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The Spanish Camino best-seller is much more than another pilgrim diary -- it's a skillfully written, witty, and sometimes infuriating account of a Basque Spaniard's walk from his home in Zumaia down the Basque Interior Way, and onward from Sto. Domingo to Santiago. The writer was "Bolitx," beloved blogger and online commentator, whose knowledge of camino ephemera and storytelling skill I have not seen anywhere else. This book was his opus -- he died of ALS three days after completing it, at age 41.
I translated the book into English, and it's now available via Amazon and at selected retailers in Spain.
You will never know, Nuala! I got a few copies, handed over in person by his parents, to a friend who lives in Pamplona. I will re-read Rebekah's translation, and I do hope to tackle the original again. What else do we have to do, apart from stand, and stare? Yes, I know: for example, earn a living, to be able to enjoy such wonders as camino journeys. Buen Camino, Nuala. Sometime, another walk in Dublin! Maybe a coffee in Epic.I've read it a few times and bought copies for camino friends. It gets better each time I read it.
It's like meeting and getting to know someone I wouldn't have connected with on a Camino - not least because we mightn't have liked each other very much.
Ok just received it!The Great Westward Walk, by Antxon González Gabarain ("Bolitx") is a camino memoir that is different - in a number of good ways. It was published in Spanish in 2012, as El Gran Caminante, and was subsequently translated to English by our forum member @Rebekah Scott. I haven't read the book in Spanish, to compare, but the translation seems to be outstanding, in that it resulted in a book that is captivating and natural in English.
I highly recommend it, but won't say too much yet. I read it a while back and am currently reading it for a second time. It's a book that is worth reading twice, so I'll wait before commenting further.
Rebekah introduced The Great Westward Walk on an earlier thread on the forum, and did it much better than I could. She said:
The book is also available from Ivar's store.
I'm looking forward to everyone's comments!
Its sold out on Ivars store...any idea how i could get a copy in the US?The Great Westward Walk, by Antxon González Gabarain ("Bolitx") is a camino memoir that is different - in a number of good ways. It was published in Spanish in 2012, as El Gran Caminante, and was subsequently translated to English by our forum member @Rebekah Scott. I haven't read the book in Spanish, to compare, but the translation seems to be outstanding, in that it resulted in a book that is captivating and natural in English.
I highly recommend it, but won't say too much yet. I read it a while back and am currently reading it for a second time. It's a book that is worth reading twice, so I'll wait before commenting further.
Rebekah introduced The Great Westward Walk on an earlier thread on the forum, and did it much better than I could. She said:
The book is also available from Ivar's store.
I'm looking forward to everyone's comments!
There is always Amazon.com or AbeBooks. Or your friendly neighborhood local bookstore may be able to order it for you (ISBN 10: 8461792874ISBN 13: 9788461792870). Or you could get it for the Kindle, if you have one or have a KIndle app on your phone or tablet.Its sold out on Ivars store...any idea how i could get a copy in the US?
I have read this book and I can thoroughly recommend it. Some of our pilgrims trials and tribulations I can relate too. It’s available as an e-book so load it onto your iPhone or tablet and take along on your next Camino, in whatever country. CheersThe Great Westward Walk, by Antxon González Gabarain ("Bolitx") is a camino memoir that is different - in a number of good ways. It was published in Spanish in 2012, as El Gran Caminante, and was subsequently translated to English by our forum member @Rebekah Scott. I haven't read the book in Spanish, to compare, but the translation seems to be outstanding, in that it resulted in a book that is captivating and natural in English.
I highly recommend it, but won't say too much yet. I read it a while back and am currently reading it for a second time. It's a book that is worth reading twice, so I'll wait before commenting further.
Rebekah introduced The Great Westward Walk on an earlier thread on the forum, and did it much better than I could. She said:
The book is also available from Ivar's store.
I'm looking forward to everyone's comments!
You already have!Hey, guys, can I join your book club?? Please, please??!!
Ivar's store shows it sold out?The Great Westward Walk, by Antxon González Gabarain ("Bolitx") is a camino memoir that is different - in a number of good ways. It was published in Spanish in 2012, as El Gran Caminante, and was subsequently translated to English by our forum member @Rebekah Scott. I haven't read the book in Spanish, to compare, but the translation seems to be outstanding, in that it resulted in a book that is captivating and natural in English.
I highly recommend it, but won't say too much yet. I read it a while back and am currently reading it for a second time. It's a book that is worth reading twice, so I'll wait before commenting further.
Rebekah introduced The Great Westward Walk on an earlier thread on the forum, and did it much better than I could. She said:
The book is also available from Ivar's store.
I'm looking forward to everyone's comments!
I'll be posting a new thread soon, outlining plans for the next few books.Is there a schedule for the next few?
After seeing this thread yesterday I too went looking. Sadly Ivar was sold out but I was able to find it on Abebooks. I am looking forward to reading it.Its sold out on Ivars store...any idea how i could get a copy in the US?
As of a minute ago, The Book Depository shows one for sale at €20.90, free worldwide shipping.Ivar's store shows it sold out?
You are touching on something I want to comment on, but I'm still in the process of re-reading. He is suffering from blisters that affect his whole mood, but there is an underlying pessimism (which he admits) and dark cloud that hovers over him. I wonder if this is partly because of the fact that he wrote (or at least completed) the book only in the year or years that he knew he was dying.I’ll have to read it again. I remember being disturbed by something in his attitude the first time I read it - maybe a second reading will put me right!
After the first one when I realised thanks to the comments that I had done a bit too much amateur psychoanalysis on Father Codd and I have tried to avoid that on the subsequent ones (although it would have been fun to go all in on Sister Jupp).You are touching on something I want to comment on, but I'm still in the process of re-reading. He is suffering from blisters that affect his whole mood, but there is an underlying pessimism (which he admits) and dark cloud that hovers over him. I wonder if this is partly because of the fact that he wrote (or at least completed) the book only in the year or years that he knew he was dying.
The day of San Adrian's Tunnel is not how I remember it. Maybe this just illustrates that we need to listen to the author's voice and story, and not look for our own memories.
I am already thrilled and totally taken by the book .. and the dramatic destiny of his author and what he had to go through while finishing the writing , makes it so specialWay better the second time! I'll read it again just before I head off on the Frances again...whenever that may be.
Still not reached that parts !!He is from a small village isn’t it and probably not had the opportunity having travellled a lot and meet different peopleOne thing I struggled with was Bolitx's apparent discomfort with foreign pilgrims. He finds "The Viking" disgusting, the German "robots'" regimentation offensive, and the Russian couple in Triacastela are horrible beyond description. Piquant food smells especially get to him. Spanish-speaking pilgrims get a pass -- the biking brothers from Bolivia(?) are just clowns -- Bolitx is patronizing about them, not insulting.
I found his anti-Asian bias most striking. His description of a busload of Japanese tourists in Tardajos or Rabe was infuriating. I almost gave up on him then. I originally blunted some of his "ching chang chung" language in the English version, but was reminded that wasn't part of my job. Those who read the original Spanish can judge for themselves.
I love Bolitx, although we never met. But like most people I love, he has his dark aspects. In all, it is a clear view of how one generation of Spaniards views the rest of us.
I agree with this observation. I want to know what the background to this attitude is, but that's not part of the story.He seems unnecessarily hard on himself, whether physically - 40 km a day, with blizzards and blisters? No way, man, be kind to your body - or emotionally - many offers along the way for companionship and welcome, yet he obsessively rebuffs them all - or spiritually - the Coroner.
I have been slow due to other priorities - just reading this a bit every evening - but I've now finished reading for the second time. I agree with Kathy F's review. The book was difficult (as was his pilgrimage) during the earlier parts, but it gained energy and joy in the end. It still left something of a mystery, though, which might be why it is memorable.OK. I just finished reading part 3 - finished the book.
The last, very short, chapter is haunting. Clearly, this entire book was a labor of love, and a culmination of all the previous walks he had done.
This book seems very personal, but doesn't get deeply personal (to me) until the end. Perhaps he intuited that his time was limited and that is why he pushed himself so hard? I will never know.
It was good to see him finally connect with others during the last part of his journey and to let them connect with him. I think he underestimated how much he could give to and get from a relationship with other pilgrims, even for a short while.
I would recommend this book to other travelers of the Camino, but, as others have said, only to those who have walked completely at least once. Otherwise I don't think you can fully understand the turmoil he feels for most of his journey.
And the relief and peace he feels at the end.
Back into the reading ! Iwas in chapter 3 English version and gave it to a friend who was interested !I have been slow due to other priorities - just reading this a bit every evening - but I've now finished reading for the second time. I agree with Kathy F's review. The book was difficult (as was his pilgrimage) during the earlier parts, but it gained energy and joy in the end. It still left something of a mystery, though, which might be why it is memorable.
Worth reading twice.
Thanks for the additional suggestions! I have read Spanish Steps, and really enjoyed it, and so just bought A Sense of Direction, on your recommendation. I lean towards the spiritual cynic view myself, so I'm looking forward to it!Late to this party!! But the best memoir yet --in that it spoke to me; unlike and oposite of the tone of the very first Camino books I read before my 2005 walk (Maclaine and Cohelo).
But it is also a book I am glad I did not read before my first walk--I would not have had the experience to build on to relate to Boltx' experience and feelings.
To put my headspace into perspective, my previous two favorites were 'A Sense of Direction' by Gideon Lewis-Kraus and Tim Moore "Spanish Steps". I must relate to more of a spiritual cynic view than the typical travelog or memoir.
It is a great read!!!
Not at all - the door is always open and reading continues!Late to this party!!
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