Welcome to Litsy!

A gorgeous book about parenting a new adult AND a travelogue of a second Camino. There were a few moments where I wished AM and Sam were more aware of their privileges; but in all AM is incredibly emotionally aware and it makes for compelling reading.

I especially enjoyed these audiobooks in 2023:

CHAIN-GANG ALL-STARS by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
HELLO, MOLLY! by Molly Shannon
WALKING WITH SAM by Andrew McCarthy
BAD CREE by Jessica Johns

I have always loved AM and this book just adds to my love for him. It‘s about his Camino trip with 19 yr old Sam. His second walk, Sam‘s first. It‘s about the Camino as much as it is about parenting and I had tears at the end. Sam says at the end the Camino is the only 10/10 in his life this far. Being a mom is my 10/10, not for the faint of heart just like the Camino

Getting some audio Lego-ing in ❤️❤️

My local library was hacked and all computer systems were down for more than 2 weeks. I‘ve been without an audio book since I finished Hidden Valley Road 😢😢 I am legit addicted to audio books for motivating myself to do the adulting and letting myself Lego

This morning‘s walk as Andrew McCarthy reads his book to me.

Since I couldn‘t do #DeweysReadathon last weekend, I‘m doing it today, and having the loveliest reading time!

While the story of the memoir was interesting I didn't find the writing compelling.

Replicating a solo trip he took at age 30, Andrew McCarthy walked across Spain with his 19 year old son and chronicles their trip here. Sam is SUCH a teenager, so I wanted to throttle him most of the time, but McCarthy‘s writing is enjoyable and makes for a fun book.

As a dad I really enjoyed and appreciated this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I deleted this post by mistake.McCarthy walks the Santiago de Compostela trek with his oldest son Sam.He walked it alone in his early thirties and the experience gave him an “internal baseline from which to go forth in the world”.He now hopes the walk will guide him and Sam as they transition into a father-adult-son-relationship.Beautifully written impressions on nature,thoughts on parenting&author‘s memories.Honest,relatable,intimate memoir

“…friend suggested he listen to Hemingway‘s The Old Man and the Sea. …” ugh. I‘ve read it twice and it totally annoys me when I read this because I want to hate that book. I get it, or I think I do. But ugh! Blessings to those who adore the book and blessings to those who find the author a misogynist asshat. Yep. I guess I‘m annoyed about the holding of these two thoughts together at once. Such is this messy complicated life.

I‘m going to meet Andrew McCarthy tomorrow!!!! Squeeeeee!!!!

I wasn‘t sure what to expect with the book but walking the Camino de Santiago with his son sounded interesting. What I got was honesty, reflection, and a father and son‘s cherished memory. Loved every page.

As the mother of a now 28 year old son, I related to so many of the conversations, challenges, and moments that Andrew and Sam had, laughing out loud at some, smiling at others, and being a part of the emotions shared between the two. What I appreciated was the fact that both men grew within themselves and in their relationship with each other. I hope this heartfelt journal of their time on the Camino will inspire you as much as it inspired me.