A Sense of Direction (and holy hell, what is up with that cover?)
Gideon Lewis-Kraus
2012
339 pages
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I confess. I’m still bitter about Wild and this book was an attempt to wash away the bad taste that book left in my mouth (or would that be brain?). So yep, that means it’s another walking story. Except this one has a better back story.
The back story that results in the walking isn’t anything special (I’ll get to the other one in a minute, I promise). Boy graduates from college, goes through the motions, is vaguely dissatisfied and doesn’t want to live a life of regret later down the road, moves to Berlin, parties, learns a lot about the local art scene, parties some more, and ends up committing to walking the Camino de Santiago with an author buddy (Tom Bissell).
They walk the Camino. There is petty arguing, blisters (boy howdy are there blisters), interesting people met, and some thoughts on pilgrimaging (no red squiggle, so I guess that’s a word?). Along the way, Lewis-Kraus hears about another pilgrimage, this one in Japan.
So he walks around the island of Shikoku visiting Buddhist temples. After the first week walking with his uber-cool grampa Max, Lewis-Kraus is alone. In the rain. Parts are interesting, but I didn’t care for the stuff about not wanting to see anything historical and reflections on travel writing that doesn’t even discuss travel (you had to have been there). I’m not a big fan of traveling to not experience anything (nothing annoys me more than people talking about how hard they partied while they were in Italy/France/Mexico/etc…I think it’s a ridiculous waste of money to do the same thing you could do at home…not that this is what Lewis-Kraus does, it’s just a bad example that I’m using). Anyways. Middle part of book=Japan.
After Japan, hooked on the pilgrimage gig (and evidently still not knowing what to do with himself other than write a book for which he needs more fodder), and feeling dissatisfied with his relationship with his father, he gets his dad and little brother (who isn’t so little) to commit to a journey to the Ukraine to take part in an annual pilgrimage (minus the walking) to the tomb of a Jewish mystic whose name I have already forgotten. This time the goal is to reestablish a connection with his father.
Running through the whole pilgrimage/why people go pilgrimaging theme is the on-going conflict Lewis-Kraus has with his father. His father, a rabbi, came out when Lewis-Kraus was a teen and left the family for his lover. While Lewis-Kraus has no problems with the fact that his father is gay, it’s the lies and me-me-me attitude that have bothered him for years. Lewis-Kraus alternately commiserates with and whines (yes, whines) about his dad. It’s alternately interesting and then annoying. But I still think it makes for a much better back story than Wild. Because I thought all Strayed did was whine. And talk about sex. Lewis-Kraus admits to feeling decidedly unsexy during his pilgrimages. Hallelujah.
Also. Lewis-Kraus uses some majorly interesting words without coming across as all pretentious. Feuilletonist was by far the best, with marmoreal and flocculent being runner-ups. He does get a little angsty, and uppity about travel writers, and snarky about the whole pilgrimage gig at times (although I’d be snarky, too, if I was slogging through the rain for days on end), but I still enjoyed the book. In fact, I enjoyed it 10 bajillionity more times than I did that other book about walking/hiking/soul-searching. Although, if anyone would like to write a book about walking without the soul-searching I’d be even happier.
I have a vague idea that the whole concept of walking for walking’s saka aka pilgrimage IS the soul-searching. I could be wrong. Good luck.
Though, didn’t Forest Gump run across America just ‘cuz’?
Care´s last [type] ..Kindred
For some reason, I have no urge to read Wild but I will give this book a try. I kind of like reading about soul searching as long as it isn’t a lot of whining.
Vasilly´s last [type] ..DNF review: The Secret Book of Frida Kahlo by F.G. Haghenbeck
I haven’t read it yet, but I was told to read The Flaneur by Edmund White. Quick description from Amazon: “A flaneur is a stroller, a loiterer, someone who ambles through a city without apparent purpose but is secretly attuned to the history of the place and in covert search of adventure, esthetic or erotic. Edmund White, who lived in Paris for sixteen years, wanders through the streets and avenues and along the quays, taking us into parts of Paris virtually unknown to visitors and indeed to many Parisians. Entering the Marais evokes the history of Jews in France, just as a visit to the Haynes Grill recalls the presence-festive, troubled-of black Americans in Paris for a century and a half. Gays, Decadents, even Royalists past and present are all subjected to the flaneur’s scrutiny.
Edmund White’s The Flaneur is opinionated, personal, subjective. As he conducts us through the bookshops and boutiques, past the monuments and palaces, filling us in on the gossip and background of each site, he allows us to see through the blank walls and past the proud edifices and to glimpse the inner, human drama. Along the way he recounts everything from the latest debates among French law-makers to the juicy details of Colette’s life in the Palais Royal, even summoning up the hothouse atmosphere of Gustave Moreau’s atelier. ”
Okay, so that’s a long description….but it may satisfy your craving for walking and travel writing…
Trisha´s last [type] ..Book Review: The Iron Daughter
I’m not religious at all but am fascinated with the idea of the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimmage trail. One of these days I will walk part of it … This book doesn’t sound like my cup of tea, so thanks for sharing your review!
I’ve probably recommended this book to you before, but I was surprised at how much I liked “Hokkaido Highway Blues” by Will Ferguson. As an English teacher in Japan, Ferguson hitchhiked the length of Japan following the cherry blossoms. He comes across as kind of a dick sometimes (lots of drinking) but parts are very funny, and he tells interesting stories of the Japanese he meets along the way. It helped feed my interest in travel to Japan, and I still think about some of his descriptions of the country and its holy places.
Yes, I think I’d be snarky if I were doing a pilgrimaging thing. And I’d smell like hell. No sex for Sandy while she is pilgrimaging. I can’t even be in the same room with my husband after running for a bit. I like the idea of a book about walking and finding oneself, as long as it isn’t too angsty. I have one about a walk through the Amazon. Need to put it up close to the top of the stack.
Sandy´s last [type] ..The Stand: Hardcases, No Man’s Land, The Night Has Come
I am not sure that the commiserating/whining would be my thing, but the book does sound interesting to me. I think it’s kind of sad that he didn’t take the time to see the historical sites, as that would have been my first instinct, but it sounds like this was more of an inward journey rather than an outward one. I might have to look into this one, and you will be happy to know that I passed up Wild due to your review. Smelly hiker sexiness is totally NOT what I want to read about!
zibilee´s last [type] ..A More Diverse Universe: Green Grass, Running Water by Thomas King — 469 pgs
That is a horrid cover! As far as travel goes, I tend to be on the very opposite end of the spectrum. I plan so many items on the itinerary that are educational that sometimes we don’t have any time to relax. I usually add alternate extra activities on a separate page of the itinerary (yes, I actually print them out) in case we have a change of plans or extra time. Inevitably on the last day we’re so tired that we end up skipping something (usually because we’re bickering crankily) and end up finally putting our feet up and enjoying the scenery like normal people. In other words, my husband is a saint (and yet still foolish enough to ask me to plan our itineraries on each trip).
I do love travelogues, but if they get too introspective or down in the dumps then it’s a turn off. So I’m not sure I’d be wanting to read this one, though snark does appeal to me if it’s done right. My favorite travelogue book (which is more of an “I moved to a new place” than a travelogue, but oh well) is The Caliph’s House by Tahir Shah – so funny and informative.
Alyce´s last [type] ..Yesterday by C. K. Kelly Martin
I guess people do a lot of soul searching when they’re walking like that. I can’t figure out why they chose that cover either.
bermudaonion(Kathy)´s last [type] ..Review: The Cost of Hope
That cover is horrific. It gives me a headache. It reminds me of the cover for Beat the Reaper.
Jenners´s last [type] ..To BB On His 8th Birthday
You know how I feel about hiking, but walking I can do… Maybe at the end of this big trip I’ll be able to write that non-soul searching book you’re looking for! (Let’s face it, I’m hoping to make it through this trip and still fit into non-elasticized pants, which is at 50/50 right now… We are eating great but we also walk a ton, so maybe my book can be about walking to meals and clothing stores?)
Steph´s last [type] ..Remember when I used to write book reviews?
I am so shallow I can’t get past that horrid cover. I am rarely interested in angsty soul-searching books.
Beth F´s last [type] ..Imprint Friday: Lives of the Trees by Diana Wells