Book & Film Reviews

Rebekah Scott reviews the newly released English translation of Pilgrim Spirit: Elías Valiña and the Revival of the Camino 1959-1989 by Luis Celeiro Álvarez and translated by Laurie Dennett. This historic document, while dry and not meant to be an “easy read,” serves as an invaluable compendium to historical researchers about the life and work of the parish priest posted to the mountaintop village O Cebreiro and whose painted yellow arrows would start an avalanche that is the modern-day Camino de Santiago.

Jerald Stroebele reviews Leonard Vance’s An Atheist on Pilgrimage: Tales of Humanity from the Camino de Santiago. Stroebele calls it a “beautifully written, entertaining, and informative” memoir about a man’s adventures along the Caminos Via Serrana, Via de la Plata and Sanabrés. The details an observant Vance provides might also make this an ersatz guidebook to these lesser-traveled Camino routes.

Jerald Stroebele highlights some handy guidebooks for the Camino Francés, plus some helpful resources and guides for routes less traveled.

Carol Guttery offers both a designer’s eye and a pilgrim’s perception to this review of A Journey Between Heaven and Earth (Un Viaje Entre el Cielo y la Tierra), a Camino coffee table book featuring stunning photography by Jesús Tejel and the lyrical musings of Reyes Lambea.

Hany Farag reviews “Camino,” a Danish film about an estranged father and daughter on pilgrimage together to fulfill the dying wish of their wife and mother.

Amy Horton reviews Alder Allensworth’s “The Camigas Scarf: Mother” the first novel in a three-part series inspired by an actual scarf that has created a special connection among women across many Caminos.

Joe Curro reviews a dueling memoir by an Australian husband and wife who tackle the Via de la Plata as their first Camino. Curro calls “Happiness is That Way” by Cici Edwards-Jensen and Mike Jensen “a light, easy read that offers a highly personal glimpse into a less-traveled Camino route.”

An unexpected bookstore find becomes the Camino memoir that keeps on giving in Jerald Stroebele’s review of Robert Mullen’s “Call of the Camino.”

A review of Shoshana D. Kerewsky’s Camino memoir “50 Days in May: Reflections Along the Camino de Santiago.” Review by Allison Venuto.

A review of “100 caminos 100 relatos, a compilation of pilgrim stories” published by Círculo Chileno de Amigos del Camino de Santiago de Compostela. Review by Amy Horton.