Two Steps Forward

A Novel

By: Graeme Simsion, Anne Buist

Narrated by: Simon Slater, Penelope Rawlins

Length: 10 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

From the New York Times best-selling author of The Rosie Project comes a story of taking chances and learning to love again as two people, one mourning her husband and the other recovering from divorce, cross paths on the centuries-old Camino pilgrimage from France to Spain.

“The Chemin will change you. It changes everyone....”

The Chemin, also known as the Camino de Santiago, is a centuries-old pilgrim route that ends in Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain. Every year, thousands of walkers - some devout, many not - follow the route that wends through quaint small villages and along busy highways alike, a journey unlike any other.

Zoe, an artist from California who’s still reeling from her husband’s sudden death, has impulsively decided to walk the Camino, hoping to find solace and direction. Martin, an engineer from England, is road-testing a cart of his own design...and recovering from a messy divorce. They begin in the same French town, each uncertain of what the future holds. Zoe has anticipated the physical difficulties of her trek, but she is less prepared for other challenges, as strangers and circumstances force her to confront not just recent loss but long-held beliefs. For Martin, the pilgrimage is a test of his skills and endurance but also, as he and Zoe grow closer, of his willingness to trust others - and himself - again.

Smart and funny, insightful and romantic, Two Steps Forward reveals that the most important journeys we make aren’t measured in miles but in the strength, wisdom, and love found along the way. Fans of The Rosie Project will recognize Graeme Simsion’s uniquely quirky and charming writing style.

©2018 Graeme Simsion and Anne Buist (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers

Inspirational

Great story! Will listen again...




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Wonderful story

This was a well written, and well performed book. Going on this journey with the characters really made the reader introspective as well. not my usual, type of book, but very glad I listened.

Made me happy

There’s something about this book that is just satisfying. I was engaged from the beginning. I loved Zoe’s and Martin’s journeys. No, it wasn’t especially deep or earth shaking, but it made me happy. Sometimes that’s enough. I’d read a sequel in a heartbeat.

Camino de Santiago tales

Nice story entertaining at times. Flawed human beings all had their reasons to challenge themselves to do the pilgrimage in the end come together while they are physically challenged.

Funny, Sweet and Romantic

Lovely story of several people who meet while walking the Camino in France and Spain. This is a great taste of what it would be like to see beautiful scenery while backpacking through some of Europe's prettiest places. On top of that, the story has marvelously funny, sweet and flawed characters who help one another along their journey. A very nice, uplifting story that will make you smile.

Loved this book!

This was perfectly narrated and a wonderful story! I hiked the Camino and this took me back to many of the same events and emotions that I experienced. Now I want to hike it again!

Flawed but enjoyable

It’s a good story with interesting characters. Being Christian, I resented negativity about Christianity. I understand that is the opinion of many but it felt heavy handed to me. The other flaw was the female narrator. She sounded 20 yrs old, not 50. This was enough of a problem to pull me out of the story over and over again. I finished it, enjoyed it, but probably won’t listen again as I do with many books.

So enjoyed this simple and entertaining story

What a treat! Great character development and setting. I felt like I was right alongside them. My only complaint was the Martin narrator’s horrid American female accent
for Zoe. It sounded like some terrible, thick stereotypical NJ accent. Fortunately, the dialogue is so good that managed to get past it. I very much enjoyed this mind vacation.

Positive story with nice narration

A sweet and inspiring story with a few twists and beautiful ending. The narrators did well with the flow - the were not too slow or over the top dramatic. A perfect peaceful pace matching the story

Love Graeme Simsion's style

Simsion's geeky, male main characters are so endearing.
I've loved feeling like a part of the walk on Camino de Santiago and gaining insight into the minds of the walkers