Book Review - "FUMBLING" by Kerry Egan
The book is described as "a pilgrimage tale of love, grief, and renewal
on the Camino de Santiago". This greatly understates the interest to
anyone who knows the Camino.
Kerry Egan was brought up as a Catholic, and at the time of her journey
was a divinity student at Harvard. One of the many interests of the
book is her description of the uncertainties of her faith, and discovering
where the true roots of it were. Her religious background, deep interest
in the subject, talent for research, and clear style of writing throw
a focussed light on a whole range of subjects, including the nature
of pilgrimage, the background to the cult of relics, the subtle but
important details about indulgences, and indeed the nature of grief.
Added to this, her writing about episodes of the journey, such as the
Cruz de Ferro near Rabanal and hens in the cathedral of San Domingo
de la Calzada, make one see one's own experience in a more thoughtful
light.
I was left feeling that my own Camino journey had been retrospectively
enhanced by reading this book. For people who are imminently thinking
of undertaking the journey, it might make the pilgrimage seem more complicated
and difficult than, for most people, it actually is, but they would
gain in understanding why this is not just a long walk, and be more
receptive to their experiences along the way. And for people who know
they do not intend to do the pilgrimage, it would give a very good idea
of some of the rewards others have gained from spending a month of their
lives on the Camino. She succeeds in conveying what is special about
the Camino, and why, for so many people, it continues to influence their
lives long after their return:
"A pilgrim is in an in-between space for a little while, a time both
of great transition and great potential. In this place you can learn
and experience things that it would be possible to learn while not on
pilgrimage. A pilgrim experiences communitas, the elimination of differences
between people of different ages, classes and nationalities. Barriers
between people are thrown aside as a great feeling of unity and connectedness
brings people together in a way seems impossible within the regular
structures of society."
I personally found the sections concerning her feelings about the death
of her father too long, and, to me, not very interesting. However, even
these sections could be useful to those trapped by unresolvable grief,
and help them in finding a way out.
Fumbling, by Kerry Egan (Doubledayt, NY, 2004) ISBN 0-385-50765-8
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