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pchamblee's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Overall, a very thoughtfully crafted imagining of the soul’s purifying journey through Purgatory. Now, just like a book about Heaven would be hard to please everyone, I don’t know if this depiction of Purgatory is universal enough for all readers to fully appreciate, but it definitely will score if you enjoy nature and the great outdoors, camping, hiking, fishing, and/or wildlife. At times, the story’s pacing is a bit slow, but it’s worth the read if you take time to savor it. I think the main character, Dan, should be relatable to a variety of readers, not in his exact lifestyle or personal history, but in the way that his story demonstrates God’s redeeming mercy despite all of our worst struggles with sin.
pandaorb's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Norton's debut novel takes readers on a scenic journey through Purgatory in a way that feels almost Tolkien-esque in its descriptions of nature. The pace is as relaxed as one might expect from a meandering hike through rolling mountains but punctuated with frequently intense flashbacks through life that our protagonist needs to work through.
Despite being a story about Purgatory I can't say that this book felt exceptionally Catholic. It may as well have been The Great Divorce but for all its brief mentions of Catholic theology. There were no deep dives- no point at which Dan had a profound experience through any sacrament in his life, and that left me wanting more. The book was also a little too introspective for my taste, but I anticipated that going in. As it stands, A Hiker's Guide to Purgatory feels inescapably like a first novel, but with more time spent on editing (there were a few missing words, typos, and pacing issues) I think this could have easily gained 4.5 stars. In the end, this was a quick and enjoyable read that invited me to spend more time reflecting on my life, and that's really all I can ask.
Despite being a story about Purgatory I can't say that this book felt exceptionally Catholic. It may as well have been The Great Divorce but for all its brief mentions of Catholic theology. There were no deep dives- no point at which Dan had a profound experience through any sacrament in his life, and that left me wanting more. The book was also a little too introspective for my taste, but I anticipated that going in. As it stands, A Hiker's Guide to Purgatory feels inescapably like a first novel, but with more time spent on editing (there were a few missing words, typos, and pacing issues) I think this could have easily gained 4.5 stars. In the end, this was a quick and enjoyable read that invited me to spend more time reflecting on my life, and that's really all I can ask.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse
Moderate: Miscarriage and Infidelity
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Death of parent
hdcamp's review
4.0
3.5 stars (rounded up for the Goodreads)
Don't let the lowish rating fool you. This story is wonderful. Sometimes the description bogged me down - there's a lot of focus on the landscapes that Dan found himself in, which is obviously an important part of the story.
The concept of Purgatory as a hiking trip was revelatory. I have always personally considered Purgatory to be a place of cleansing; mystics have mentioned that it is painful, but I always understood the pain to be spiritual - to be so close to God, but to not be worthy of being in His presence. Especially recently I've learned that we can experience something similar on Earth. There were many stand-out moments that definitely merit further prayer, but my favorite was one where Dan has finally begun the ascent towards Heaven. He reaches a point where he can see across the landscape, and is blown away by the beauty and grandeur of it all. He pauses, lifting his arms, and is overwhelmed by a moment of unspoken praise. I have experienced this in real life, and the extreme lows and highs of hiking a tall mountain are why this makes the perfect analogy for Purgatory.
It's been so long since I finished this, that this review is sadly incomplete, but I can't recall more thoughts. The book comes recommended, and it's a breath of fresh air to read a work of contemporary Catholic fiction.
*I had the chance to discuss this with a couple of others who had read it, and we talked about how weird it was to read a book where the character was in no physical danger; a wild animal would appear, and we'd both privately panicked, thinking that Dan was going to get mauled.
Don't let the lowish rating fool you. This story is wonderful. Sometimes the description bogged me down - there's a lot of focus on the landscapes that Dan found himself in, which is obviously an important part of the story.
The concept of Purgatory as a hiking trip was revelatory. I have always personally considered Purgatory to be a place of cleansing; mystics have mentioned that it is painful, but I always understood the pain to be spiritual - to be so close to God, but to not be worthy of being in His presence. Especially recently I've learned that we can experience something similar on Earth. There were many stand-out moments that definitely merit further prayer, but my favorite was one where Dan has finally begun the ascent towards Heaven. He reaches a point where he can see across the landscape, and is blown away by the beauty and grandeur of it all. He pauses, lifting his arms, and is overwhelmed by a moment of unspoken praise. I have experienced this in real life, and the extreme lows and highs of hiking a tall mountain are why this makes the perfect analogy for Purgatory.
It's been so long since I finished this, that this review is sadly incomplete, but I can't recall more thoughts. The book comes recommended, and it's a breath of fresh air to read a work of contemporary Catholic fiction.
*I had the chance to discuss this with a couple of others who had read it, and we talked about how weird it was to read a book where the character was in no physical danger; a wild animal would appear, and we'd both privately panicked, thinking that Dan was going to get mauled.
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