The Longest Way Home – Andrew McCarthy
I think you’d be hard pressed not to read this book if you didn’t find Andrew McCarthy dreamy in St. Elmo’s Fire and Pretty Prink as a teen.
I was keen to get lost in this book – which I did but it was a tad disappointing. Let me just say that up front.
In this book you will experience Andrew being unable to commit to his fiancée of nearly four years. With no clear understanding of what’s holding him back—he found himself at a crossroads, plagued by doubts that have clung to him for a lifetime. Something in his character has kept him always at a distance, preventing him from giving himself wholeheartedly to the woman he loves and from becoming the father that he knows his children deserve. Instead of staying at home to figure out next steps – he takes off on a travel adventure. Hmmm, yep.
Hobbling up the treacherous slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro, dodging gregarious passengers aboard an Amazonian riverboat, and trudging through dense Costa Rican rain forests—the journey is exquisitely written, beautiful exotic images and true moments to reflect within on your own as a reader.
On his soul-searching voyages, Andrew traces the path from his New Jersey roots, where acting saved his life—and early fame almost took it away—to his transformation into a leading travel writer. He faces the real costs of his early success and lays bare the evolving nature of his relationships with women. He explores a strained bond with his father, and how this complex dynamic shapes his own identity as a parent. Andrew charts his journey from ambivalence to confidence, from infidelity and recklessness to acceptance and a deeper understanding of the internal conflicts of his life.
I appreciated his moments of self discovery and his love song to his wife but at times it felt like he was whining. It was obvious the man had wanderlust and there is no fault that. But the constant rocking back and forth on if he should marry this woman made me yawn. I didn’t care enough.
That said – I enjoyed reading his travel writing and odes to off the beaten track spots. This book inspired me to jot down these spots in prep for a land mark birthday next year.
If you are keen to read a good piece of travel writing, learn about people Andrew meets on his way and some neat life anecdotes – this book is worth a purchase. Don’t get bogged down with his marriage woes. It all comes together in the end.
The Longest Way Home
Andrew McCarthy
Print Length: 290 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1451667485
Publisher: Free Press; 1 edition (September 18, 2012)
Sold by: Simon and Schuster
Buy it here! http://www.chapters.indigo.ca
