Seeking books/articles for someone who hasn't heard of the camino

[gml]

I’m wondering if anyone could recommend books or articles for someone who has never even heard of the Camino de Santiago but feels the need for a long “backpacking trip” in Europe to clear her head and get some perspective on her life and problems. I know that dozens (or hundreds) of camino memoirs have been published, but I don't want to recommend that type of book because I think something broader than one individual’s personal experience would be more helpful -- e.g., about the camino's history, the value/purpose of pilgrimage, the value/rewards of walking, day-to-day life on the camino (in a general sense). Any recommendations would be very much appreciated.

 

[C clearly]

@David Tallan has compiled an excellent bibliography and put it in the Resources section here. A number of those books have been discussed in threads in the Books section of the forum.

For awhile we had a book club on the forum. You might find this thread interesting - it was the first thread asking for nominations of books to discuss, so it includes quite a variety of suggestions.

I would caution against overwhelming your friend with information and experiences. Either the idea strikes her fancy early on, or it doesn't.

 

[C clearly]

Here is an excellent article published in Christianity Today, that @peregrina2000 and others have recommended in other threads. Although the main web page suggests that you must subscribe (and pay) to read the full article, I found access to it it - even as a non-subscriber - by exploring different links on the website.

If that doesn't work, see this thread

It really is an excellent description of the experience!

 

[gml]

Thank you so much for the bibliography and the link to the wonderful article by Carver and Jeter. I think the article is exactly what's needed. I agree that it's best not to overwhelm a person with info and experiences (I studiously avoided reading other people's accounts of the camino before I walked) but the article is just enough to impart a sense of why one might want to do this and what to expect along the way. Thank you!

 

[Sheesh]

Awwh crumbs, I was REALLY getting into that article, thinking right on. But then along comes the phrase "belligerent German." Dang, how I wish the authors had used some other descriptor that didn't disparage any nationality. The German pilgrims I met on Camino were some of the nicest, most inclusive pilgrims of all.

 

[trecile]

The German pilgrims I met on Camino were some of the nicest, most inclusive pilgrims of all.

I agree. On my 2019 Camino Portuguese I walked mostly with German speakers, but they always used English when we were all together.

 

[TrvlDad1]

Perhaps show or buy her Briarley’s guide book which has commentary and might comfort her as to ease and accommodations.

 

[Scott Sweeney]

I’m wondering if anyone could recommend books or articles for someone who has never even heard of the Camino de Santiago but feels the need for a long “backpacking trip” in Europe to clear her head and get some perspective on her life and problems. I know that dozens (or hundreds) of camino memoirs have been published, but I don't want to recommend that type of book because I think something broader than one individual’s personal experience would be more helpful -- e.g., about the camino's history, the value/purpose of pilgrimage, the value/rewards of walking, day-to-day life on the camino (in a general sense). Any recommendations would be very much appreciated.

Off The Road by Jack Hitt.

 

[Dalieb]

I’m wondering if anyone could recommend books or articles for someone who has never even heard of the Camino de Santiago but feels the need for a long “backpacking trip” in Europe to clear her head and get some perspective on her life and problems. I know that dozens (or hundreds) of camino memoirs have been published, but I don't want to recommend that type of book because I think something broader than one individual’s personal experience would be more helpful -- e.g., about the camino's history, the value/purpose of pilgrimage, the value/rewards of walking, day-to-day life on the camino (in a general sense). Any recommendations would be very much appreciated.

read "I'm off then" great read, humorous and informative.

 

[mattythedog]

Off The Road by Jack Hitt.

I second Scott Sweeney. Movie, THE WAY, is loosely based on. OFF THE ROAD. Watch the movie, too.

 

[walkinglover]

I’m wondering if anyone could recommend books or articles for someone who has never even heard of the Camino de Santiago but feels the need for a long “backpacking trip” in Europe to clear her head and get some perspective on her life and problems. I know that dozens (or hundreds) of camino memoirs have been published, but I don't want to recommend that type of book because I think something broader than one individual’s personal experience would be more helpful -- e.g., about the camino's history, the value/purpose of pilgrimage, the value/rewards of walking, day-to-day life on the camino (in a general sense). Any recommendations would be very much appreciated.

First, watch the movie, "The Way." Then, order the guide by John Brierley. He has one for the Frances, Ingles, and Portuguese route. You can find many youtube videos by those who have walked, and there are other movies in addition to the one above.

 

[WEnotUSorTHEM]

I like Effren Gonzalez on Youtube...he does great content that really capture the spirit of the Camino with really good imagery.
https://www.youtube.com/c/efrenglez1
My Favorites VLOGs are:
Del Norte https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVAiPQLcqYe3PM8rXSBWAvZ42Obf8znrJ
Primitivo https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVAiPQLcqYe2WpYw_2fy8F07-sMOoMNxM
Portuguese https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVAiPQLcqYe24MjDXJOs1n-fVpcuqoZGw
Via Podiensis https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVAiPQLcqYe1onsfV0Lxp8dBVv358YcpX

 

[Tara Marlow]

For a different twist, I have written a women’s FICTION novel, set on the Camino Francés, called Camino Wandering. It’s about three women (and their expanded Camino family), discovering who they are and what they’re made of.

As mentioned, there are a lot of memoirs out there, so this novel gives you a look at the Camino experience through fictional characters.

Reviews from people who’ve walked before, have said it’s just like walking the Camino (and how they’d love to have walked it with these characters), as well as others who have never walked it and said they’d love to experience it for themselves.

I guess people are liking it.
Out of the 113 reviews on Amazon (U.S.), it’s rated 4.4 out of 5.
On Goodreads, it’s 4.4 out of 5 with 61 ratings.

https://amzn.to/3PgOFK8

 

[Matthew_SWilson]

I agree with several who have suggested watching The Way, which is an excellent introduction. I've also recently read 'Spanish Steps' by Tim Moore, which is entertaining and offers a fair amount of the Camino's history throughout. You can get a feel of it from the following article: https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/apr/02/spain-camino-santiago-compostela-pilgrimage


Good luck going through the recommendations - there are some beauties already!

 

[Grousedoctor]

Let me suggest that one of my favorite “Camino” books is really a simple parable on the journey or the pilgrimage itself and what one might gain from it. Try Paolo Coelho’s The Alchemist. Although he has written a book more specific to the CF, I find the insights he offers in The Alchemist are possible more of what you’re looking for.

 

[David Tallan]

If you want to go the YouTube route, in addition to the bibliography that C Clearly linked to above, I've also created a list of videos. At the top of each section are my favourites in that category.

But in terms of a book, I would recommend It's About Time: A call to the Camino de Santiago by Johnnie Walker (with a forward by Joyce Rupp and a conclusion by Martin Sheen). I think it was written for just the purpose you re looking for a book to fulfill,

 

[isawtman]

I wouldn't say that The Way is based on the Jack Hitt Book. Instead, they took just a few scenes of the movie from the book. The main scene they took from the book was the Ramon Scene.

 

[JabbaPapa]

For anyone with sufficient French, I would recommend Priez pour nous à Compostelle as the best Camino book I have ever read.

In English, Pilgrim Stories by Nancy Frey.

As to Paolo Coelho, sorry, but I think his stuff is actually destructive, from an excess of the wrong manner of idealism, which is rather alien to the reality of the foot pilgrimage. And not even that well written.

 

[VNwalking]

As to Paolo Coelho, sorry, but I think his stuff is actually destructive, from an excess of the wrong manner of idealism, which is rather alien to the reality of the foot pilgrimage. And not even that well written.

No need to apologize. It's fantastical in the pejorative sense of the word - neither useful nor grounded in reality. I'm not in any way a lover of The Way, either, even though many have been inspired by it. De gustibus...

I think the article is exactly what's needed. I agree that it's best not to overwhelm a person with info and experiences

That article @C clearly cited on the other hand - just wonderful. Curious, @gml - what was the response?

 

[RJM]

For your purposes I don't recommend any of the popular books and movies about the Camino as they are purely entertainment and have no value as far as showing or describing what it's really like to walk the Camino. Some are actually pure BS and while amusing, are not reality. I suggest getting a guidebook, reading that and then actually plan and walk the Camino.

 

[joeboybollo]

Awwh crumbs, I was REALLY getting into that article, thinking right on. But then along comes the phrase "belligerent German." Dang, how I wish the authors had used some other descriptor that didn't disparage any nationality. The German pilgrims I met on Camino were some of the nicest, most inclusive pilgrims of all.

Agreed,for sure.