"McCarthy shares exquisite details of their surroundings, providing historical context as they leave France’s Pyrenees, journey through Spain’s Basque Country, cross the areas of Pamplona, La Rioja, Leon, and Galicia, and end in Iberia a month later. Along the way, they face weather extremes, blisters, the love triangles of fellow pilgrims, and McCarthy’s own fears of being exposed to his son as deficient in his abilities and knowledge. The process of the two connecting over time is heartwarming and relatable. . . A sweet gem of a tale that will appeal to McCarthy fans and those who appreciate a challenging journey."—Library Journal
“I greatly enjoyed this father-and-son saunter for its fractiousness and sulks, exasperation and blisters, and ultimately its harmony and resolution, proving the saying solvitur ambulando—‘it is solved by walking.’”—Paul Theroux
"McCarthy’s depiction of the rewarding endeavor of walking the Camino with his son is both worthwhile and entertaining."—Booklist
"[Walking with Sam] recreates the loping, pleasant rhythm of the trail. Along with potted guidebook history lessons, it also establishes a gradual sense of community and camaraderie among the other walkers they encounter, and paints a clear picture of McCarthy as somebody exceedingly in touch with his feelings. "—New York Times
04/01/2023
Twenty-five years after actor-turned-writer McCarthy (Brat: An '80s Story) trekked 500 miles across Spain's Camino de Santiago, he returned with his 19-year-old son, Sam, who is also an actor. The author wanted to tackle the Camino again, find common ground, and forge an adult relationship with his son. McCarthy shares exquisite details of their surroundings, providing historical context as they leave France's Pyrenees, journey through Spain's Basque Country, cross the areas of Pamplona, La Rioja, Leon, and Galicia, and end in Iberia a month later. Along the way, they face weather extremes, blisters, the love triangles of fellow pilgrims, and McCarthy's own fears of being exposed to his son as deficient in his abilities and knowledge. The process of the two connecting over time is heartwarming and relatable. During that time together, Sam navigates his first breakup, struggles with waking up in the mornings, and expresses curiosity about his parents' divorce after many years. McCarthy often finds the humor in their interactions, and their freeform discussions range from Spanish history to confirmation bias and Sam's disappointment in an educational system that rejected him. VERDICT A sweet gem of a tale that will appeal to McCarthy fans and those who appreciate a challenging journey.—Lisa Henry
Actor and director Andrew McCarthy narrates his latest audiobook with sonority and pitch variety that make listening a treat. His voice is contemplative and his insights humble as he and his son, Sam, try to understand themselves and each other during their 500-mile walk in Spain. Nineteen-year-old Sam, also an actor, performs his pithy comments during the journey with less charm, which fits a stereotype of his demographic and helps show why so many fathers are frustrated by their young adult sons. The discomfort between them is riveting as Andrew worries about Sam's future and whether he will finish the adventure. This is a beautifully written travelogue/memoir and a satisfying account of how a father's own issues can complicate his relationship with his son. T.W. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
Actor and director Andrew McCarthy narrates his latest audiobook with sonority and pitch variety that make listening a treat. His voice is contemplative and his insights humble as he and his son, Sam, try to understand themselves and each other during their 500-mile walk in Spain. Nineteen-year-old Sam, also an actor, performs his pithy comments during the journey with less charm, which fits a stereotype of his demographic and helps show why so many fathers are frustrated by their young adult sons. The discomfort between them is riveting as Andrew worries about Sam's future and whether he will finish the adventure. This is a beautifully written travelogue/memoir and a satisfying account of how a father's own issues can complicate his relationship with his son. T.W. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
2023-02-22
A father and son take to the road.
Actor and travel writer McCarthy recounts an arduous, emotional five-week, 500-mile trek on the Camino de Santiago with his 19-year-old son, Sam, a walk that McCarthy had completed 25 years before, when he was in his early 30s and looking for insight. “Single and childless,” he recalls, “I was several years removed from a drinking habit that had derailed my life. I had put down cigarettes just eight months earlier. My movie career, which had once showed such promise, was essentially over. And I was terrified to be making this walk alone.” The second time around, instead of terror, he felt anxious hope that walking together would foster an “emotional transition” in his relationship with his son, which, he admits, had been rocky. For his part, Sam agreed to go on the walk in the aftermath of a romantic breakup. Irritable and self-absorbed, he was far less interested in talking to his father—his responses were often curt, punctuated by “whatever”—and much more focused on scrolling his phone, calling friends, and checking social media. For the few hundred miles, when Sam did talk, it was mostly about his ex, and sometimes about his parents’ divorce, which sent him back and forth between households. For his part, the author thought about his insecurities as a parent, his relationship with his angry, volatile father, and his capacity for happiness and love. The walk, McCarthy reflects, “acts as a receptacle for our fears, doubts, and resentments, while summoning our more noble traits.” As a travelogue, the narrative is no advertisement for the pilgrimage. The trail is blisteringly hot and dusty, and in villages along the way, the two encountered surly waiters, bad food, and inadequate places to stay. The walk, though, was never about the destination but rather about a father and son readying themselves for a new stage in their lives.
A candid record of a difficult journey.
