My Top 5 camino books

[mark stevens]

I’ve read and posted about my Top 5 books about the Camino to Santiago and even featured in a blog from one of the authors Bradley Chermside who runs the Camino de Santiago Pilgrims Podcast. Have a listen.

Here’s the Top 5 link

I’m also reading and reviewing an old Camino book , written in 1987, called a Hug for the Apostle. The differences to the Camino then and now are staggering.

I’m back on the Camino Frances in 35 days. Cannot wait

 

[mspath]

mark stevens,

To experience the difference 100 years makes read some of the early 20th c descriptions by Georgina Goddard King and published c1920. Begin to research her and her Spanish journeys in this earlier Forum thread.

The times indeed have changed!!

Carpe diem.

 

[mark stevens]

mark stevens,

To experience the difference 100 years makes read some of the early 20th c descriptions by Georgina Goddard King and published c1920. Begin to research her and her Spanish journeys in this earlier Forum thread.

The times indeed have changed!!

Carpe diem.

I will indeed

 

[MesaWalker]

I’ve read and posted about my Top 5 books about the Camino to Santiago and even featured in a blog from one of the authors Bradley Chermside who runs the Camino de Santiago Pilgrims Podcast. Have a listen.

Here’s the Top 5 link

I’m also reading and reviewing an old Camino book , written in 1987, called a Hug for the Apostle. The differences to the Camino then and now are staggering.

I’m back on the Camino Frances in 35 days. Cannot wait

Have you read A Pilgrimage to Eternity by Timothy Egan? It's about the Via Francigena, so not a Camino de Santiago book, but a wonderful book nonetheless.

 

[mark stevens]

Have you read A Pilgrimage to Eternity by Timothy Egan? It's about the Via Francigena, so not a Camino de Santiago book, but a wonderful book nonetheless.

The VF isn’t on my bucket list for 2024. Have read and watch loads of programmes about it and really cannot wait to walk it.

 

[Anthony Rocco]

I’ve read and posted about my Top 5 books about the Camino to Santiago and even featured in a blog from one of the authors Bradley Chermside who runs the Camino de Santiago Pilgrims Podcast. Have a listen.

Here’s the Top 5 link

I’m also reading and reviewing an old Camino book , written in 1987, called a Hug for the Apostle. The differences to the Camino then and now are staggering.

I’m back on the Camino Frances in 35 days. Cannot wait

There are so many books about the camino. There is something for everyone. One that has deeply touched me that is not one usually mentioned is "Roads to Santiago" by the Dutch author Cees Nooteboom. This is a love story to the camino with the following sentence that opened the book one that pulled me in, touching me profoundly : "It is impossible to prove and yet I believe it: there are some places in the world where one is mysteriously magnified on arrival or departure by the emotions of all those who have arrived and departed before." He captured so well what we feel when we are taking our first step and (always regrettably) our last. It is a swirl of emotions that no doubt is shared with millions of others who walked over the centuries.

 

[makingtrax]

There are so many books about the camino. There is something for everyone. One that has deeply touched me that is not one usually mentioned is "Roads to Santiago" by the Dutch author Cees Nooteboom. This is a love story to the camino with the following sentence that opened the book one that pulled me in, touching me profoundly : "It is impossible to prove and yet I believe it: there are some places in the world where one is mysteriously magnified on arrival or departure by the emotions of all those who have arrived and departed before." He captured so well what we feel when we are taking our first step and (always regrettably) our last. It is a swirl of emotions that no doubt is shared with millions of others who walked over the centuries.

My favorite is A Pilgrim Snail. Written many years ago by a youg english lad who walked from his home in morthern england to Santiago carrying a slide trombone. He bussked outside churchs to raise funds for cystic fibrosis from which his girlfriend had died from. Took him 9 months to walk and he climbed Pyrenees from Med coast thru to SJPDP. In middle of winter. Have forgotten his name unfortunately.

 

[StephenT]

Google tells us - Ben NIMMO (2001) - seemingly available on Amazon (and doubtless elsewhere as well)
Buen camino
Stephen

 

[Anamiri]

On a lighter note, Ive just bought and read 'Two Steps Forward' three times in 3 days, lent it to 2 friends who both read it cover to cover in a day each.
Its a novel, a loose love story, based on their Camino experiences walking from Cluny in France to Santiago and then following the Norte route.
It is a 2017 novel by Australian husband and wife novelists Graeme Simsion and Anne Buist.

Ive read others which are more philosophical/spiritual, but sometimes nice light reading just fits the bill. Although it was based on their unfortunate personal experiences prior to walking the Camino - there are many parts where the writing mirrors the Camino experience so much - it covers the whole gamut of emotions and experiences.
I think its best read after you've walked a Camino.
I'm not normally a Camino book reader but I think after not being able to walk for 3 years I'm yearning to read about the Camino experience.
I also enjoyed "Don Thomas's' book and A Furnace Full of God by Rebekah Scott, both of which I also devoured in a day.

 

[mark stevens]

On a lighter note, Ive just bought and read 'Two Steps Forward' three times in 3 days, lent it to 2 friends who both read it cover to cover in a day each.
Its a novel, a loose love story, based on their Camino experiences walking from Cluny in France to Santiago and then following the Norte route.
It is a 2017 novel by Australian husband and wife novelists Graeme Simsion and Anne Buist.

Ive read others which are more philosophical/spiritual, but sometimes nice light reading just fits the bill. Although it was based on their unfortunate personal experiences prior to walking the Camino - there are many parts where the writing mirrors the Camino experience so much - it covers the whole gamut of emotions and experiences.
I think its best read after you've walked a Camino.
I'm not normally a Camino book reader but I think after not being able to walk for 3 years I'm yearning to read about the Camino experience.
I also enjoyed "Don Thomas's' book and A Furnace Full of God by Rebekah Scott, both of which I also devoured in a day.

Anamiri. I’ll check that out. I’m reviewing an older book from 87 called a Hug for the Apostle for my website and the differences back then to now are amazing.

I leave for the camino Frances in 4 weeks and this book has really got me excited and ready to go. Being back in that simple life with no worries is where my heart is at….

 

[Lardyb]

My recommendation would be (and I never thought I would be uttering these words here)
Utterly Brilliant!: My Life's Journey by Timmy Mallet. those from the UK will know who the writer is and I was as shocked as you probably are knowing he cycled to Santiago from Winchester and they wrote the book about it and how he did it in memory of his brother who died just days before he left.
He is currently riding the coastline of the UK painting as he goes.

 

[mark stevens]

My recommendation would be (and I never thought I would be uttering these words here)
Utterly Brilliant!: My Life's Journey by Timmy Mallet. those from the UK will know who the writer is and I was as shocked as you probably are knowing he cycled to Santiago from Winchester and they wrote the book about it and how he did it in memory of his brother who died just days before he left.
He is currently riding the coastline of the UK painting as he goes.

Timmy mallet. Now there’s a name. I’ll have to look this one up. Thanks for the recommendation lardyb. Cheers mark

 

[mark stevens]

Have you read A Pilgrimage to Eternity by Timothy Egan? It's about the Via Francigena, so not a Camino de Santiago book, but a wonderful book nonetheless.

The VF is on my bucket list

 

[antoniu]

Thank you for the link with books!

 

[mark stevens]

Thank you for the link with books!

Your welcome

 

[mark stevens]

I’ve done multiple caminos before but only had 9 days this year so had to walk my favourite section of the Camino Frances between St Jean and Santa Domingo de la Calzada. It’s a fabulous section from France into Spain covering mountains and then the flat lands as the trail gets closer to Burgos.

I’ve detailed me recommendations on Albergues I’ve stayed in as well as other tips and recommendations along the way.

If you only have a short period of time you may want to consider these stages when walking the Camino Frances.

Camino de Santiago | Follow the Yellow Shell

Follow the Yellow Shell is a guide to the Camino de Santiago to help you research, plan and prepare for walking the routes to Santiago de Compostela.

followtheyellowshell.com

 

[Rebekah Scott]

"the fly lands?" What does that mean?

 

[DoughnutANZ]

"the fly lands?" What does that mean?

Autocorrect

 

[Thornley]

I’ve done multiple caminos before but only had 9 days this year so had to walk my favourite section of the Camino Frances between St Jean and Santa Domingo de la Calzada. It’s a fabulous section from France into Spain covering mountains and then the fly lands as the trail gets closer to Burgos.

I’ve detailed me recommendations on Albergues I’ve stayed in as well as other tips and recommendations along the way.

If you only have a short period of time you may want to consider these stages when walking the Camino Frances.

Camino de Santiago | Follow the Yellow Shell

Follow the Yellow Shell is a guide to the Camino de Santiago to help you research, plan and prepare for walking the routes to Santiago de Compostela.

followtheyellowshell.com

Nearly right.
If we were in your company we might have convinced you to consider Logrono @ night , it's he place to really relax and watch locals and pilgrims in a large city , smaller than Pamplona .
We rate it above all and equal to 70% of San Sebastian.
Late at night , flying tomorrow , will continue the 9 day walk tomorrow.
You selected a wonderful place to stop.

 

[mark stevens]

Nearly right.
If we were in your company we might have convinced you to consider Logrono @ night , it's he place to really relax and watch locals and pilgrims in a large city , smaller than Pamplona .
We rate it above all and equal to 70% of San Sebastian.
Late at night , flying tomorrow , will continue the 9 day walk tomorrow.
You selected a wonderful place to stop.

I wanted to stay in Logrono as well. Next time I’ll stay there. Good recommendation for an albergue ?

 

[mark stevens]

"the fly lands?" What does that mean?atMeant to say fly lands

"the fly lands?" What does that mean?

Meant to say flat lands approaching Burgos. I’ve updated it now

 

[frannie z]

I’ve done multiple caminos before but only had 9 days this year so had to walk my favourite section of the Camino Frances between St Jean and Santa Domingo de la Calzada. It’s a fabulous section from France into Spain covering mountains and then the flat lands as the trail gets closer to Burgos.

I’ve detailed me recommendations on Albergues I’ve stayed in as well as other tips and recommendations along the way.

If you only have a short period of time you may want to consider these stages when walking the Camino Frances.

Camino de Santiago | Follow the Yellow Shell

Follow the Yellow Shell is a guide to the Camino de Santiago to help you research, plan and prepare for walking the routes to Santiago de Compostela.

followtheyellowshell.com

Thank you Mr. Stevens for this fantastic post. I'm treking Sept. 20th with a friend to Burgos... going much slower than you but I enjoyed this post immensely full of great specific information.

 

[Thornley]

I wanted to stay in Logrono as well. Next time I’ll stay there. Good recommendation for an albergue ?

Albergues were 2008 to 12 , from then on HRH has demanded Posada plus and after 50yrs I've stopped arguing Mark.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

Oh dear. So much for the austere pilgrim experience!

 

[mark stevens]

Thank you Mr. Stevens for this fantastic post. I'm treking Sept. 20th with a friend to Burgos... going much slower than you but I enjoyed this post immensely full of great specific information.

Thanks frannie

 

[Thornley]

Oh dear. So much for the austere pilgrim experience!

You make a good point if referring to the simplistic , but you could be incorrect if referring to the harsh experience.
Damage was done when we commenced our second GR65 in Le Puy and this time finished in Muxia.
We needed privacy after the quietness of France and wished to one would say partake in the late evening meals in the larger villages etc.
She never looked back Reb.

 

[Former member 71219]

Thank you for your informative blog post, I enjoyed reading it. Very useful for those of us planning our first camino. Thanks!

 

[mark stevens]

Thank you for your informative blog post, I enjoyed reading it. Very useful for those of us planning our first camino. Thanks!

Good stuff. We’re all pilgrims and love writing about it. If you have any questions about your trip let me know. Happy to help out. Mark

 

[YvonneMP]

I’ve done multiple caminos before but only had 9 days this year so had to walk my favourite section of the Camino Frances between St Jean and Santa Domingo de la Calzada. It’s a fabulous section from France into Spain covering mountains and then the flat lands as the trail gets closer to Burgos.

I’ve detailed me recommendations on Albergues I’ve stayed in as well as other tips and recommendations along the way.

If you only have a short period of time you may want to consider these stages when walking the Camino Frances.

Camino de Santiago | Follow the Yellow Shell

Follow the Yellow Shell is a guide to the Camino de Santiago to help you research, plan and prepare for walking the routes to Santiago de Compostela.

followtheyellowshell.com

Enjoyed following your 9 day journey. Checked out some of your recommendations. Even more excited now for our Camino starting Sept 5th.

 

[mark stevens]

Enjoyed following your 9 day journey. Checked out some of your recommendations. Even more excited now for our Camino starting Sept 5th.

Thanks Yvonne. I love this section of the French way and would go all the way again but work gets in the way. Enjoy your trip and please ask any questions if needed. Buen camino. Mark

 

[mark stevens]

My favorite is A Pilgrim Snail. Written many years ago by a youg english lad who walked from his home in morthern england to Santiago carrying a slide trombone. He bussked outside churchs to raise funds for cystic fibrosis from which his girlfriend had died from. Took him 9 months to walk and he climbed Pyrenees from Med coast thru to SJPDP. In middle of winter. Have forgotten his name unfortunately.

I’ll have a search for that book. I’m from northern England so sounds interesting

 

[mark stevens]

I’ve read and posted about my Top 5 books about the Camino to Santiago and even featured in a blog from one of the authors Bradley Chermside who runs the Camino de Santiago Pilgrims Podcast. Have a listen.

Here’s the Top 5 link

I’m also reading and reviewing an old Camino book , written in 1987, called a Hug for the Apostle. The differences to the Camino then and now are staggering.

I’m back on the Camino Frances in 35 days. Cannot wait

Update. I read a hug for the apostle and it’s an amazing book. The Camino has really changed since the last 70s, that for sure.

I also got back from my camino doing my favourite trip on the camino Frances.

 

[OTH86]

Great Westward Walk: From the Front Door to the End of the Earth by Antxon González Gabarain "Bolitx" - Translated from Spanish (El Gran Caminante) by @Rebekah Scott. A wonderful book!

 

[mark stevens]

Great Westward Walk: From the Front Door to the End of the Earth by Antxon González Gabarain "Bolitx" - Translated from Spanish (El Gran Caminante) by @Rebekah Scott. A wonderful book!

Great thanks. I’ll check it out

 

[Betty Bauer]

I wanted to chirp in and say the Hug for the Apostle book really is quite good! I found two copies in our church's gift shop a few years ago, and aside from the comparisons between then and now, I really like the way the route is documented, esp. since the author started in France.

 

[mark stevens]

I wanted to chirp in and say the Hug for the Apostle book really is quite good! I found two copies in our church's gift shop a few years ago, and aside from the comparisons between then and now, I really like the way the route is documented, esp. since the author started in France.

Betty. I loved this book. Amazing to read about the changes from just a few years ago. Mark@ followtheyellowshell.com