The question was:
I think the first step in planning my Camino is to choose a route.
Can someone please recommend a book that outlines in the various routes and discusses them in detail?
Read this conversation on books on the Camino de Santiago here.
The question was:
I have read over 13 personal accounts and spiritual books now on the Camino. I want to continue on but want to be a little more selective on what I choose to read. So I wanted to get everyone’s top five books that they have read and then I will post a poll to let everyone vote on which ones are the most popular. these are the ones I have read so far:
-Walk in a Relaxed Manner: Life Lessons from the Camino
-Roads to Santiago
-My Father, My Daughter: Pilgrims on the Road to Santiago
-Camino Chronicle: Walking to Santiago
-The Journey: A Guide For The Modern Pilgrim
-Pilgrim Stories: On and Off the Road to Santiago, Journeys Along an Ancient Way in Modern Spain
-El Camino: Walking to Santiago De Compostela
-The Pilgrimage to Santiago (Lost and Found Series)
-The Pilgrim’s Guide to Santiago De Compostela
-The Pilgrimage Road to Santiago: The Complete Cultural Handbook
-El Camino De Santiago: Rites of PassageWhat others are on your top five list?
Read the interesting lists of Camino de Santiago books (non-guidebooks) in english.
The question was:
I am interested in what people were reading while they we walking. Reading books about the Camino is important before and after, but the books are heavy and once absorbed, provide a context for an experience.
I have walked twice – once ten years ago on the Camino Frances and most recently, this fall on the Le Puy route.
For my first walk, I brought along the Lliad – and didn’t read a bit of it. I was thinking about a classic “journey” book but I realized I was being way too earnest and it simply did not resonate.
In the fall, I brought another book, which I cannot even remember and I think I shipped it home with my initial round of weight shedding.
During the walk, I picked up an Islandic dectective novel translated into french and read that. It was in fact the first book I have read “en francais” for pleasure and has been transformative, in a way since I am now much more likely to read other books in french – but nothing too earnest.
During my walk, I thought more about what would be a good book to read while walking the Camino. My proposal then and now is “Shamrock Tea” written by Irish author Ciarran Carson. The book is an imaginary journey that touches on colours, paintings, saints, Whittgenstein, Irish folklore and other fantastic references. It defies categorization – part memoire, part novel, part folktale and part sorcery. This swill of images fits since we are all engaging in an experience that is outside our comfort zone; hence it complements the reflection and transitions that occur during the walk.
While I was walking, I heard that an Irish pilgrim was talking about this book to others but, he was generally a a couple of days ahead of me. In fact, we met briefly at Conques but did not have much time to have an extended conversation.
What were you reading (or intend to read) on your Camino and why?
Read the good discussion on what book to bring with you on the Camino de Santiago here.
The question was:
Sadly, my wife and I left our guidebook back in the States. Doh.
We were hoping to find out which guidebooks can be found in SJPP. We had the Brierley book and haven’t had much luck finding it in Barcelona. We’d love to rebuy that one.
Red all the good advice on buying a guidebook in Saint Jean Pied de Port in the forum.
The question was:
I wish I could take this forum with me on the Camino, however…I don’t have a long enough electrical extension cord for my computer . Can I get a recommendation for a the “best” guide book that I should carry on the camino?
Read all the good advice on the Best Guidebook for the Camino Frances here.
