These Holy Bones: Vol. 1 Episode 14 - Off The Road by Jack Hitt - A Book Review

Jack Hitt's 1991 account of his Camino journey is a tale filled with quirky yet unforgettable characters. Hitt leaves a New York editing career to venture across Spain for a second time; his first pilgrimage was in 1981 after graduating from college. The book was later used by actor/writer/director Emilio Estevez for the movie The Way -- one of my all time favorites. I recommend Off The Road, especially coupled with the film, The Way for all Camino enthusiasts. 

Transcript

Book Review: Off The Road by Jack Hitt

 Welcome to another episode of These Holy Bones, a podcast about the ancient pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Santiago, where the bones of St. James are interred beneath the high altar. I'm your host, Robert Nerney, and I'm with my wife Karen. How are you, Karen? 

Good, how are you? 

Very well. So she's gonna ask me a few questions about a certain book. Today's episode is a book review. The title of the book is Off the Road by Jack Hit. He wrote it back in 1991 after he finished walking his second Camino. He walked his first Camino in 1981 after graduating from college. He is, um, a professional writer. This book is a little denser than the other travelogs I've read.

And it's more historical. It's a little theological. He's definitely, like I said, there's more depth to his writing or it's denser than the others. Um, the many travel logs I've read, it's about 255 pages. Um, and this was the book that Emilio Estevez based the way on. So his movie was based on, um, parts of this book....ust for me, that's a statement for me. Okay, Robert, do not judge because, um, I don't know anyone's heart. I don't know their lives and I'm not God. You know what I mean?

Right. And often on the Camino Perfect strangers sometimes will come up to you and offer you something that you need right in that moment. So, uh, acceptance is important. Yeah. It's a big part of it. So it's definitely, um, a worthy read. Uh, like I said, it does take a little time because his, his prose is a little dense and, uh, he does, uh, go into depth on certain things like miracles and some of the history.

And he talks about the motivation of the church and then, you know, um, in Spain. But ultimately it's definitely, it's a, it's, it's a story of adventure and a story of, uh. Really being open. Open to, to life, I think. Yeah, off the road by Jack hit. Sounds like a good one.

Alright, Karen, I appreciate your time. No problem. And like always. Buen Camino.

Buen Camino.