“The Walk: A Novel” is the latest book from Richard Paul Evans, a prolific writer who is maybe best known for his book “The Christmas Box”.  In this novel, which is the first of a planned series, Evans writes about Alan Christoffersen, a 28 year-old who has just lost his wife, McKale, who died from the results of a tragic horseback riding accident.  Christoffersen had been very much in love with McKale, and was the very successful owner of an advertising agency.  While taking caring of McKale after her accident, and before her death, his partner basically “stole” the clients from the ad agency and formed another agency.  Christoffersen’s business failed, he lost his house to foreclosure, and, worst of all, his beloved wife died.

Desperate as to what to do, Christoffersen decides he will take a walk.  He lives in Seattle and decide to leave everything and walk to Key West, ”the furthest point reachable by foot.”  Most of the book covers the early days in his walk.  The chapters are short, and the pages turn quickly.  It is fairly interesting, but there is little depth.  The author, Evans, spends too much time on details about what he eats on his journey and on how his legs are aching, and not nearly enough time on what he encounters on the journey.  In the sections where Evans details the encounters, the book is far more intriguing, and it is these sections that make you stay with the book.

As mentioned, this is the first of a series.  I will not tell you how far Christoffersen gets on his journey in this first book.  The book is light, quick reading. 

On a scale of 1 to 5 (5 being GREAT), columbiabookseller gives “The Walk”  a  3

We welcome your comments and feedback!! 

“The Walk: A Novel”

Richard Paul Evans

Published by Simon & Schuster, April 2010

ISBN  978-1439187319

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