I might provide a dissenting voice. This is the 8th book in this cycle. I get the idea that it's supposed to make the Walk accessible to non Walkers who aren't familiar with it, but at the same time there're people who will have read most of the previous 'books in this story. I think Doug's world works better as something that builds through the entire cycle - it probably shouldn't explain who Doug is - jjust maybe make some sort of reference to 'If youve been reading these logs' to suggest that there is more story to consume elsewhere that explains this.
I love the smell of rotaries in the morning. You know one time, I got to work early, before the rush hour. I walked through the empty carpark, I didn't see one bloody Prius or Golf. And that smell, you know that gasoline smell, the whole carpark, smelled like.... ....speed.
One day they're going to ban them.