego. She’s snarky and sometimes a bit of a smart-ass, and she loves mocking her rider about his many misjudgments. As readers take this journey with Mathews and his fantastic motorcycle, they encounter stories that speak to the wandering spirits, the traveling hearts and the people searching for more. In “Zookymoon,” their journeys inspire readers to take risks, find themselves in places they don’t know and do something crazy.
Although the book has a ton going for it, sometimes the story does veer off its original theme. At time, the mention of stories from Mathews’ past feel pointless to furthering the story of “Zookymoon” and the trips Zooky and Mathews took together.
Overall, this book was resoundingly joyful and fun to read. It was an interesting book that is likely to be unlike anything anyone who picks it up has read before. It would be perfect for someone looking for a laugh, inspiration or just an entertaining read.
Mathews and Zooky are a pleasure to take a ride with. This book invokes feelings that every book should: dreaming, laughing, thinking and seeing things in a new light. It’s wonderful to read a novel about a man pursuing his dreams. Though not without bumps and issues, Mathews never gives up on getting where he’s going.
Allen said she would love to write a sequel. Mathews has taken a lot of crazy trips, including one last year to the 75th anniversary of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, South Dakota.
When asked about books coming in the future, Allen said she will definitely keep writing but at the moment can’t share what she’s working on. One can hope it’s a book as thoughtful and funny as “Zookymoon.”
Book Rating: 3.5/5
