Contact Terence Callery at: Midcoastmarketing99@gmail.com
Book Review for Portuguese Camino - In Search of the Infinite Moment
Part travel guide, part meditation, part adventure tale, Portuguese Camino: In Search of the Infinite Moment is a memoir of two journeys taken simultaneously—one interior, one exterior. Terence Callery, a former aquaculture executive and alpaca farmer from Maine, undertakes the legendary Portuguese route of the Camino de Santiago. As he walks, he delves into the history and flavor of the local cultures, as well as his own personal history, in a travelogue that is soothing and satisfying.
Beth Blachman
Editor, SLICE Magazine ( New York Literary Quarterly)
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Book Review for Slow Camino from The Free Press:
There are several major categories of books written about walking the Camino de Santiago, or the Way of St. James, a network of ancient pilgrim routes stretching across Europe for roughly 500 miles, from St. Jean Pied de Port in France, through the Pyrenees Mountains to their final destination, the tomb of St. James in Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain.
One category is the guidebooks that discuss what to bring and where to stay, including some with suggestions for those traveling by bicycle. There’s even a 2017 version of a 12th-century guide for pilgrims — possibly the earliest travel guide ever written — a translation of the “Codex Calixtinus,” originally published in Latin.
Another division of books covers subjects of interest along the routes: sundials of the Camino, flowers of the Camino, architecture of the Camino, etc. And, because of the original religious impetus driving the pilgrims, many Camino books cover the spiritual journeys of the pilgrims through the ages, right to the present day.
So while the majority of Camino literature is either nuts-and-bolts guidebook or introspective memoir, Terry Callery’s recent release, “Slow Camino: My Adventure on the Camino de Santiago,” is a surprisingly adroit combination of the two, guidebook and spiritual memoir, that ambles and trudges along the winding roads until a late reveal in the story — it comes on page 125 of a 159-page book — makes the reader suddenly rear up and mentally say, “Whoa! Didn’t see that one coming.”
The idea of traveling the Camino came to Callery after seeing the 2011 film “The Way,” in which Martin Sheen plays the part of a doctor whose son is killed while in the midst of the pilgrimage and continues the walk in his son’s honor. I’ve seen the film, which is very Hollywood but still compelling, certainly enough to inspire anyone at
a crossroads in their life, and more than enough for someone who, like Callery, was educated by Benedictine monks and received a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from Yale.
Callery calls his work “Slow Camino” because he takes his time on the trip, several weeks more than most pilgrims spend, making of it a walking meditation. He includes interactions with other pilgrims from the world over, depictions of his surroundings and a good bit of introspective musing. Callery has the ability to draw the reader in and keep things lively, thanks to his own broad interests and keen observations.
Alas, I can’t, without giving the ending away, say why I feel there should be an expanded version of “Slow Camino.” Read it and you’ll understand. But be warned: you may want to follow in his footsteps.
By Georgeanne Davis "The Free Press" October 26 2017
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AMAZON REVIEW "Slow Camino" - Rated Five Stars
The author has given us a well written book that will appeal to a wide range of readers. For those of us whose jobs would make it difficult to go on a long pilgrimage, this is a very good adventure story and a thoughtful account of one man’s self-transformation. For folks who are planning a Camino, this narrative is so very well researched and detailed (I think every single place he stayed at is cited along with prices and sometimes a review) that I will serve as an excellent companion to the guidebooks. For those who are interested in the spiritual journey that is made at the same time of the physical journey, this book draws from diverse sources from Eckhart Tolle (The Power of Now) to Saint Augustine, from John Lennon to Father Aelred Graham (Zen Catholicism), from Mark Twain to Tony Hendra (National Lampoon). For people who are re-examining their faith (Catholics in particular) there is a fascinating tension that oscillates between the author’s secular beliefs and those he has acquired over a lifetime as a “Cultural Catholic”. I love some of the terms the author has coined such as finding the “infinite moment” in mindfulness; and how he “slows” down on the journey to “find the Easter Eggs along the way”. Some of his descriptions of certain places (Pamplona for example) are poetically written. If I did not have that pesky job, I would leave for Spain this week!!!!
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Amazon Review Slow Camino - Five Stars
This was an easy read about one man's journey. Was well written and a good recounting!
Peace to the author and thanks for the ending! The journey is ongoing!
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GOODREADS
88 % of the readers "liked" it! (from 25 ratings)
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Amazon Review Slow Camino - Five Stars
Inspired again! Excellent depiction of walking the Camino! I will walk my Camino again within the next 5 years -- god willing !!