Reginald Spittle's Blog: See my book blog, page 12

The French Camino: The First 8 Days

Greetings from France’s Via Podiensis, a nearly 500-mile pilgrimage from Le Puy to St. Jean Pied de Port in the Pyrenees Mountains. Eight days out of 42 now behind us, a roundup of happenings: The stats: Guru Pro says we have come 129 miles (including some sidetrips) and have climbed 13,199 feet. The place: The … Continue reading The French Camino: The First 8 Days →

Now Read This: Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig

I have joined enthusiastic readers around the globe in applauding Matt Haig’s books. He creates characters and stories with intriguing themes and compelling stories. Reasons to Stay Alive is Matt Haig’s very personal story. He opens his heart and his mind as he describes his long battle with depression and anxiety. His book presents important … Continue reading Now Read This: Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig →

Notre Dame: A Virtual Tour to Behold

What a tour! Sue and I are in Paris for a bit before our Camino across France, which begins Sunday. The restoration work on the Notre Dame Cathedral continues after the devastating 2019 fire. The cathedral, of course, is still closed, but a virtual reality tour took us on an incredible journey through history and … Continue reading Notre Dame: A Virtual Tour to Behold →

Ten Years Later, a New Camino Calls

Ten years ago, Sue and I stood at O’Cebreiro, in the final phase of our journey on the Camino de Santiago. Our arrival in Santiago was bittersweet. We welcomed the chance to rest our feet after a month on the trail, but didn’t want our greatest adventure to end. For me, the journey was as … Continue reading Ten Years Later, a New Camino Calls →

Six Prescriptions to Improve Your Mental Health

These books hold rich nuggets of wisdom for all of us. Click on the links for my brief reviews. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, by Mark Manson. If you are bothered by Mark Manson’s profanity in this book, he would say you are giving a f*ck about the wrong thing. There is … Continue reading Six Prescriptions to Improve Your Mental Health →

Trekking in Europe: ‘Get Out There!’

England’s South West Coast Path presents an idyllic walk-in-the-park look in these photographs from our trek, but don’t be fooled. As we approached Land’s End a couple hundred miles later, Sue and I fought gale-force winds and horizontal rain. Read about this adventure and our challenges on three other European distance treks in Trippin’ Through … Continue reading Trekking in Europe: ‘Get Out There!’ →

Real-Life Stories Challenge the Best in Fiction

These books proved to me that real life can be more captivating than the best fiction. Rocket Boys, by Homer Hickam. For Homer “Sonny” Hickam, the Sputnik 1957 launch was just what he and his friends needed to transform imagination, ingenuity and hard work into a great American success story. From 1957 through 1960, Sonny … Continue reading Real-Life Stories Challenge the Best in Fiction →

A Bicycle Odyssey Across the Americas

What next? When I finished Joy Ride by Kristen Jokinen, that was my question. She met Finnish native Ville Jokinen on a scuba diving boat in Vietnam. Back home in the USA, she had to see if the spark between them would endure, so she booked a flight to Finland. They were soon married and … Continue reading A Bicycle Odyssey Across the Americas →

Seven Novels That I Still Can’t Put Down

Looking for a novel with a compelling human angle? Here are seven I enjoyed very much; click on the links to read my brief reviews. I would love to hear your thoughts about any or all of them. Boy at the Crossroads, by Mary Ford. Conley Ford, 13 years old, can no longer cope with … Continue reading Seven Novels That I Still Can’t Put Down →

What’s on Your Mind While You Trek?

Whether I am doing a day hike or trekking to the top of Mount Whitney, there are times when I forget where I am for a time. My mind wanders to countless places, even if I am walking through some of the greatest scenery in the world. What are three things I think (daydream) about … Continue reading What’s on Your Mind While You Trek? →