A unique pilgrimage through Spain - literary travel writing near its best
346364
Cees Nooteboom (born 1933) is a Dutch novelist and travel writer.  He wrote ROADS TO SANTIAGO in 1992, after having travelled in Spain off and on over the span of forty years.  I bought the book thinking that its focus would be the Camino de Santiago de Compostela.  And, indeed, the book ends, after 330 pages, in Santiago at the Cathedral and the Plaza de las Paterias, where a priest keeps the great hand-written ledger of the pilgrims who have arrived at the end of one of the three or so most ancient and venerable religious pilgrimages of humanity.  But that Santiago is the terminal point of the book owes more, I think, to literary effect and Nooteboom's conceit that Santiago "is the true capital of Spain" than to the religious Camino de Santiago.

Instead, the book is, as indicated by the subtitle, a pilgrimage through Spain, with many diversions and musings.  The "route" crisscrosses and meanders all across the country, slipping once into Portugal and even taking a brief hop to the Canary Islands.  I doubt very much that the book is based on any one trip through Spain; rather it almost certainly is the result of several trips, one or more of which, based on internal evidence, occurred in the mid-1980's.  Nooteboom tends much more to the byways and backwaters of Spain than he does to the heavily travelled and touristed areas (indeed, there is no mention of the Mediterranean coastal areas or of Barcelona).  And, as a pilgrimage, the book is more historic and humanitarian in nature than religious, although Nooteboom is quite sensitive and attuned to the spiritual dimension of the places he visits.

Here is how Nooteboom introduces the reader to his subject:  "Spain is brutish, anarchic, egocentric, cruel.  Spain is prepared to face disaster on a whim, she is chaotic, dreamy, irrational.  Spain conquered the world and then did not know what to do with it, she harks back to her Medieval, Arab, Jewish and Christian past and sits there impassively like a continent that is appended to Europe and yet is not Europe * * *."  Nonetheless, Nooteboom clearly loves the land.

Nooteboom scatters throughout the book germane historical discussions, so that by book's end one cannot help having learned, or been reminded of, a fair amount of Spanish history.  He also includes discussions of some of Spain's greatest painters and writers, including insightful chapters on Velsquez, Zurbarn, and Cervantes (among other things, he visited the cave where Don Quixote was born - i.e., the cave where Cervantes was imprisoned when he supposedly wrote the beginning chapters of the first great novel).  He is especially fascinated by, and knowledgeable about, Romanesque architecture, and time and again he goes out of his way to visit some remote, and often locked-up, 800- or 900-year-old Romanesque church.

As a bonus, the book contains over sixty black-and-white photographs (most taken by Nooteboom's wife), which are well-coordinated with the text.  The book also includes a map of the Iberian peninsula that would have been more useful had it contained more of the places mentioned in the text.

ROADS TO SANTIAGO is literary travel writing near its best.  It is NOT, however, a travelogue or travel guide, although anyone contemplating an extended stay in Spain or a leisurely journey through the country could profit from it.  Nor is it for the impatient.  Nooteboom is inclined to philosophical or historical musings, and he is prone to taking off on some rather Borgesian flights of fancy.  A few of his fanciful conceits were perplexing or silly (like Borges), and on occasion I found the book verbose.  But on the whole ROADS TO SANTIAGO is a very informative and charming pilgrimage through Spain, on both the spatial and temporal dimensions.
4321684
I love the premise of this brilliant book by Patricia Harris: I like the person I become in Spain. The leisurely lunches, the late-night dining and the early morning dancing are far different from most of our American lives, and when in Spain, Harris lives like the locals. Spaniards considerable capacity for enjoying life is infectious, she writes.
 That ability to explore different versions of ourselves is one reason many of us hit the proverbial road. After reading Harriss marvelous essays of alluring experiences waiting in Spain, I cant wait to go there.
 Harris is notably learned, and her scholarly research highlights the countrys history in every palace, cathedral and plaza she points to. But far from stuffy, she goes way beyond the typical guidebook facts by sharing how she felt in all these places. Her senses are sharp and her pen brings to life the fragrance of orange blossoms and sizzling paella, the sights and sounds of passionate flamenco dancers, the flutter of fringe on a beautiful hand-embroidered shawl and the taste of a traditional hot chocolate in the wee hours of the morning.
 The legends behind those palaces and cathedrals  often intertwined  from Spains first power couple, El Cid and Jimena Diaz in Burgos to Segovias Isabel I who financed Christopher Columbus 1492 voyage, to Sevillas Isabel II and her sister, Maria Luisa, are filled with universal themes of love, honor, power and death. When you tour these impressive architectural achievements with Harriss stories in mind, youll have a much deeper appreciation for the people behind the facades.
 Harris shares the best places to shop for fabulous flamenco shoes, the colorful ceramics that are everywhere in Spain, and those mantones de Manila, the exquisitely crafted and unapologetically colorful hand-embroidered silk shawls of Sevilla.
 Of course, food and wine are central to enjoying Spain, and Harris spills the best places for tapas in Barcelona, the red wines of La Rioja, the sherries of Jerez de la Frontera, or even paella at the lesser known Saffron Rose Festival in Consuegra.
 She extols the hiking adventures available in Picos de Europa, the famous 425-mile-long pilgrimage trail of Camino de Santiago, to the end of the world at Cabo Fisterra. You might seek the countrys most beautiful beaches in San Sebastian on the Atlantic Coast to those along the Costa del Sol at Marbella on the Mediterranean or even the nude beaches of Costa de la Luz in Bolonia.
 Garden lovers will want to find El Retiro and the Botanical Garden in Madrid, Sevillas Park of the Princess, and Elches La Palmera, the largest palm oasis in Europe. Art lovers will want to tour museums of the homes of Picasso in Malaga, the Pilar and Joan Miro Foundation in Mallorca, and Casa Salvador Dali in the fishing village of Port Lligat.
 Organized by four major regions in Spain, Harriss book is made for crafting your own itinerary in one or two or these regions at a time. I plan first to center on La Mancha and Moorish Spain, finding ceramics in Talavera de la Reina; spending the night in one of Spains great paradors, Parador de Orepesa, which lies a bit west of Toledo and has drawn famous visitors for decades; viewing the history as well as performances of flamenco at the Museo del Baile Flamenco in Sevilla; experiencing the ancient bathing traditions of Andalucia at Aire de Sevilla; driving the twisting mountain road  a quintessential Spanish experience  in Andalucia called Ruta de los Pueblos Blancos; and visiting the Museo Carmen Thyssen in Malaga as well as El Paraje Natural Torcal de Antequera, where hills of windblown limestone seem to belong to another planet.
 Pour yourself a glass of cava  Spains answer to champagne  and peruse this marvelous compilation of many wonders in that country on the Iberian Peninsula. Its a place made for wandering, where you might discover an exciting new version of yourself. Men can come, too.
 Im excited.
487850
Insightful. Martin leads readers on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land while inviting readers to explore and deepen  their faith.
1948860
This travelogue represent a versatile book that not only offers descriptions of some masterpieces of art, but also provides their interpretation - refreshingly unorthodox for the most part. The author draws the reader in with her explanations of works of the masters, and even some modern artists, through demonstrating communion and continuity in art, confirming the Latin expression "eadem sed aliter", i.e.the same but different way. Also deserving of attention are the very pithy discussions between the aothor/guide and her companions. Finally, of great interest are some personal memories. Perusing them enables one to immerse in the sort of very proper upbringing and education that the author had received, which enables her to wtite this unusual and interesting book.
3384001
Centuries-old travelogues tend to have this archaic, dusty sort of air about them.  We can't identify with the people who wrote them because the language in no way resembles ours.  This is of course the fault of those  who translate those documents.  Then too, travellers of medieval times or  earlier tended to write about things not so much of interest today.  In THE  ADVENTURES OF IBN BATTUTA, Ross E. Dunn has successfully avoided these  problems by writing ABOUT the 14th century North African traveller, Ibn  Battuta, not just translating his book.  Ibn Battuta (1304-1368) travelled  around the civilized world of his day.  Surprisingly enough for Eurocentric  folks, the term "civilized" only included Spain at that time.  It  did, however, include most of the Islamic regions on earth, plus India and  China.  Dunn includes chapters on Tangier, North Africa,  Egypt-Syria-Palestine, Mecca, Persia and Iraq, Yemen, Oman, and East  Africa, Constantinople, Anatolia, Central Asia, India and the Maldives,  China, Spain, and Mali---across the Sahara in West Africa.  In each, he  gives a picture of the times in that particular place, what Ibn Battuta  said he saw and what he must have seen or experienced but didn't mention.  Dunn recounts many of the Moroccan's interesting adventures, from being  jailed in Delhi to trying as a judge to forbid Maldivian women going  topless in public. Dunn also places Ibn Battuta in a framework of a  hemisphere-wide Islamic civilization and as an ambitious semi-scholar who  was perhaps not so well studied as he wanted people to believe. So, not  only is this book a record of Ibn Battuta's life and voyages, it is a very  interesting commentary on a large part of the world in the 14th century and  the life story of a particular individual.  If you like history, if you are  interested in what was happening in the world beyond Europe in the days  when "knights were bold" [and illiterate], read this book.  It  comes with good maps and some black and white photographs of places that  might still look a bit like what they did in Ibn Battuta's time.
1125352
This is the best example of travel writing I have ever read. Eric Newby really describes his journey in a magical way that makes you feel as though you're there with him. He may even inspire you to record your own adventure!
2920840
Not your typical travel book. A very interesting piece about traveling through countries one typically does not travel through or hear about. The author is a journalist and went off the beaten path to relate tales of the Mid-East and Eastern European countries. Not only did he write of his adventures, but threw in a lot of geopolitical and historical antidotes as well. Very interesting.
1288892
I've walked this pilgrimage before. I've walked the trails, eaten the meals, enjoyed the views, and listened to each conversation. No, I haven't walked the Camino with my own pack, I've borrowed Rebecca's. I eagerly read the blog of her trip which she posted for us home-bound, work-bound, stay-at-homes. I know that she thought she was walking alone, but she wasn't. We were there with her.

Now, Rebecca has put even more details of her adventure into this book. Everyone who reads this will vicariously travel every day, every trail, and every challenge. You will read of beautiful vistas, delicious meals, busy streets and ancient churches. You own life will be examined as you read of Rebecca's soul search and the finding of herself.

Buy this book if you are planning to walk the Camino, or if you are walking your own personal pilgrimage. The daily travelog will keep you page turning to the end as you watch the mystery and miracles of the Camino de Santiago unfold.

Well done Rebecca!
4196002
Some people tramp the Pilgrims Way to Santiago de Compostela for spiritual reasons, some for the challenge and the history, some because they have midlife crises, but this entertaining account (though all of the preceding reasons are valid enough for the writer) is just as much concerned with the food and wine of the region. Accompanied by a good friend, meeting up with others they know along the way, the pair eat and drink their way successfully across Spain! With recipes at the end of each chapter (which are obviously tried and tested, not mere lists of ingredients and method) the reader can feel part of the pilgrimage themselves, without the sore feet and irritations of fellow travellers...
3713358
Even though Ibn Battuta over the course of his lifetime (and this book) travelled all over the muslim world, it seems as if he didn't do too much. Regardless of that, this book is a well written account of the muslim world at this time; making Battuta not so much a character but a tour guide in one of the best travel books ever. If you're looking for an exciting adventure story, this is not the book for you; but if you're looking for a relatively painless way of learning some ancient muslim history and sociology this is the book for you.
2970492
In the May 2011 edition of "Travel + Leisure," Paul Theroux noted, "As Flaubert said, when you're traveling, you realize how small you are. Dollars are helpful, but a smile is more valuable."

"You can not travel the path until before you have become the path itself. " The Buddha quoted by Mr. Theroux in the introduction.

I have been an admirer of Paul Theroux since reading "Riding the Iron Rooster" over 20 years ago. His specialty writing genres are travel and novels; however, he is one of the most gifted writers of American literature. His latest work chronicles the traveler's life through many different lenses and is autobiographical in nature. Mr. Theroux introduces many quotes and observations from his previously published works at strategic locations.

Physical Dimensions and Historic Maps

One feature that I liked was the physical dimensions of the book itself. From a distance on a shelf, the book resembles a well-worn but trusted travel journal. I believe that the book's construction and cover typography provide an excellent visual vantage point. I also liked the circa 1626 world maps contained within the front cover and correspondingly on the back of the book. It reinforced the travel theme and provided a historic reference.

Structured Organization

There are 27 chapters of differing lengths (some are two pages while others are much longer) which makes this an intriguing, educational and engaging read. It is the type of book where you might make a reference note to return at a later time. Mr. Theroux introduces each section with a preface written in his unique, captivating style. He also includes a wide array of anecdotes from an eclectic blend of authors. If you appreciate geography and history, you will receive a masterclass. The sheer volume of research (Mr. Theroux noted that he did it all himself) to produce this book is impressive. My favorite chapter was "Travel Feats."

A Who's Who of Literature

Here is a small sampling of whom you will find on your reading travels:

Sir Richard Burton, Anton Chekhov, Charles Dickens, Emily Dickinson, Sir Francis Galton, Ernest Hemingway, Henry James, Samuel Johnson, Dervla Murphy, D. H. Lawrence, T. E. Lawrence, Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Mark Twain.

Travel Wisdom Sections

The author included six sections interspersed throughout the book to highlight specific traveling feats and examples. For example, Freya Stark: "The great and almost comfort about being a woman traveler is that one can always pretend to be more stupid than one is and no one is surprised."

Rare Negative Aspect

The only negative facet of this book for me was the chapter dedicated to exotic foods. Some descriptions may be too graphic for some tastes. But given Mr. Theroux's acute attention to detail, other readers may appreciate the unique content contained in this section.

Notable Quotes

"If you are afraid of loneliness, don't travel."

"Every airplane trip is the same; every railway journey is different."

"Travel alone or with just one prepubescent child."

"Travelers, like poets, are an angry race."

"Exploration is the physical expression of the Intellectual Passion."

"Learn French and Spanish, and then some other foreign languages. And learn to say, 'Don't shoot, I'm a reporter,' in at least a dozen."

Essential Companion

"The Tao of Travel" will be a welcome companion on your next trip. Whether it be on an airplane, train, bus or merely in your mind. As Mr. Theroux keenly observed in his youth from a Good Samaritan in Palermo, Sicily: "I'll probably see you again. The world is a small place."

Please Note:

I received a complimentary review copy of this book. I was not compensated by the publisher or any other party for this review.
3015892
Paul Theroux has spent some five decades traveling around and writing about the world, often alternating between novels (e.g. The Mosquito Coast) and travel literature (e.g. The Happy Isles of Oceania). However, the only time hes written about traveling in America, to my knowledge, was in the first part of The Old Patagonian Express (1979), where he chugs from Boston to the Mexican border on his way to Central and South America. In 2012-3, properly ensconced as the godfather of travel writing (debatably the best; undeniably the most prolific), Theroux explores the southern United States, aspects of which he finds nearly as exotic and bizarre as features of India or Africa.

To start, we get a rationale and something of a literature review: summaries of American travel narratives, with praise, and a criticism of what Theroux calls the mock ordeal. Writers often groan about the agonies of traveling in the USA, even on excellent highways and in first-world conditions, so the narrator indicates hell be skipping his imagined tribulation to examine the lives of everyday people. The author wants to talk to the submerged twenty percent, folks obscured by the smallness of their southern towns, while exploring topics he finds intriguing: racism, poverty, inequality, gun culture, slavery, college football, religion, violence, identity, hospitality, and so on.

Therouxs a keen ethnographer, and perhaps because hes in an English-speaking country  his own  he does something he often doesnt do in his other travelogues: he lets plenty of people speak, so we get a spectrum of views on a wide range of topics; plus snippets of history, Pauls trademark flare for description and humour, and references to everything from psychology to anthropology  all rendered in an erudite, yet breezy and accessible style. Indeed, the writing is beautiful: crisp and fresh albeit seemingly pre-existing, as if the writer has discovered these stories etched into panels of marble and just dusted away the grit and debris so we can see what was hiding underneath. And the book does what its supposed to: takes you along for the ride. Ive read ten of Paul Therouxs travel books, and would rate Deep South as among his best.

Troy Parfitt is the author of War Torn: Adventures in the Brave New Canada
4906892
I simply loved reading this book. As an avid traveller I imagined myself on this journey and easily visualized the trip through Jennifer's strong but eloquent prose. The way she inserted spiritual passages tied her thoughts together and painted an ancient story of pilgim's and modern travellers hiking along this mystical route. This is a truly good travel book for the ages.
826689
A new voice writing in Spanish, and a translator who caught the nuances and brought this wonderful book to us in English make this an especially rewarding treat. I catalog books every day in an academic library. I see so many books, but I have a list of authors I read, and I don't usually care to embark on someone new when the book is a first novel, and the author so unknown. The reviews were mixed, but the book just drew me in.  I read it in a few nights because it captures you and won't let go. I lived in Madrid many years ago, and I visited Morocco during that time. The memories of the Civil War in Spain were fairly fresh in the years I lived there, but they were also fading into the past somewhat. Franco was in power another 15 years after my return to this country, so the upheaval and resurgence of literature about the Civil War, and quests for answers to the trials Spain underwent during the Civil War and it's aftermath have just in the last few decades surfaced and become an academic study. The Time In Between serves as a record of those years, as well as the beginning of WWII and the political machinations that went on in Spain during that time. The main character is a strong woman, who manages to take the proverbial lemons and make some lemonade, with just a twist of mint as well. Surely her rise from seamstress to couturier is a fascinating story, and one which is not beyond the pale of possibility. The characters woven so expertly through the story, of Rosalinda Fox and Juan Luis Beigbeder, being actually persons who lived in that time, and who probably were much as the author portrays them, are two fascinating people whose stories, although peripheral to our Sira, are also part and parcel of what the book is about. The ambiance, the details, the tension rising slowly until the last few chapters - all were mesmerizing elements in the story, and they caught me unaware. I am so glad to have decided to pick this one up and take it home. It would make the most fascinating film if done right. I see there is already a miniseries in Spanish.
1380303
Rick Steves' guide to Spain is an engaging read and excellent way to plan the journey. It does point out the important places to see and how many days one should devote to a certain area. For a more concentrated experience of Barcelona or Madrid, separate guides should be considered.
4951176
Wonderfull adventures around the world, very well written, great read for travellers
4705473
An exceptional book. Of the many I have read, the author best takes the reader into the Camino. Few authors have this beautiful writing, a combination of apparent simplicity, entertainment, authenticity, and insight. The depth of the true meanings of the Camino are made available to the reader.