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Santiago
When Dominique arrives in Roquebrun, France to visit her old art school friend Julia, it is with mixed feelings of impatience and resignation. Impatience with being forced to take a vacation from her Winnipegarchitectural firm and at the presence of Julia's cynical brother Colin, and resignation to the loss of her once loving but now broken ex-husband, not to mention her career as an artist.As the trio take their first steps on the 700-kilometre pilgrimage that will lead them through the north of Spain to Santiago de Compostela, Dominique wants nothing more than to hop a train and head home. At the age of 42, she is ready to give up on her dreams for new love, a life in art and a family to grow old with. Her attitude changes as the trio walks the dusty white camino that so many centuries of pilgrims have walked before them and are joined along the way by Deidre from Ireland and Neil from Vermont.As the five of them travel, sharing the tragedies of their lives, and discussing history, faith and art, Dominique begins to soften. Perhaps it isn't too late for her to find happiness and renewed love--to wash away the sins of a squandered life. And as a new love blossoms, Dominique begins to wonder if anything has been squandered; if her journey is almost over or just beginning; and if, perhaps, it really is the journey that matters most, and not where it leads one to.
229 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2004
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July 4, 2017
A group of three (expanding to five) walk the camino de Santiago together. All are there for their own (not necessarily spiritual/religious) reasons; all want some separation from their troubles. Over several weeks, they explore and challenge the spiritual and physical elements of the walk. Ghosts from the past are revisited and shared.
MC Dominique is cynical and abrasive, always anticipating the worst for herself. She thinks that Julia has it all, but does she? All are changed by the experience, though not as one might expect. The characters are engaging though not necessarily likeable.
Simone Chaput's writing is rich and lyrical. The story slowly builds to a somewhat unsatisfying but realistic ending. I enjoyed reading about the physical walk - the appreciation of its magnitude, beauty, and challenging terrain. I highly recommend this Canadian writer.
MC Dominique is cynical and abrasive, always anticipating the worst for herself. She thinks that Julia has it all, but does she? All are changed by the experience, though not as one might expect. The characters are engaging though not necessarily likeable.
Simone Chaput's writing is rich and lyrical. The story slowly builds to a somewhat unsatisfying but realistic ending. I enjoyed reading about the physical walk - the appreciation of its magnitude, beauty, and challenging terrain. I highly recommend this Canadian writer.
Displaying 1 of 1 review