by David HlavsaMichigan State University Press
Trade Paperback
As every reader knows, every once in a while a book takes you by surprise.
I don't know about you, but when I begin reading a book I do so with preconceived notions. I can be really excited to read it and have high expectations for its goodness, or I can be reading it because I have promised to consider writing a review and therefore do not have the same high hopes. A third option occurs to me: the reader's lament. Sometimes there is nothing better to read to be found after a thorough search of the house so we are forced to pick up whatever tome is close at hand. This third option is often barely preferable to a nap.
When I promised to take a look at WALKING DISTANCE, I wasn't expecting to be charmed, but I was. The subtitle, "Pilgrimage, Parenthood, Grief, and Home Repairs," caused a wrinkled brow and a smidge of curiosity. From my own perspective I can see parenthood and grief co-mingling, but pilgrimage and home repair weren't easily linked in my lazy brain.
But, charmed I was. David Hlavsa achieves what I see as the most difficult task for a non-famous memoirist.-- he makes the reader care about his life story. To be more precise, the story of his and his wife's walk of the Camino de Santiago and their life before, during, and after the more than 400-mile journey.
A perfect blend of real-life, humor, and breadcrumbs of emotion make WALKING DISTANCE a terrific read. A real test of a book for me is if I can't wait to get back to reading after a break (sleep, work, etc.) and if I'm sad there isn't a sequel when I'm done. This book succeeds every step of the way.
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