Travels with Sam by Andrew McCarthy

I have not been as touched by a book as much as I was moved by this one, in a long time. But then again, actor Andrew McCarthy always was my favorite member of the Brat Pack, so I was bound to like his book. To this day, if I see "Class," "Pretty in Pink" and "St. Elmo's Fire," I have to stop and watch them. As an actor, he was handsome, brooding and bookish, and it is not surprising to find out that he is a very talented writer. "Walking with Sam" is the story of how he and his 19-year-old Sam walked the entire Camino de Santiago across Spain. I have known people who have walked parts of The Camino, but never the entire thing. So as a dedicated hiker, and McCarthy superfan, this book was a win-win for me. But what moved me so much was McCarthy's relationship and conversations with his son, Sam. In the beginning, the young man doesn't want to go on the trip and buys his hiking boots the day before departure, without breaking them in. To make matters worse, he has just had a very bad break up with his girlfriend. But as father and son walk and talk along the Camino, something magical happens. They bond like they never have before because all of the distractions of regular life melt away. I loved this book so much because of how their relationship grew, and I was sad when it had to end. McCarthy and his son not only have this book to share, but a lifetime full of memories of the challenging trek they did together. To buy this book on Amazon click here.