The Winding Road to Portugal is an honest and insightful book that is great for readers who are interested in people.
The Winding Road to Portugal is a companion to Louise Ross’ previous collection of writing, Women Who Walk. This time we gain an insight into a selection of men who have taken the “winding route” to find themselves in Portugal. In addition to the same emotional and intellectual insights as Ross’ first collection, this book delivers an up to date account and includes details at the end of each chapter about how each contributor is managing in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
Each life story that is featured in this book is fascinating, honest and at times moving. Included in part of the premise of this book is the question of whether men do have it easier, and I enjoyed that this book shed light on what is described as unconventional life choices that brought these contributors from around the world to Portugal. As with women, men don’t all fit into the boxes constructed by their gender.
The introduction of this book compares the contributions in this book to the ones in Women Who Walk and it is very easy to continue the comparison. I would say that these books would sit together well, but I don’t think it is vital to have read Women Who Walk first. The Winding Road to Portugal is an honest and insightful book that is great for readers who are interested in people.
This book flows very well and each interview has been edited in a way that keeps the flow of the narratives while also maintaining each contributor’s unique voice. This is a brilliant book of life stories and the freedom and opportunity afforded by travel.