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That is exactly the sort of thing I am looking for — something that will increase my understanding and appreciation for Spain as well as for walking in general. Thank you!While I was on the Camino last year I came across a paperback copy of Laurie Lee’s As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning. It was left in a book pile in an albergue in León, with a note inside from the pilgrim who had finished reading it. I picked it up and finally dropped it off at an albergue just outside of Sarria. Anyhow. The author is a British man, it was published in 1969 Google tells me, but it is the author’s story of his walk through Spain just before and at the outbreak of the Spanish Civil war. He’s walking about Spain but not the Camino. It’s a fascinating portrait of a time, of a moment, of Spanish rural poverty in the 1930s. It’s also at times a glimpse into the unexamined and normalized misogyny of a male traveller of the time. Not a book I’ve needed to run out and buy because I want my own copy, but I found it a particularly interesting read as a 21st century female walker in Spain on the Camino.
It also describes how he busked his way to London from a remote English village. Not sure about the mysogyny, unless you include every other male writer including contemporary ones. It had a huge impact on me at 19 yrs old and probably sowed the seed for my Camino walking. I read the original version, published in Franco’s lifetime. I recently read the second version which includes fascinating detail of the outbreak of the Civil War, omitted from the first to protect the lives and identities of protagonists Lee knew. His earlier autobiographical work ‘Cider with Rosie’ was a standard text in British schools, maybe still is. As I Walked out is a great book.While I was on the Camino last year I came across a paperback copy of Laurie Lee’s As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning. It was left in a book pile in an albergue in León, with a note inside from the pilgrim who had finished reading it. I picked it up and finally dropped it off at an albergue just outside of Sarria. Anyhow. The author is a British man, it was published in 1969 Google tells me, but it is the author’s story of his walk through Spain just before and at the outbreak of the Spanish Civil war. He’s walking about Spain but not the Camino. It’s a fascinating portrait of a time, of a moment, of Spanish rural poverty in the 1930s. It’s also at times a glimpse into the unexamined and normalized misogyny of a male traveller of the time. Not a book I’ve needed to run out and buy because I want my own copy, but I found it a particularly interesting read as a 21st century female walker in Spain on the Camino.
There are also three sequels, which I read on my first camino (having already read the first one).The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon is a very engaging novel set in Barcelona. It gives a sense of Spanish culture. The novel falls in the Gothic novel genre. It's excellent.
HolaHi, I am preparing to walk my first Camino in April. I often like to read a bit of fiction before I go to sleep, and I am wondering if anyone has any recommendations for novels that will keep ones’s mind in the Camino mindset. Any fiction that touches on the Camino or Spanish history, and is uplifting rather than depressing, would be great! Definitely not anything dystopian or violent or post-apocalyptic. (Of course I will be reading on my phone or Kindle — I am not bringing any physical books!)
I agree with that. But Don Quixote by Cervantes is also a great book, though rather longer. It is also very funny.Graham Greene's Monsignor Quixote. Short and often laugh-out-loud funny but with some very serious passages. Lots of little diversions into aspects of Spanish history and Catholic theology but done with a beautifully light touch. Set a few years after the death of Franco.
It is a really interesting book which appears to capture Spain in the mid-20th century. The author, Laurie Lee, was born and spent most of his life near where I live in rural Gloucestershire, England. I once met him in the early 1990’s in his favourite pub in his home village of Slad -The Woolpack. He must have been around 80 years old. He had his very own seat in the corner overlooking the beautiful valley. His most famous book, Cider with Rosie, is a lyrical portrayal of growing up I the countryside in England a century ago.While I was on the Camino last year I came across a paperback copy of Laurie Lee’s As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning. It was left in a book pile in an albergue in León, with a note inside from the pilgrim who had finished reading it. I picked it up and finally dropped it off at an albergue just outside of Sarria. Anyhow. The author is a British man, it was published in 1969 Google tells me, but it is the author’s story of his walk through Spain just before and at the outbreak of the Spanish Civil war. He’s walking about Spain but not the Camino. It’s a fascinating portrait of a time, of a moment, of Spanish rural poverty in the 1930s. It’s also at times a glimpse into the unexamined and normalized misogyny of a male traveller of the time. Not a book I’ve needed to run out and buy because I want my own copy, but I found it a particularly interesting read as a 21st century female walker in Spain on the Camino.
I would suggest Micheners book before you go.Like Tincatinker, I'm a voracious reader, and while I take books on my phone whenever I travel, I have come to accept that I do not read so much when I'm not at home (I do much more writing instead).
But how about....
Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes
Iberia by James Michener
Wonderful novel, "The Cypresses Believe in God", set around the beginning of the Spanish Civil WarHi, I am preparing to walk my first Camino in April. I often like to read a bit of fiction before I go to sleep, and I am wondering if anyone has any recommendations for novels that will keep ones’s mind in the Camino mindset. Any fiction that touches on the Camino or Spanish history, and is uplifting rather than depressing, would be great! Definitely not anything dystopian or violent or post-apocalyptic. (Of course I will be reading on my phone or Kindle — I am not bringing any physical books!)
No time to read. Too much walking. Too much socializing. Shower, laundry. Afternoon nap. Glass of wine with new friends. Dinner with friends. Planning next day. Early to bed.Hi, I am preparing to walk my first Camino in April. I often like to read a bit of fiction before I go to sleep, and I am wondering if anyone has any recommendations for novels that will keep ones’s mind in the Camino mindset. Any fiction that touches on the Camino or Spanish history, and is uplifting rather than depressing, would be great! Definitely not anything dystopian or violent or post-apocalyptic. (Of course I will be reading on my phone or Kindle — I am not bringing any physical books!)
Oh, and the funniest werewolf everI can highly recommend The Realm of false Gods for Kindle (10 book series). Set in modern day Hamburg, New York, Rochester UK among various places. It is about angels and demons and humans who can do magic and no it is definitely not Harry Potter!
Also Chippewa Falls, WisconsinI can highly recommend The Realm of false Gods for Kindle (10 book series). Set in modern day Hamburg, New York, Rochester UK among various places. It is about angels and demons and humans who can do magic and no it is definitely not Harry Potter!
Hi, I am preparing to walk my first Camino in April. I often like to read a bit of fiction before I go to sleep, and I am wondering if anyone has any recommendations for novels that will keep ones’s mind in the Camino mindset. Any fiction that touches on the Camino or Spanish history, and is uplifting rather than depressing, would be great! Definitely not anything dystopian or violent or post-apocalyptic. (Of course I will be reading on my phone or Kindle — I am not bringing any physical books!)
I have one for you. It’s a fiction set on the Camino Francés called ‘Camino Wandering’. It’s available in eBook.Buen Camino!
I just listened to that podcast too and have added to my TBR pile. Glad to hear you enjoyed itI recently heard an interview with Stephen R Marriott on Dan Mullin's "My Camino" podcast. Stephen has written three books in the "Reluctant Pilgrim" series. These are fictional stories about a Spanish guitarist who walks several pilgrimages around Spain.
The first one is a novella that takes place on the Camino Frances. I just listened to it in Audible, and I thought it was pretty good. I'm starting the second one now.
When I first walked the Camino Francese twenty years ago, I noted that in the albergues in the first week ouit of Roncesvalles, there were stacks of Bibles in a variety of languages. Apparently many pilgrims (in those days, at least) began walking with the intent of reading scripture, but found that they were not prepared to carry the weight (and some of them were very heavy editions). Paul Coelho's and Shirley Maclaine's works also formed a notable pile.I know you asked for fiction,
and this may set off a fire storm
but consider The Bible.
I've often thought so!Paul Coelho's and Shirley Maclaine's works also formed a notable pile.
For my own part, I carried one of the Oxford Classics Trollope novels. They were written to provide serial chapters, each entire in its own right, much like episodes of a television series. I found a chapter or two of Barchester Towers or The Warden, would do much to set me to a sleep--- I warn readers that too much orujo brings one unpleasant if singular dreams of Mrs Proudie....I've often thought so!Fortunately @RebeccaL says she will be taking a Kindle and so weight and bulk are not an issue. Pressing "Delete" might not be as satisfying as chucking a paper copy across the room though.
The story in this book is reprised in a super BBC documentary where they revisit the and compare in pictures and video 50+ years later with his original journey through Spain . It is part of a super trilogy on his life. He was England's poet laureate for some years..look it up on BBC archives. Brilliant. Cider with Rosie was his first book.While I was on the Camino last year I came across a paperback copy of Laurie Lee’s As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning. It was left in a book pile in an albergue in León, with a note inside from the pilgrim who had finished reading it. I picked it up and finally dropped it off at an albergue just outside of Sarria. Anyhow. The author is a British man, it was published in 1969 Google tells me, but it is the author’s story of his walk through Spain just before and at the outbreak of the Spanish Civil war. He’s walking about Spain but not the Camino. It’s a fascinating portrait of a time, of a moment, of Spanish rural poverty in the 1930s. It’s also at times a glimpse into the unexamined and normalized misogyny of a male traveller of the time. Not a book I’ve needed to run out and buy because I want my own copy, but I found it a particularly interesting read as a 21st century female walker in Spain on the Camino.
Here are several from the bibliography I maintain:Hi, I am preparing to walk my first Camino in April. I often like to read a bit of fiction before I go to sleep, and I am wondering if anyone has any recommendations for novels that will keep ones’s mind in the Camino mindset. Any fiction that touches on the Camino or Spanish history, and is uplifting rather than depressing, would be great! Definitely not anything dystopian or violent or post-apocalyptic. (Of course I will be reading on my phone or Kindle — I am not bringing any physical books!)
Aviva, Elyn | The journey: a novel of pilgrimage and spiritual quest | Pilgrims' Process | 2004 | 978-0974959702 | Fiction | |
Barrera, Jeffery | Pilgrim possum | 2018 | 978-1985197763 | Fiction | Children's book | |
Caird, A.N | Merchant's list | 2018 | 978-1724725707 | Fiction | ||
Callery, Terence | The first pilgrim: on the Camino de Santiago | 2020 | 979-8554771286 | Fiction | ||
Cashman, Maureen | The Roland Medals | 2021 | 978-1922389442 | Fiction | ||
Coelho, Paulo | The pilgrimage | Thorsons (HarperCollins) | 2015 | 978-0-00-721470-9 | Fiction | |
Cowles, Ashlee | Beneath wandering stars | Merit Press | 2016 | 9781440595820 | Fiction | Young Adult |
Craig, Kevin | The Camino Club | Duet Books | 2020 | 978-1945053979 | Fiction | Young Adult |
Gevers, Reino | Walking on edge: a pilgrimage to Santiago | PowerBodyMind | 2018 | 978-0692166864 | Fiction | |
Howell, Mary J. | Murielle's Angel | Cinnamon Press | 2013 | 978-1907090837 | Fiction | |
Jantzen, Esther | WALK: Jamie Bacon's Secret Mission on the Camino de Santiago | JantzenBooks | 2020 | 978-1733543910 | Fiction | Children's Book |
Kolosov, Jacqueline | Along the way: three friends, 33 days, and one unforgettable journey on the Camino de Santiago | Luminis Books | 2015 | 978-1941311486 | Fiction | Young adult book |
Llewellyn, Joy | Camino Maggie | Tamarack Journey Publishing | 2019 | 978-1999276805 | Fiction | Young adult book |
Marlow, Tara | Camino Wandering | Wildlight Publishing | 2020 | 978-0645039009 | Fiction | |
Nelson, Howard | Trust and Tears: Poems of Pilgrimage | 1997 | 978-0-9532383-0-9 | Fiction | Poetry | |
Nilsen, Sylvia | Pilgrim footprints on the sands of time | Eurl Pilgrimage Pub | 2013 | 978-2917183342 | Fiction | |
Simsion, Graeme and Anne Buist | Two steps forward: a novel | HarperAvenue | 2018 | 978-1443455633 | Fiction | |
Skillen, Brian John | The way: through a field of stars | 1881 Productions | 2020 | 978-1735303611 | Fiction | |
Skvirski, Elena | Camino mysteries | 2020 | 978-1641842761 | Fiction | ||
Welburn, Ruth | Bedbug's big adventure: the Way of Saint James | Fiction | Children's book | |||
Westlin, M.J. | The lady, the cat and the wolf boy: pilgrims on the way to Santiago de Compostela | 2014 | Fiction |
Also not forgetting Matthew S Wilson's very own "Once Upon a Camino"!I just listened to that podcast too and have added to my TBR pile. Glad to hear you enjoyed it
I recently heard an interview with Stephen R Marriott on Dan Mullin's "My Camino" podcast. Stephen has written three books in the "Reluctant Pilgrim" series.
Do you maintain a non-fiction list too?Here are several from the bibliography I maintain:
Cowles, Ashlee Beneath wandering stars Merit Press 2016 9781440595820 Fiction Young Adult Welburn, Ruth Bedbug's big adventure: the Way of Saint James Fiction Children's book
If you click on the linked word "bibliography" you will see the complete list. Most of it is non-fiction memoirs, but there are some other non-fiction titles, too.Do you maintain a non-fiction list too?
And thanks for readingAlso not forgetting Matthew S Wilson's very own
"Once Upon a Camino"!
Years ago in India I picked up a book by Vikram Seth from the shelf in a church guest house. I was a few pages in when he started to describe a slightly eccentric friend. I laughed out loud when I realised I knew the man - the son of a good friend of mine!Looking forward to finding a book along the way. I love the idea of a surprise find.
DavidHere are several from the bibliography I maintain:
Aviva, Elyn The journey: a novel of pilgrimage and spiritual quest Pilgrims' Process 2004 978-0974959702 Fiction Barrera, Jeffery Pilgrim possum 2018 978-1985197763 Fiction Children's book Caird, A.N Merchant's list 2018 978-1724725707 Fiction Callery, Terence The first pilgrim: on the Camino de Santiago 2020 979-8554771286 Fiction Cashman, Maureen The Roland Medals 2021 978-1922389442 Fiction Coelho, Paulo The pilgrimage Thorsons (HarperCollins) 2015 978-0-00-721470-9 Fiction Cowles, Ashlee Beneath wandering stars Merit Press 2016 9781440595820 Fiction Young Adult Craig, Kevin The Camino Club Duet Books 2020 978-1945053979 Fiction Young Adult Gevers, Reino Walking on edge: a pilgrimage to Santiago PowerBodyMind 2018 978-0692166864 Fiction Howell, Mary J. Murielle's Angel Cinnamon Press 2013 978-1907090837 Fiction Jantzen, Esther WALK: Jamie Bacon's Secret Mission on the Camino de Santiago JantzenBooks 2020 978-1733543910 Fiction Children's Book Kolosov, Jacqueline Along the way: three friends, 33 days, and one unforgettable journey on the Camino de Santiago Luminis Books 2015 978-1941311486 Fiction Young adult book Llewellyn, Joy Camino Maggie Tamarack Journey Publishing 2019 978-1999276805 Fiction Young adult book Marlow, Tara Camino Wandering Wildlight Publishing 2020 978-0645039009 Fiction Nelson, Howard Trust and Tears: Poems of Pilgrimage 1997 978-0-9532383-0-9 Fiction Poetry Nilsen, Sylvia Pilgrim footprints on the sands of time Eurl Pilgrimage Pub 2013 978-2917183342 Fiction Simsion, Graeme and Anne Buist Two steps forward: a novel HarperAvenue 2018 978-1443455633 Fiction Skillen, Brian John The way: through a field of stars 1881 Productions 2020 978-1735303611 Fiction Skvirski, Elena Camino mysteries 2020 978-1641842761 Fiction Welburn, Ruth Bedbug's big adventure: the Way of Saint James Fiction Children's book Westlin, M.J. The lady, the cat and the wolf boy: pilgrims on the way to Santiago de Compostela 2014 Fiction
Was it a fiction book or non-fiction/memoir?David
I read a book about a Catholic priest who sets out from, I think, Belgium. One of his first sagas is smuggling his new boots into the presbytery - can you help me identify that, please?
Peter
I believe you might mean Kevin A Codd 'To the Field of Stars'. His second book is 'Beyond Even the Stars' which is when he sets off from Belgium I think.David
I read a book about a Catholic priest who sets out from, I think, Belgium. One of his first sagas is smuggling his new boots into the presbytery - can you help me identify that, please?
Peter
Thank you, CarolamS. I delved into 'To the Field of Stars' today. It's not the book I'm looking for, but you have reminded me of what a good book this is. One of the best. I'll look for the second volume.I believe you might mean Kevin A Codd 'To the Field of Stars'. His second book is 'Beyond Even the Stars' which is when he sets off from Belgium I think.
In the second book he does set off from his door in Belgium.Thank you, CarolamS. I delved into 'To the Field of Stars' today. It's not the book I'm looking for, but you have reminded me of what a good book this is. One of the best. I'll look for the second volume.
Peter
Thanks - an rereading Codd now - I had forgotten how good he isIn the second book he does set off from his door in Belgium.
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