Fiction to read while on the Camino?

[RebeccaL]

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!)

 

[Bradypus]

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.

 

[J Willhaus]

Do you read Spanish or are you trying to learn Spanish? There is a series of books about a teenage girl who wins a trip to Spain and walks the Camino called Buen Camino. They are in Spanish and designed to help you learn more Spanish.

https://www.amazon.com/%C2%A1Buen-camino-listening-language-adventure/dp/1496134176?tag=casaivar02-20

There a couple of books by Rebekah Scott that I like. One fiction is called
The Moorish Whore

Amazon.com: The Moorish Whore eBook : Scott, Rebekah: Kindle Store

Amazon.com: The Moorish Whore eBook : Scott, Rebekah: Kindle Store

www.amazon.com

Rebekah's memoir about moving to Spain and living on the Camino is called A Furnace Full of God. It is an excellent book.

https://www.amazon.com/Furnace-Full-God-Camino-Santiago-ebook/dp/B082SK88LD/?tag=casaivar02-20

She also translated The Great Westward Walk. Which is about a Basque man who walked the Camino from his home. Not fiction, but very colorful and interesting to read.

https://www.amazon.com/Great-Westward-Walk-Front-Earth/dp/8461792874/?tag=casaivar02-20

 

[Tincatinker]

I’m an avid reader. I think the current stack at my bedside runs to some 14 volumes (I’m in the pub so can’t actually count ‘em at the minute). I figured I’d read myself to sleep on my first Camino. I took Brennan’s South from Granada; Nick Crane’s Clear Waters Rising and a couple of Dervla Murphy’s selected at random. Scarcely read a page. Ever. Too much else to observe and absorb.

If you’re into Magical Realism try a couple of guidebooks or a few Camino blogs

 

[Copper Image]

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.

 

[RebeccaL]

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.

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!

 

[MesaWalker]

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.

 

[dick bird]

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.

 

[SeñorJacques]

It's perhaps an obvious suggestion, but I read Paulo Coehlo's "The Alchemist" on my own walk last year – that is, on those rare nights I actually had any energy to read for a bit instead of dropping right off to sleep — and "The Pilgrimage" after I got home. Both are definitely in keeping with the Camino mindset, and Coehlo's brand of magical realist is conducive to reflection, meditation, and imagination ... all things I value in my bedtime reading. (Short chapters are a plus too.)

 

[jungleboy]

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.

There are also three sequels, which I read on my first camino (having already read the first one).

 

[Anamiri]

​

Travels with my donkey - One man and his ass on a pilgrimage - Tim Moore
Not fiction but laugh out loud funny.

 

[Kiwi-family]

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

 

[SioCamino]

I read Don Quixote (on a kindle!) while i was walking the VDLP and really enjoyed it. It's very funny and it felt apt to be reading it while in the Spanish heartlands. Great book.

I loved the Great Westward Walk too and reread on a recent camino.

 

[lettinggo]

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!)

Hola

Good suggestions here.

Although it is not a fictional book, I was given a book last year that I brought on my Camino and it was "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle.

I found it to be relevant for walking the Camino as I feel that when I walk I am more in The Now than I am when I am back home - sadly
Still got some things to work on in my life.

Buen Camino
Lettinggo

 

[Tony Lenton]

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.

I agree with that. But Don Quixote by Cervantes is also a great book, though rather longer. It is also very funny.

 

[Teddie]

I know you asked for fiction,
and this may set off a fire storm
but consider The Bible.

 

[lequimper]

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 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.

 

[Desert Bruce]

I listened to Cider with Rosie’ several years ago. I am delighted to learn that there are sequels and doubly delighted that next one takes place in Spain. I hurried right over to Amazon and bought the Kindle version to read while I am walking the Sanabrés in April.
Thanks to everyone! Your recommendations will keep me mentally on the Camino for many months.
A fun book about the Camino is Esther Jantzen's 'Walk'.
Buen Camino!

 

[Jaime Carrollo]

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

I would suggest Micheners book before you go.

 

[isawtman]

I was too pooped to read anything

 

[kaesler]

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!)

Wonderful novel, "The Cypresses Believe in God", set around the beginning of the Spanish Civil War

https://www.amazon.com/Cypresses-Believe-God-One/dp/1952826403?tag=casaivar02-20

 

[BillW]

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. 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.

 

[RRat]

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!)

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.

 

[David61]

I 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!

 

[David61]

I 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!

Oh, and the funniest werewolf ever

 

[David61]

I 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, Wisconsin

 

[Tara Marlow]

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!

 

[Tara Marlow]

I have one for you. It’s a fiction set on the Camino Francés called ‘Camino Wandering’. It’s available in eBook. Buen Camino!

https://www.amazon.com/Camino-Wandering-Tara-Marlow-ebook/dp/B08P937DNH/?tag=casaivar02-20

 

[Matthew_SWilson]

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. 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.

I just listened to that podcast too and have added to my TBR pile. Glad to hear you enjoyed it

 

[oursonpolaire]

I know you asked for fiction,
and this may set off a fire storm
but consider The Bible.

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.

 

[Bradypus]

Paul Coelho's and Shirley Maclaine's works also formed a notable pile.

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.

 

[oursonpolaire]

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.

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....

 

[christy wharton]

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.

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.

 

[CarolamS]

I enjoyed the novel Two Steps Forward by Graeme Simsion and Anne Buist. From the Amazon website:
In this smart, funny and romantic journey, Martin's and Zoe's stories are told in alternating chapters by husband-and-wife team Graeme Simsion and Anne Buist. Two Steps Forward is a novel about renewal - physical, psychological and spiritual. It's about the challenge of walking a long distance and of working out where you are going. And it's about what you decide to keep, what you choose to leave behind and what you rediscover along the way.
(They set off for SdeC from Cluny in France.)

 

[good_old_shoes]

I usually don't read anything apart from guide books when I'm on Caminos, even though I love literature. I sometimes recite poetry while walking, and do like to read on the bus when travelling home, though.

One exception was made last year. Found that book in a book shelf on a campsite in France where I was stuck for several days in a heat wave with a bad injury, almost bored to death because I couldn't walk.

I was so happy to have some distraction!

It's set during the spanish civil war.

 

[Former member 92300]

I find it fascinating when I see someone reading on the Camino. I can't even sit through a paragraph or two in the guidebook. Either too busy being in the "present" or too tired to read. Sounds like you have some good suggestions though!

 

[David Tallan]

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!)

Here 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

 

[Purple Backpack]

Lord of the Rings. “It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.”

 

[LavanyaLea]

I just listened to that podcast too and have added to my TBR pile. Glad to hear you enjoyed it

Also not forgetting Matthew S Wilson's very own "Once Upon a Camino"!

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.

Looks like the 3rd one of the trilogy was recently released hence the podcast etc. The 2nd and 3rd books are available on kindle unlimited, which I subscribe to, but the 1st book is not (!) so I'm now contemplating if I should start from the beginning or check out the 2nd and 3rd first...

PS: internet is down, after hours trying to unsuccessfully reset/contact customer service, it's now announced on the BBC that my ISP is having problems nationwide >.< so time to read a book!

 

[BillW]

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

Do you maintain a non-fiction list too?

 

[David Tallan]

Do you maintain a non-fiction list too?

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.

 

[Matthew_SWilson]

I also just found “Candyfloss Guitar” (Book 1 of the series) on Apple Books. It’s a quick read and very enjoyable.

Also not forgetting Matthew S Wilson's very own
"Once Upon a Camino"!

And thanks for reading I hope the internet is back up and running!

 

[whiteblaze]

Looking forward to finding a book along the way. I love the idea of a surprise find.

 

[Bradypus]

Looking forward to finding a book along the way. I love the idea of a surprise find.

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!

 

[peterhore]

Here 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

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

 

[Ashertelaviv]

Oh my God. I love this thread So many ideas of good books to read before and during my next Camino in 2024. Thank you all

 

[David Tallan]

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

Was it a fiction book or non-fiction/memoir?

 

[CarolamS]

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 with new Kit!]

I've never had time on my Caminos but at the moment I'm reading Winter in Madrid by CJ Sansom set just after the Spanish civil war

 

[peterhore]

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.

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

 

[CarolamS]

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

In the second book he does set off from his door in Belgium.

 

[Desert Bruce]

So many great recommendations. I just added “Candyfloss Guitar” as an audio book. I usually have several books to listen to while walking, but rarely finish them on a Camino, there are just too many other pilgrims to get to know.

 

[peterhore]

In the second book he does set off from his door in Belgium.

Thanks - an rereading Codd now - I had forgotten how good he is