Book Reviews
The Salt Path by Raynor Winn
After losing their home and a fatal diagnosis, Raynor Winn and her husband Moth are setting off to walk the 630 miles of the Sout West Coast Path. With nowhere to go but the path in front of them, they experience raw nature and cold nights while wild camping, walk through physical pain and hunger, and meet friendly and supportive but also harsh and judging people on their trail.
Though the starting point of the book is quite sad, it’s written light-heartedly and definitely has some funny moments. The couple is often complimented on doing a long-distance hike in “their age” and people keep calling them “old”, which they perceive as rather irritating. For me, it was a subtle reminder of how we judge the abilities of people on a small basis (like their appearance, age or gender) when the truth about willpower and strength lies within us.
I think everyone (me foremost) can learn from the kindness Moth and Raynor Winn show to people asking for money or food on their way, willing to give whatever they can, even though they only have little to start.
The Salt Path is a praise to live and love about willpower and the courage to carry on and a must-read for everyone willing to go on a journey about compassion and desperation, pain and joy alike! It’s an emotional and compelling story that ultimately left me in tears. For me, it’s a book that became a Sunday Times Bestseller for a reason and I look forward to the film adaptation coming out soon!
A trip of One's Own by Kate Wills
In her book A Trip of One’s Own, travel journalist Kate Wills follows the historic and present trails of women travelling the world, being the first to complete journeys until then only achievable for men or no one at all, and daring to be more than society wants them to be. Kate Wills’s book is a portrayal of women’s strength, endurance and willpower, encouraging you to go out and live your own adventure, embrace the unknown, be spontaneous, get lost, and find out a little bit more about yourself. She questions what changed for women in society and how much did not. Among great stories, she also gives practical tips for solo travelling as a woman.
Moreover, Kate Wills takes you on her emotional journey of being divorced and dealing with the aftermath. Though it’s entangled quite nicely with the narration of past solo travelling women, I sometimes felt, I would prefer to learn a bit more about her travelling experience or the women she writes about.
Still, it’s a great book for everyone who wants to be inspired by the journeys of several women who mostly have been forgotten, and everyone who likes the mix of feminist travel writing with memoir style that deals quite a bit with relationship troubles but also with fighting for a self-sufficient place in society as a woman.
Coasting by Elise Downing
Elise Downing set off to run 5000 miles around the coast of Britain – not knowing how to read a map or use a compass. She gets lost several times, physically and mentally, and takes the reader on an incredible journey of finding her way around physical and mental paths.
Her journey isn’t as bright as the book cover might suggest. It’s full of pain and setbacks but also humour and kindness. Even though most of us probably have never done anything close to running 5000 miles, Elise Downing remains unusually approachable in her honest and raw depiction of her journey – not leaving out the many tears accompanying her on the trail.
It’s a beautiful story about pushing the boundaries of the possible, family ties, friendship, love and wonderous encounters with strangers. Coasting is a great read for everyone who has ever had a crazy idea, a big dream or seeks an adventure.