Call of the Camino: Myths, Legends and Pilgrim Stories on the Way to Santiago de Compostela

by Robert Mullen

The experiences of an ordinary man on the pilgrim’s path are charted in this narrative that walks along the Camino Francés to the shrine of Saint James at Santiago de Compostela and then on to Finisterre, the westernmost point of Spain. The history of the Camino is recounted, as well as several of the myths, legends, and miracle stories that have become attached--and given special meaning--to this itinerary. Emphasizing that personal myths are an essential part of this lore, this chronicle also includes stories from the confraternity of the pilgrims, people from all corners of the world who visit this walk for a great diversity of reasons, but all of whom leave having experienced the same miracle--that this pilgrimage will play a defining role in their lives.

Genres: Travel, Spain, Nonfiction, Religion, History

208 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2010

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very entertaining and informing tale about one mans travel story of his pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. It was the perfect combination between a travel story, history and explanation of the pilgrim, humanity and the meaning of a pilgrimage.

This book was a very pleasant read and made me laugh quite often, reading this makes you enthusiast of partaking yourself in such a endeavor, which clearly will not happen in 2020 as we are currently experiencing an unexpected pandemie which kinda changed the rules of our society.

Still I am sure I will read this book again before I will do this walk.

[Mark Gannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, an interesting book and an interesting journey on the Camino. The people meet and the places seen, the expierences shared lend themselves to an interesting tale.

I would have given the book five stars if it weren't for the parts about myths. The authors opinions on myths-- what constitutes a myth, their social impact and how they affect people-- started out interesting and were attention grabbing. However, about 3/4 of the way through the book, one got the feeling that the author was compiling an academic paper on myths rather than conveying a journey.

Overall, a five star book that lost points due to being overaly academic at times.

[K. Y. · Rating 2 out of 5]

a seriously underwhelming cross between a travel memoir and a tourism pamphlet. i recommend What the Psychic Told the Pilgrim: A Midlife Misadventure on Spain's Camino de Santiago instead (it's less kooky and more hilarious than it sounds).

[Jo-Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable book on the camino history and the author's experience. I couldn't get into his various descriptions of what a myth was so eventually skipped when those sections interspursed with his exploration of myths. Good book to read as you prepare for the Camino.

[Kristine Berg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I should have read the title more carefully. The author intersperses his character studies and experiences while walking the Camino de Santiago with dull and meandering musings on myth; it was like spending time walking with a pleasant companion who occasionally meanders into tangents of philosophy that go nowhere. But I became intrigued with the Camino; it’s a very different type of journey than the Pacific Crest or Appalachian trails. The Camino is introspective as well as being social, there are rest stops with cots or shelters and communal food, often provided generously to the pilgrims. I think I’ll find another account to read about it.

[Nicholas Parrott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book in a browser bin at the second hand book stall where I sometimes volunteer http://www.planete-ecoles.com/1-qui-s..., took it home and read it in five days. I really liked it. he interweaves three themes really neatly: his experience of walking the amino and the people who share the path with him, the myths and legends af the Camino and a more philosophical theme on the relevance of myth in society. For me the first two themes worked really well, though I did find myself skipping some sections on the third theme. Nonetheless recommended reading.

[Cool · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this as I prepare to set off on my Camino. It's a rough read: It vacillates between a poorly written travelogue (you are never quite certain where he is, who the characters are, and anecdotes are weirdly irrelevant to anything in the narrative, and strangely edited), and tedious, pompous musings about what a "myth" is (I began skipping over these parts; it was like your most boring uncle cornering you at a party to discuss his poetry). There are SO many other good Camino books. Please read one of those.

[Lindasp · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book detailing the author, Robert Mullen's walk on the Camino, the ancient pilgrims' path from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago de Compostela, Spain in 2005. He tells of the numerous fellow 'pilgrims' he meets along the way and of the many myths and legends associated with the path. It added another level to my (not so secret) wish to walk at least some part of the path in the future.

[David Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second time I have read this book The first time I read it before I walked the Camino, and this time because I hanker you be on the Camino again. It represents some of the Camino and the author attitude to the Camino and the people who walk it. You will meet these people along the way

[Tim Mathis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personally, this is one of my favorite books about the Camino. It’s a great mix of things - history, myth, philosophy, and personal stories - and I thought the author was a likable guy. You’d want to meet him along the Way.

[Joanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Irriterte meg en del over denne boken. Hadde noen få, gode passasjer.

[Haki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. The author would go back and forth between his experiences on the Camino and stories, legends and myths of St James and “the way”.
Sometimes his deep thoughts, the stories and myths were too difficult for me to grasp.
Park- the Korean Christian. I loved this guys personality and faith. My favorite by far. Robert (author) was second. He did not judge people.

Saint Jean Pied de Port- Starting point

As you follow the path, you also make it- Confucius

So far as I had seen until now, it was just the walking that mattered, the simple act of walking, not the path or the crosses or the good will or the good offices of a long dead saint. It was the walking, day after day in any sort weather. The complexity of life was this reduced to just one simple, straightforward, recurring task, that of getting oneself from place to place by one’s own efforts alone.

Whether in the twelfth or the twenty first centuries, the essence of the pilgrimage remains what it has always been, which is the surrender to that which one is accustomed in the hope of encountering something better.

We must tell ourselves who we want to be, then Act accordingly- Epictetus

Sleeping in a dormitory with dozens of other pilgrims, some of whom were known to me and some of whom were strangers, had somewhere along the line ceased to be a hardship. It was an essential part of the pilgrimage, necessary if the pilgrimage was to be experienced as an undertaking shared amongst us all.

El verdedero Camino empieza, cuando llegas al final. The true Camino began when you reached the end.

[Chris Yavelow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. The subtitle is "Myths, Legends, and Pilgrim Stories on the Way to Santiago de Compostela," and nearly every chapter begins several paragraphs or more about myth. I welcomed those interjections when they were directly related to the Camino; however, too many were not. If I had wanted a book about mythology, I'd have bought one. The remainder of each chapter was quite evocative and will bring back memories for anyone who has walked the Camino. Those who haven't will find that Robert Mullen's Call of the Camino is easy to read and will provide an entertaining glimpse of the experience.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the insights of the Camino's physically demanding structure. I agree with many reviews that the chapters seemed to repeat themselves topically with the protein bar diet and the craziness with the feet pain. I did appreciate the descriptions of the divergent weather conditions; the cross section of peoples and how diverse the attitudes of their experiences. I think of walking this path; but then, perhaps I have through this book.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

My friend is going to walk the Camino this Spring and I purchased this book for a gift for her but then I started reading. The book combines the life of the author, Robert Mullen, with the myths and legends of "The Way" a pilgrimage to Santiago Compostela. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the adventure. I would have liked more of the authors like and revelations in the story.

[Brian Hildebrand · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the physical division between the pilgrim story portions and the myths and legend portions. I found myself looking forward to each one as it came up.

This was also informative and inspiring as I hope to do the Camino Frances in July, 2015.

[Duncan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, but the many accounts of sharing a refugio with 50 snoring people, and dealing with feet damaged by walking mostly on paved roads or paths is off putting to those that might be thinking of completing their own Camino

[Ewald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Makes me even more excited about my upcoming Camino. Photos would be most welcome though!

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one ... this walk is now on my "Bucket List" ... got lots of work to do.

[Marty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining account of the author's trek in Northern Spain. (A walk I hope to take) I enjoyed the author's storytelling more than his philosophizing.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice mix of a little history (but easy reading) and reflection of author as he does the Camino and his story of who he met and what it was like.

[Anne Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful cross section of the Camino and people on pilgrimage. Loved the stories about local history and how people live and work along the Camino.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Came across this book quite by chance.
I really enjoyed it & was sorry when I came to the end.
It's informative without being heavy......