Book Review: The Camino: A Journey of the Spirit by Shirley MacLaine - Non Fiction

The Camino: A Journey of the Spirit by Shirley MacLaine is a description of her pilgrimagwalk along The Camino in Spain. In the first half of the book, MacLaine bluntly illustrates the difficulties of walking The Camino, giving the readers a good understanding of what it means to do this pilgrimage. The refugios, where most of the pilgrims sleep for the night are uncomfortable, but provide the basic conditions for a night’s rest for a pilgrim walking The Camino.

MacLaine describes her particular challenge of decoying and avoiding the press as much as possible as they try to track and follow her. Along the way many pilgrims and others protect her from the press and aid her in cleverly getting away from the press. However, there were times when they found her but Maclaine resolved to remain tight-lipped.

In the second half of this account the reader is taken into MacLaine’s dream visions. These are glowing illustrations of how the human species evolved to its present day status. The human being from the Garden of Eden, a time of living in harmony, love and collectivism to the present day lifestyle of materialism and individualism. This occurs in Lemuria and Atlantis; both of which are sunken cities beneath the oceans.

MacLaine explains how she is able to confront her challenges and fears as she successfully completes the pilgrimage in 30 days. This was a spiritual quest for her. It is an engrossing read and is definitely a page-turner.