If you're interested in the idea of pilgrimage, this is the book for you. Penn mixes her own interests and experiences with useful advice for anyone considering a pilgrimage, religious or otherwise. Well-written and intriguing.

The beginning of the book seemed like it would go into religious roots, but it's just the first chapter and the rest of the book was what I was kind of expected it to be. The book covered the part that pilgrimage consists of and what to be aware of. Some parts are clear and logical, but some things are what you know or understand but never think about per se.
A great read and great mental preparation with actual advice, tips, and resources for those who are planning to make their first (or second) pilgrimage, and you bet I'm more prepared now and thinking about it even more frequently.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Curl Up Press, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Pilgrimage : Lessons Learned from Solo Walking Three Ancient Ways. This is a guidebook and memoir in one. It is well written but was a bit disjointed in places trying to combine the different pilgrimages with lessons and memories. I would love to read each of the separate pilgrimages as a travel log memoir. This is a great book for anyone planning to do a pilgrimage because it will wet your appetite for going, as well as provide you with practical information.

I often thought about doing a pilgrimagewalk, but it's so daunting! But for those interested in doing one, this book may well be a good place to start planning for it. It covers basic: walking to get used to the distance of the pilgrimage, how to arrange the trip (tour or solo), where to sleep various (rough it, plan stays ahead of walk, have an agent do it for you), carry your own gear (and what to take or leave behind), sightsee or not,... the book seems to cover all the bases. As a mostly armchair journeryer these days, I enjoyed reading about the different routes and things and people one might meet along the way. `I may make a trip yet!
The author, having walked the routes, seems a pretty good authority on the subject.

Pilgrimages (and, more specifically, the Camino de Santiago) have popped up in my mind (and, frankly, my social feeds, LOL) every so often--both before and after the pandemic. So this book was good timing!

I really enjoyed seeing some different pilgrimage options beyond the Camino de Santiago; Britain is near and dear to my heart, yet I really didn't know anything about pilgrimages there. The book certainly whetted my appetite to start there--the Camino is great, and Spain is great (I've been twice), but man, my heart is in England. I have a feeling any pilgrimage I'd do there would be its own level of special.

Penn's _Pilgrimage_ combines travel guide and memoir, sometimes slightly unevenly (as though it weren't sure which to be). Sometimes the combo worked quite well; other times, less so. But, I particularly appreciated the questions and resources at the end of each chapter, and I'm sure i'll refer back to both during my own planning sessions.

Penn writes engagingly and thoughtfully; I was drawn in to her story from the get-go. As a Christian myself, it did make me sad to read about her departure from the faith, and to see it so bluntly in black and white.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I received a free copy of, Pilgrimage, by J.F. Penn, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I have been on a few pilgrimages and loved them. I enjoyed this book, it was a good but short read on pilgrimages, mainly walking pilgrimages, how to prepare, what to bring, etc.