_sarah_reads_'s review against another edition
3.0
It took me about 70 pages to get into this. And for those first 70 pages, I was very close to giving up. The writing was just too...pretentious, maybe? But for whatever reason I stuck with it, and I'm glad I did. It's both a travel memoir and the story of a man trying to heal his relationship with his father--it feels like a masculine version of Eat, Pray, Love.
The danger of this book, for me, is that it gets me wanting to take a long long walk. Just like after I read Wild I contemplated hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. After reading this book, I want to walk across Spain.
The danger of this book, for me, is that it gets me wanting to take a long long walk. Just like after I read Wild I contemplated hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. After reading this book, I want to walk across Spain.
alcyon_alcyon's review against another edition
3.0
Ultimately worth reading to learn about the different pilgrimages, but the personal aspects of the story (e family stuff) were not very satisfying. Either too much detail or too little, I am not sure. The author is a good writer but not really a great memoirist, nor was his personal perspective on the pilgrimages very useful. The movie version would be great, though! Especially if cheered up by a more cheerful protagonist.
chelseamartinez's review against another edition
4.0
Made me think of how I try to turn all my vacations/breaks into exhausting stamp-collecting sojourns so that I don't have to admit they're vacations. Even though the author and I don't share much in terms of upbringing or hobbies or skills I really valued having someone voice my own striving to preempt regrets.
dmahanty's review against another edition
3.0
A non-fiction retelling of Gideon Lewis-kraus' pilgrimages to the Camino De Santiago in Spain, the Shikoku Japan 88 Buddhist temples, and the tomb of famous Hassidic mystic in Ukraine. Hated in the section about his time in Berlin, but the other sections were good.
cupitonians's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
3.0
A friend gave this to me and I was hopeful for a travel story, I love those, but I felt most was utter annoyance at the writer. I can't remember the last time it took me so long to finish a book, let alone a book about travel and pilgrimages. That being said, if my rants are anything to go by, I'm obsessed with this book as well. So, if you're looking for a travel guide, there's better out there. If you're looking for a coming of age story about a guy who is trying to find himself, there's also better out there. But it is well written and honest, and for that, 3 stars. Tbh, I'm just glad I'm finally done with it!
emilycc's review against another edition
4.0
A funny, intelligent, sometimes unpleasantly self-involved but ultimately really engaging look at both one guy dealing with ennui of his late twenties/his relationship with his dad and at contemporary pilgrimage in general. Recommend for fans of Dave Eggers, etc.
kcmichelle's review against another edition
1.0
Whiny, self-absorbed guy goes on three pilgrimage trips and ..... whines a lot more.
I read most of this even though I was really sick of the author after the first trip. The goal being some sort of improved insight, I powered on. By the third trip, it was a apparent that there was no change - just more whining and B.S. with his dad that seemed ridiculous. There is a time as an adult when you just need to understand people and stop looking for excuses of how the decisions and actions of others impacts you.
I skipped a bit at the end as the badgering of the dad continued. Maybe this was meaningful to Gideon, but I had no interest in sharing this.
I read most of this even though I was really sick of the author after the first trip. The goal being some sort of improved insight, I powered on. By the third trip, it was a apparent that there was no change - just more whining and B.S. with his dad that seemed ridiculous. There is a time as an adult when you just need to understand people and stop looking for excuses of how the decisions and actions of others impacts you.
I skipped a bit at the end as the badgering of the dad continued. Maybe this was meaningful to Gideon, but I had no interest in sharing this.
heat_her's review against another edition
4.0
I have to admit, reading about Gideon’s pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela made me wish I was the kind of person who’s tough enough to go on a pilgrimage. However, I would probably want to quit after the first day or two, so I enjoyed going on Gideon’s pilgrimages from the comfort of my couch. I’ve said it here before, and I’ll say it again: I love nature, but from a distance. So I really enjoyed reading about Gideon’s experiences during all three of his pilgrimages, and although he got on my nerves a few times by being whiny and selfish, I liked a lot of the insight his travels produced. And let’s be honest, who wouldn’t get a little whiny and selfish while spending a month walking almost 600 miles across Spain or almost 800 miles around an island in Japan?
Read my review in full on Between the Covers...
Read my review in full on Between the Covers...
sparrowhank's review against another edition
4.0
More like 4.5 stars but alas Goodreads doesn’t allow it. Great read from start to finish, loved it even when the author bored me with his personal issues. Loved the account of the loneliness of a long walk without company.