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Pilgrim
- Finding a New Way on the Camino de Santiago
- Narrated by: Carolyn Gillespie
- Length: 9 hrs and 36 mins
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Summary
When faced with an empty nest, Kari decides to spread her own wings. Giving up a job she loves, she sets off to walk across a whole country. A big one.
A contemporary take on an ancient experience, Pilgrim is an entertaining and moving memoir of Kari’s 900-kilometer walk to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. In classic pilgrim fashion, she meets and befriends an array of companions along the way, from all walks of life, united by a common sincerity of purpose. Battling through sun and snow, mud and mountains, blisters and bedbugs, her real destination turns out to be "deep peace".
Initially unsure of the difference between a long walk and a pilgrimage, Kari and her friend are not sure what to expect as they embark on the Camino de Santiago. Sleeping in hostels and carrying all their belongings on their back takes some getting used to, and they are sorely tested by the unrelenting physical challenge of the "great trudge". In the early days, they are preoccupied by the external journey.
But soon, like a modern-day Canterbury Tales, Kari and Ali find themselves swept along by a motley band of pilgrims whose stories touch the heart and awaken the soul. Pilgrim brings to life, in vivid detail, the kindness of strangers, the warmth of village hospitality, and the sisterhood of the Sturdy Girls. With San Miguel adopted as their patron saint, the Camino becomes filled with beer, laughter, and a return to the carefree joy of childhood. There is an unburdening, a sloughing off of the things that don’t matter. Only what counts is left behind.
Pilgrim celebrates communitas, friendship, and the resilience of the middle-aged women who keep going when those around them buckle, who bandage the broken, make them dinner, and get them back on their feet.
Encouraged by the ghosts of pilgrims who have walked the Way for a thousand years, and with no real choice in the matter, she finally slows down, and the pilgrimage becomes a journey to the interior. As she walks, her defenses are broken down and her heart opens.
On a transformational journey that takes her from the snowy mountains of the Pyrenees, through the dry winelands of Rioja, the mysticism of the Meseta, to the green farmland of Galicia, a spiritual reawakening occurs. She revels in the utter joy of a frosty sunrise with shadows 100 meters long, the frogs, and the cuckoo that follows them for miles. The body may be broken, but nature has the cure.
Pilgrim is a coming-of-(middle)-age tale. The story is ultimately one of transformation, of rebirth and redemption. Written with warmth and honesty, Pilgrim shows what can happen when we jump off the path we are on and step onto a new one where nothing looks the same. The question is no longer "What do I want to do with the rest of my life?" The question is: "Who do I want to be?"
What listeners say about Pilgrim
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- Sally Vennard
- 02-08-23
Camino way is a dream I have of completing one day.
The author narrates her story of the walk she undertook with her many friends and companions in a heartfelt way. I enjoyed hearing every step taken, every new connection, every shared word, every new bed for the night, every meal and every obstacle she overcome to complete walk. I hope one day I can walk in there foots steps too.
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- Tom Lord
- 24-08-23
Thoroughly enjoyed it
I've listened to a few of these walking/pilgrimage type audiobooksand this one was one of the best. Really engaging and inspirational.
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- Elena Ivanova
- 18-10-22
Filled my heart with love
There are many books written on Camino. i haven't read them all, but this was recommended by my husband with whom we walked Camino France 3 years ago just before the pandemic. I am so grateful i listened this book! It has evoked many memories and there were no chapter without tears, feeling the connection to that beautiful experience again. Beautifully narrated. It was like walking my Camino again, but this time with these wonderful ladies, Kary, Aly, Jean...
Thank you from all my heart!
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- Jane
- 04-08-22
It made me want to go and walk the Camino
I enjoyed this so much! I was with the narrator every step of the way (and there are many, many steps!) I laughed with her, mourned with her and could almost feel felt the blisters. If you are looking for a heartfelt, funny, moving story about finding your way through middle age armed only with grit, determination and liquorice toffees, then this is a must. Bravo!
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- Anonymous User
- 05-10-23
Enjoyable!
I loved listening to this book, I was with them on the walk. Didn’t want it to finish. Given me encouragement to walk myself.
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- Kindle Customer
- 28-02-24
the authenticity of the experience
I felt like I was with this lovely group throughout their journey to Santiago sharing their highs and lows
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- Teas cruafurd
- 13-09-22
Wonderful thank you
I so enjoyed this book. Thank you so much Kari for sharing you journey, your thoughts and your struggles. An enjoyable read/ for anyone but for women in their 40s and 50s there is so much to connect with. Tess HC
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- Mrs W
- 15-09-22
Re- living walking the Camino Frances
Carolyn Gillespie’s effortless, narrative has you walking beside her every step of the way as she follows in the footsteps of countless pilgrims down through the ages on the Camino Frances.
Having walked the Camino Frances, I was immediately transported back to my time in Spain as I visualised the varied landscapes, towns and villages along the way from her descriptions. I could hear the voices of her companions, both old and new, as they came alive through her own portraits.
It is an honest, personal account of her experience of walking the Camino Frances; she shares the highs and the lows equally and with self-deprecating humour. Carolyn captures the transformative and spiritual impact of walking this ancient mystical path, alongside the physical challenges.
I can highly recommend Pilgrim whether you’re thinking of tackling the Camino Frances for the first time, want to re-live your own pilgrimage or just enjoy following someone on an adventure of self- discovery. It has left me wanting to put on my walking boots and return to Spain.
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- Joanne Rhodes
- 16-01-23
An excellent listen
I loved this book, it was a great reflective piece that really resonated with me as my daughter is to quickly edging towards leaving home. Nice to listen to a female voice on the trails and motivates me even more to one day give it a go!
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- Gerard Tobin
- 07-07-22
The energy and magic of the Camino captured in words
This book is truly truly magical.. the combination of the authors written words and her spoken voice to me acted like a conduit for the energy of the Camino 😊 I walked every step of the way her and her beautiful friends,So much so that my only critique is that on her diary entries “she fails to mentions my name ”!! because I really believed that I was there!! thank you so much for sharing this beautiful story and also thank you for giving me an answer to a question I have been unable to answer since my first Camino in 2018!! And that is when someone now says to me “well now..tell me about this “Camino thingy” that you do?? I will just point them in the direction of your book and not utter another word ☺️☺️☺️ Buen Camino Pilgrim🥾
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