Footsteps: A compelling, personal and inspiring journey on the Camino de Santiago

by Rich Bradwell

Before you truly understand yourself, you have to confront your past.

Setting out on the famous 500 mile walk across Spain, Rich is married, seemingly happy, but with a nagging feeling something is not right. Facing a crossroads in his life, he feels drawn to the journey and excited by the adventure, following in the footsteps of generations of travellers that have gone before.

As the miles crunch underfoot, issues that had been buried for a long time begin to surface. Rich meets other people with their own troubles and reasons for being on the Camino: from a man traumatised by the Iraq War to another whose parents struggle to accept his sexuality. These encounters start to make Rich seriously question why he is walking the Camino, and he’s forced to face up to some uncomfortable truths.

Footsteps is an honest, personal, compelling tale, and ultimately an inspiring story of redemption.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction

421 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 23, 2018

Reviews

[Mark Gannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think its time to admit that I am going nowhere with this book. It just never drew me in.

[Ben Twoonezero · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book but very inward looking, he spends a lot of time looking within himself and judging his past self and actions, as the book goes on he also does this with his friends and fellow travelers. At the end of the book he seems at first to be more content and tries to give his new perspective on life to others, but not every one agrees or shares his point of view which seems to surprise him ! He does not seem to realize his changed mind set will sit with other people quit as well. He also seems quit naive when dealing with beggars, believing they all have large families and 1 child with health problems. I would have liked more about the places and the walk, but it is a good well written book but could have been better with a broader view point.

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the book was well written, and perhaps a honest account of the authors thoughts and feeling as he walked the Camino, if I ever get the chance to be a participant in this pilgrimage I hope I don't run into someone like him. The account of his transformation from an immature, self-centered 30-something trying to decide whether he and his wife should have a child to an enlightened (by a wiser than his age 20 year old) self-appointed psychoanalyst, who felt the need to help everyone determine and fix his/her problems, made this a tiring read. While there were some changed of attitude by the author I think the subtitle, "A Journey of Redemption on the Camino de Santiago," was an overstatement. Perhaps 3 stars is too low of a rating for the quality of the writing because the book is well written, but I felt that the content was at best average so I'll leave it at that.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strong Finish

The beginning seemed like just another recounting of a Camino. However, the author finishes with strong personal insights learned along the way which makes it much more than what it initially appeared.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting writing, some big changes in the writer. Funny how he still thinks he can judge other people and tell them how to behave after his enlightening encounter with Christian. Makes me think about times in my life when I have done the same thing, learned something and then thought I could bestow my wonderful knowledge on someone else.

[Ms Janet E Horsley · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK, the amateur psychology got a bit tiresome after a while.