Booktopia Buzz Book of the Month for December 2008

By Toni Whitmont

Listen to the author being interviewed by the Booktopia Buzz Editor, Toni Whitmont, by clicking here.

Listen to Joel Stratte-McClure read an excerpt from the book by clicking here.

Booktopia Buzz Review:

American Stratte-McClure is that rare bird among writers who can write a memoir that addresses the universal without sounding pompous or self-indulgent. Here is a man who tackles the most fundamental subjects with wit and profoundity in equal measure.

In the midst of a mid-life crisis of seemingly epic proportions, Stratte-McClure, an ex-pat American living in the south of France, put on his hiking boots and strode out, in the footsteps (sort of) of his childhood hero Odysseus. In fact, serial hiker Stratte-McClure determined to walk around the Mediterranean as close to the coast (and regrettably occasionally falling off the edge of the coast) as possible. On his way he made a fine fist of walking meditation while meeting his fair share of demons and temptresses, gods and monsters.

The Idiot and the Odyssey is the result. Described as Eat Pray Love for men, it is Stratte-McLure's account of that journey carried out with determination, a sack full of Homeric quotes and Buddhist wisdom. It is entertaining, informative and inspirational.

In fact, this book is much more than Eat Pray Love for men. It is an any-body (any age, any gender, any stage of life) book and as such , I am very happy to make it my book of the month.