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Two Steps Forward
Two Steps Forward | Graeme Simsion, Anne Buist
That [Simsions] books are as funny and charming and often touching as they are is a tribute to the skill with which theyre written. NPR Zoe, a sometime artist, is from California. Martin, an engineer, is from Yorkshire. Both have ended up in picturesque Cluny, in central France. Both are struggling to come to terms with their recent pastfor Zoe, the death of her husband; for Martin, a messy divorce. Looking to make a new start, each sets out alone to walk two thousand kilometres from Cluny to Santiago, in northwestern Spain, in the footsteps of pilgrims who have walked the Caminothe Wayfor centuries. The Camino changes you, its said. Its a chance to find a new version of yourself. But can these two very different people find each other? In this smart, funny and romantic journey, Martins and Zoes stories are told in alternating chapters by husband-and-wife team Graeme Simsion and Anne Buist. Two Steps Forward is a novel about renewalphysical, psychological and spiritual. Its about the challenge of walking a long distance and of working out where you are going. And its about what you decide to keep, what you choose to leave behind and what you rediscover. Fate took the form of a silver scallop shell in the window of an antique store in the medieval French town of Cluny. It was laying on its back as if waiting for Boticelli's Venus, luring her with a cluster of coloured stones at one end of a white enamel edge. I was compulsively drawn to it. Maybe the universe was sending me a message; more likely it was my head being in another time zone. I had been travelling for twenty-four hours since I walked out of my home in Los Angeles for the last time. Graeme Simsion is the internationally bestselling author of The Rosie Project, The Rosie Effect and The Best of Adam Sharp. Anne Buist is chair of Women's Mental Health at the University of Melbourne and author of the Natalie King psychological thrillers. They live together in Melbourne. The leisurely paced novel explores themes of forgiveness and self-discovery with gentle humour...A feel-good, mature romance that explores what we need to let go of to move forward. Books+Publishing I enjoyed every moment of this informative, funny and sweet novel. Readings
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RebelReader
Two Steps Forward | Graeme Simsion
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Pickpick

Walking the Camino de Santiago has long been a dream of mine so I enjoyed this book immensely. I think it may have focused more on the positive fun thinks about such a long walk, but our reading can‘t be all gloom and doom, right?
Thanks @DebbieGrillo for the recommendation!

BookBelle84 I loved this and it made me add this walk to my bucket list! My favourite of his books 2y
RebelReader @BookBelle84 ❤️❤️❤️ My favorite of his too 2y
45 likes2 comments
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Jhullie
Two Steps Forward | Graeme Simsion, Anne Buist
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Pickpick

I loved this book. Told in two voices, it conveys the stories of Zoe and Martin as they take on the challenge of walking the Camino Pilgrimage from France to Spain. Various quirky and colourful characters are met along the way and the ending is uplifting and inspiring. Definitely on my “to be read again” pile.

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JamieArc
Two Steps Forward | Graeme Simsion, Anne Buist
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Pickpick

A tale of an American and Brit who find themselves walking the Camino de Santiago. It was fitting that I finished this book today, as I finished my own Camino on this day 5 years ago. I couldn‘t help but to compare this story to my own, but it was lovely to be reminded of my journey. {Book pictured here with my Camino paraphernalia}.

smilingshelves After reading this book and the tagged one, walking the Camino is now on my bucket list! 5y
57 likes1 comment
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Karen.reads
Two Steps Forward | Graeme Simsion, Anne Buist
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Mehso-so

I was excited to read a book set on the Camino, but there was a lot here that didn‘t work for me. The beginning sections are heavy on Camino logistics and light on characterization. And the pacing is really uneven. At first it‘s kind of cute how the characters misinterpret different situations, but after a while that had me rolling my eyes.

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Erika13137
Two Steps Forward | Graeme Simsion, Anne Buist
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Pickpick

Oh my goodness! What an amazing read! I could not put this book down. A great adventure for some amazing characters. I didn‘t realize the authors were married and had completed the Camino together. I found this book to be very inspirational. It‘s about finding what you didn‘t know was lost and making peace.

P.s. finished this after Juno had her bath.

#corgisoflitsy #dogsoflitsy #bathtime

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Soubhiville
Two Steps Forward | Graeme Simsion, Anne Buist
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Pickpick

I really enjoy Graeme Simsion‘s writing.
This was a terrific book about walking the Camino de Santiago from France to Spain. It‘s traditionally a religious journey, but the two main characters are walking for very different reasons. Told from their two points of view, I loved joining them on their walks. 🚶🏻‍♂️🚶🏼‍♀️

Soubhiville Oh, and this fits the #LittenLoveBingo square for a @MrBook #TBRTemptation. Good call MrBook! @BookishMarginalia (edited) 6y
MrBook @Soubhiville @BookishMarginalia Wait, what?! 😳 There‘s #LitsyLovesBingo MrBook #TBRtemptation square?! 😱☺️ Oh my goodness! Blushing fiercely now ☺️☺️☺️🙈. 😁 6y
Soubhiville @MrBook you didn‘t know? Yes there sure is! 6y
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MrBook @Soubhiville Had no idea. 🙈 6y
MrBook Sheesh! There‘s over 2,000, so that shouldn‘t be difficult. 😆 6y
KendallMorganHall Just placed a hold on it from the library. Thank you for the recommendation! 6y
89 likes1 stack add6 comments
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Soubhiville
Two Steps Forward | Graeme Simsion, Anne Buist
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#LitsyWalkers @kaye
It‘s a little ironic that my current audiobook is about walking 😊.
It‘s still cold out, but the sun ALMOST managed to break through the clouds today. The bottom photo is a flock of cedar waxwings. We get thousands of them every spring for just a couple of weeks as they migrate back up north. They clean all the trees of any seeds and berries still hanging on after winter.

gradcat Love those birds on a wire! 🐦 6y
79 likes1 comment
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WanderingBookaneer
Two Steps Forward | Graeme Simsion, Anne Buist
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Hoping to finish tagged book tonight. Also, I usually have a nonfiction book in the back burner. I have to pick something out.

jmofo I usually have a nf going all of the time and usually some audiobook as well. Two non-fiction audiobooks I loved that are informative and engaging/fun but not so involved I couldn‘t read other stuff were Braiding Sweetgrass and 6y
82 likes1 comment
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AshleyC816
Two Steps Forward | Graeme Simsion, Anne Buist
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Pickpick

This was pretty cute, I always enjoy the story of a journey. I didn‘t quite get the connection between the leads, but otherwise it was a fun read.

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Laru79
Two Steps Forward | Graeme Simsion, Anne Buist
Pickpick

So I didn‘t finish this in time for book club, although we had a great chat about it and all kinds of other things, as all book clubs should!! It was a sweet story and I liked the will they, won‘t they storyline and the hopeful ending. Could there be a sequel? Possibly. Would I read it? Only a maybe, I liked what I read but I‘m not sure I need to read more.

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Laru79
Two Steps Forward | Graeme Simsion, Anne Buist
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Starting on this tonight for saturday‘s book club! Looking forward to a catch up with the group after a summer off. Should be a nice book to talk about... am only a few pages in and I‘m already intrigued to see what happens.

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JacintaMCarter
Two Steps Forward | Graeme Simsion, Anne Buist
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Mehso-so

#2018Book79
I liked the setting of this book and the secondary characters were great. The two main characters, however, seemed to just be gender-swapped versions of each other. Instead of having distinct personalities, it felt like the authors wrote one character and then said, we need a love interest; so they just copied and pasted the character but changed the name.

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AmyLarge
Two Steps Forward | Graeme Simsion, Anne Buist
Pickpick

An Englishman with a point to prove, an American with a past she needs to face. And a walk of epic proportions. This book is rather remarkable in terms of having so many strengths - you can appreciate the physical challenges faced, you can focus on the emotional journeys of the main characters, you can fall in love with the towns and villages they pass through and you can take the troupe of colourful pilgrims they meet along the way to your heart.

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ValerieAndBooks
Two Steps Forward | Graeme Simsion, Anne Buist
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Panpan

In the Q & A in the back of this novel, the husband/wife author team state that this wasn‘t a travel log. But, unfortunately, it felt that way to me. It‘s too bad, because the premise was intriguing— two people (Zoe and Martin) alternate their POV while they walk a pilgrim route in Europe (would like to see someday). But the story felt flat to me, even when trying not to compare to Simison‘s Rosie books, which I liked a lot.

Reggie This is disappointing. I wanted to read this too because of the Rosie Project. 6y
ValerieAndBooks @Reggie It may just be me. Even though it‘s not like his earlier books, others here seem to like it. I could send you my copy? 6y
Reggie Thank you, but I‘ll pass. I have so much book mail to read through and some bookclub picks to read so I can send them out. But thank you for the kind offer, Valerie. 6y
ValerieAndBooks @Reggie no problem. Have fun trying to catch up on your reading 😁!! 6y
Lynnsoprano Disappointing. I so liked the Rosie books, but I trust your judgment 😊 6y
66 likes5 comments
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Becker
Two Steps Forward | Graeme Simsion, Anne Buist
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This was recommended by a co-worker that really enjoyed it. Unfortunately I am half way through and I‘m not feeling the love. I plan to finish but it looks like this one is not for me.😕

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ValerieAndBooks
Two Steps Forward | Graeme Simsion, Anne Buist
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Just noticed this typo on the back of this novel. It actually threw me off for a while. He isn‘t road-testing a car in the actual story, but a carT. 🤷🏻‍♀️

ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Big difference between a car and a cart! Yikes 6y
ValerieAndBooks @ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Right?! I am so surprised it went to print with that typo. 6y
59 likes2 comments
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ValerieAndBooks
Two Steps Forward | Graeme Simsion, Anne Buist
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I haven‘t been reading much these past few days — lots of extensive yard work. But today is a rainy day; getting started on this one.

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Lmstraubie
Two Steps Forward | Graeme Simsion, Anne Buist
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this fictional tale of hiking the Camino. I'm even more inspired to tackle it myself!

DivineDiana This is a dream of mine too!🚶🏼‍♀️ 6y
JamieArc I did it 4 years ago and it will probably be a top life event for the rest of my life 6y
Lmstraubie @DivineDiana One day! 🤞🤞 6y
Lmstraubie @JamieArc I'm jealous (and full of questions). Did you do the Spanish or French side? How many miles did you walk? What time of year did you do it? 6y
JamieArc I walked from St Jean Pierre de Port on the French side to Santiago, then on to the coast in Muxia. About 550 miles in 44 days. I did it in the fall and would totally recommend that time of year. Gorgeous and less crowded. And I love talking about it so ask any questions you‘d like! 6y
42 likes3 stack adds5 comments
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Lmstraubie
Two Steps Forward | Graeme Simsion, Anne Buist
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Next up on #audio I've read Walking Home which is a nonfiction account of walking the Camino. Tackling this hike is at the top of my bucket list!

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ValerieAndBooks
Two Steps Forward | Graeme Simsion, Anne Buist
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Received this today via #LibraryThing Early Reviewers program. Looking forward to reading it — I enjoyed his Rosie books (the first one more)!

Melissa_J I bought this one a month or two ago but haven‘t read it yet. I hope you enjoy it. 6y
75 likes1 stack add1 comment
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MrBook
Two Steps Forward | Graeme Simsion, Anne Buist
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#TBRtemptation post 10! I'm really looking forward to this one! Love his Rosie Project material! The Chemin, or Camino de Santiago, is a pilgrimage that ends in Spain. Two people set out in the same French town, a California artist recently widowed, and a British engineer. As they journey, they grow close, and they will find out remarkable things about themselves and each other. #blameLitsy #blameMrBook 😎

JamieArc I‘ve walked the Camino! So glad to see this! Thanks! 6y
MrBook @JamieArc 😁👏🏻🤗🤗🤗! That's amazing! There's another book I've read within the past couple years, I think, that took place along the Camino 🤔. Wish I could remember which one it was! 6y
JamieArc @MrBook If you think of it, do let me know! 6y
71 likes6 stack adds3 comments
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JoyBlue
Two Steps Forward | Graeme Simsion, Anne Buist
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Pickpick

I got a ton of reading done in the car today, on the nearly-4-hour-each-way drive to and from Number Two Son's college graduation. [He's the one in the back.]

I liked this book less than The Rosie Project; but possibly a bit more than The Best of Adam Sharp. As soon as the pilgrimage started, I thought of the movie The Way (which was mentioned later in the book, and which I'd like to watch again). 3+

Cinfhen Congrats!!!! 6y
JoyBlue @Cinfhen Thank you! 😁🎓 6y
92 likes2 comments
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BookBelle84
Two Steps Forward | Graeme Simsion, Anne Buist
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Pickpick

This book was so charming and uplifting! Reading about people on their walking trek through France and Spain, working through their problems while coming together to help eachother. Such an endearing look at humanity and a refreshing love story.

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JoyBlue
Two Steps Forward | Graeme Simsion, Anne Buist
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"Destiny speaks to those who choose to hear."

Destiny has been quite the chatty Cathy to me lately. We'll see how that turns out....

83 likes1 stack add
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jillrhudy
Two Steps Forward | Graeme Simsion, Anne Buist
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Intriguing. I loved The Rosie Project, its sequel notsomuch...

Aimeesue Sequels are hard to do right. ☹️ 6y
11 likes1 comment
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BookNAround
Two Steps Forward | Graeme Simsion, Anne Buist
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Pickpick

I‘m on a roll! Two reviews in two days. 😁. This is a charming mid-life, second chances, finding yourself kind of book. It‘s leisurely paced with romance, the goodness of human beings, and self-reflection. Full review at http://booknaround.blogspot.com/2018/05/review-two-steps-forward-by-graeme.html.

tammysue 🙌🏻😁 6y
Cinfhen Good job 6y
62 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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BookBelle84
Two Steps Forward | Graeme Simsion, Anne Buist
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Eggs ❤️❤️ 6y
17 likes1 comment
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BookNAround
Two Steps Forward | Graeme Simsion, Anne Buist
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Just finished book #3 for #4in48Readathon. It was a heartwarming tale of healing and resilience. Onwards to book #4. @Syndelle777

Edit: The walking stick is mine from childhood when my family walked the metro trails together many weekends.

BeansPage Nice! Go girl go! 7y
wanderinglynn Wow! 😮 Way to go! 🙌🏻 7y
Soubhiville I like this author. I‘ll have to look for this one. You‘re rocking this readathon! 7y
See All 6 Comments
Andrew65 Very impressive...and some! 🙌🙌🙌🙌 7y
tammysue Doing great! 👏🏻🙌🏻 7y
JoyBlue This is on-deck in my Overdrive. 7y
74 likes3 stack adds6 comments
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JacintaMCarter
Two Steps Forward | Graeme Simsion, Anne Buist
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Jprglisa
Two Steps Forward | Graeme Simsion, Anne Buist
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Joining the #readathon today for the first time! Great to have an excuse to read all day :)

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readingjedi
Two Steps Forward | Graeme Simsion, Anne Buist
Pickpick

Nothing ground breaking or soul shattering here. Just a solidly entertaining read. A nicely done dual narrative with each of the authors writing the alternating chapters of the 2 main characters. The differing writing styles of the writers created an authenticity to the voices of these characters and allowed them to develop naturally. Also it reminded me of Cheryl Strayed's Wild which I loved.

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readingjedi
Two Steps Forward | Graeme Simsion, Anne Buist
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Just starting a new one. Really should go to bed .... nah, I'm good for a coupla chapters 😉

#netgalley

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Mich1
Two Steps Forward | Graeme Simsion, Anne Buist
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Pickpick

Totally enjoyed this entertaining tale of Zoe, a recently widowed artist from LA, and Martin, a messily divorced Brit, who are both making the trek through parts of France and Spain on the Camino. Loved the characters, places they visited and lessons along the way.

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AceOnRoam
Two Steps Forward | Graeme Simsion, Anne Buist
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As I work my way through each Man Booker shortlisted read I need these fun books in between. And how good is my lunch view today @Barbarabb ? You have probably eaten here at Bigovo.

#LiveOnABoat
#ReadingOnRoam

BarbaraBB I ate at a wonderful restaurant called Galion though maybe it changed its name because it looks a lot like the one on your picture! 7y
TrishB Gorgeous 💝 7y
AceOnRoam I think Galion is about 5 miles up the coast from here @Barbarabb We may try it on Friday!! 7y
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AceOnRoam It is @TrishB thank you 7y
Ms_T Another beautiful view ❤️ 7y
AceOnRoam @Ms_T yes, it's so peaceful ☺ 7y
Cinfhen Beautiful 🙌🏻 7y
AceOnRoam Thanks @Cinfhen it's glorious 😎 7y
LeahBergen Sigh!! 😍😍😍 7y
39 likes9 comments