Audiobook Review: Just Off for a Walk by Stephen Reynolds
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Many of us wish for more adventure in life—to travel more, to explore the world, to do something completely outside our comfort zone. And when a not-so-adventurous man sets out on the adventure of a lifetime in the audio edition of Just Off for a Walk by Stephen Reynolds, he finds that it changes more than just his waistline.
The story follows the author—a 30-something uninspired office worker—as he walks away from the monotony of his everyday life and decides to set out on a two-month, 630-mile walk along the South West Coast Path, following the British coastline. He travels miles each day, lugging an overweight backpack, munching on Mars Bars and processed sausage snacks, with no one but the occasional fellow walker and his mostly faithful guidebook (which he’s named “Rolly”) for company. And as he does so, he takes his readers along for this arduous, humorous, and life-changing journey.
Though the book is generally a travelogue—chronicling the author’s days of walking and evenings at pubs or hotels or even the occasional campsite—it isn’t the kind of long, rambling kind of book that goes into great detail about every step of the journey. After all, that’s what a guidebook is for. And—let’s face it—no one wants to sit down and read a guidebook from cover to cover (or listen to someone reading it to them while they’re on their morning walk). Instead, he keeps it brief and easygoing—sometimes taking a minute or two to describe different landmarks or mention some of the people he met along the way or comment on his night’s lodgings. And that keeps it from feeling too long or dull or self-important.
The author makes full use of his dry and self-deprecating British wit (as well as a narrator who feels perfectly natural in his dry and self-deprecating delivery) to make readers feel like they’re sitting at a table in a dark, homey pub, sitting across the table from a friend who’s retelling the whole adventure over a pint or two. It may not guide your own trek across the South West Coast Path (you’ll need your own Rolly—or four—for that), but it will most likely make you dream of giving it (or something similar) a try.
With its easygoing style and its quirky sense of humor, Just Off for a Walk is a light and enjoyable book—one that will turn your daily walk on the same old trail into a whole new seaside adventure.
Pros:
– Interesting and inspiring journey
– Entertaining, conversational voice
– Great choice for listening while walking
Cons:
– Won’t help you plan your own hike along the South West Coast Path
You can find Just Off for a Walk in various formats on Amazon. And if you’re interested in more books, check out my weekly reviews on Shelf Discovery.
