Title: The Longest Way Home
Author: Andrew McCarthy
Review: I began this book expecting an
autobiography told through travel.
Instead you get 9 parts travel to 1 part life story; and the life story
you get focuses on his fear of commitment to those who are significant in his
life. If he cannot be definitive about
his family, just how committed do you think he is to his vicarious travel
companions?
The beauty
of great travel writing is the excitement the writer brings to the parts of the
world they are visiting. Ian Wright is
my idea of the perfect travel host. The
reader becomes a travel companion, forging a relationship with the writer to
see what they see, to experience what they experience. McCarthy makes it
abundantly clear he is a loner when it comes to travel, directly avoiding
interaction with those who are present, and indirectly shunning you the reader.
It is really hard to be a companion to a travel writer who does not want you
there interrupting his experience.
The thread
of the book is McCarthy’s journey as a commitment-phobe as he rapidly travels
around the globe seeking answers prior to getting married for the second
time. Mostly you just want to shout at
him to get over himself, but that would be an ungenerous reading of his
struggles. His life is very different
from mine and through his travels he is able to process his thoughts,
cumulating in his marriage, both physically and mentally. The loner becomes two.
Most
interesting to me is this exploration of McCarthy’s second act. A movie actor since he was a teenager, he
managed to find something in life he was passionate about and through dogged
determination he has managed to create a small career in travel writing. Much more than a vanity project, McCarthy has
found a new life in which to express himself.
The artist within will always find its way out. As they say, do what you love and you will
never work a day in your life.
Publisher: Free Press
ISBN: 9781451667486
Copyright: 2012
Pages: 269
Quick Review: 3.5 stars out of 5
Why I Read It: I enjoy a well written piece of
nonfiction, especially history or biography
Where I Obtained the Book: Sent to me by the publisher for
review
Synopsis: Award-winning travel writer and
actor Andrew McCarthy delivers a revealing and insightful memoir about how
travel helped him become the man he wanted to be, helping him overcome
life-long fears and confront his resistance to commitment.From time immemorial,
travel has been a pursuit of passion—from adventurers of old seeking gold or
new lands, to today’s spiritual and pleasure seekers who follow in the footsteps
of Elizabeth Gilbert. Some see travel as a form of light-hearted escapism while
others believe it has the power to open your mind, forcing you to confront your
demons, and discover your true self.
Andrew McCarthy belongs to this second category of traveler. The Longest
Way Home follows his excursions to Patagonia, the Amazon, Costa Rica,
Baltimore, Vienna, Kilimanjaro, Dublin, and beyond. He uses his wanderlust to
examine his motives and desires, and explore his ambivalence about commitment.
He ponders his personal life, his acting career, and his impulse to leave home,
all building toward one of the most significant moments of his life: his
wedding day. Genuine and spirited,
McCarthy’s message about the transformative power of travel is universal, and
his exploration of the nature and passion of relationships, both fleeting and
enduring, will strike a chord with every man and woman who has ever wondered at
the vicissitudes of the human heart.
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