A wild, nomadic hitchhike around Europe with two people in search of a life that inspires them.
After a near-fatal drug overdose in the late 1980s, Gerry Freeman leaves England in search of a better life and spiritual awakening. While hitchhiking around the South of France, he and his friend Jan meet an eclectic mix of carefree hippies, dashing celebrities, and kind-hearted strangers. Wine and parties abound—on the streets and beaches, wherever they find themselves—but the good times often come at the price of begging and having to steal food to survive.
Professional Reviews
Thought Provoking
This story is about a journey, not only one that traverses places for adventure but also the soul. It is honest and harsh and sad and somewhat sentimental, however, at its heart I would say it has been used as a vehicle on the road to acceptance and peace.
And though there is plenty of 'partying', where drugs and alcohol appear essential, I think these were tools for distraction, something to ease the pain of the past.
It is an honest account, and though not my usual reading, it is thought provoking. I did like the questioning of religion and believe that men wrote the Bible as a means of control and an effort to find certain truths, albeit from something made up in the minds of ignorance seeking answers.
Nevertheless, I think we should always keep an open mind and that there is a mystery to the universe, and that humans miss that which is important...if not that mythical idea of God, then Nature in all its wonder.
If you like to challenge your thinking then read this.
When You Believe In Yourself Yoy Will Soar
Trying to change a lifetime of habits is not easy. Wanting to rise above and create a better way of living his goal. But, Gerald Freeman had to overcome obstacles from his past, learn to understand who he is and wanted to be before being able to become the man he hoped to become. Overdosing on drugs, living on alcohol and traveling around to parties and drinking wine was the way he lived. More like a Bohemian searching for answers, looking for love and wanting to be accepted. When the author almost overdoses on drugs he convinces the doctors to allow him to leave England. Not really fully stable and cured of his own devices he looks inside himself and hopes to find Raphael or a spiritual awakening. Raphael is translated in standard Hebrew the God who heals, an archangel of Judaism, Islam and Christianity. Raphael in the Christian tradition performs types of healing where as in Islam, he is the fourth major angel. In Muslim the tradition is called Israfil. He is referred to in the Book of Tobit. He is generally associated with the angel mentioned in the Gospel of John, as stirring the water at the healing pool of Bethesda. He is also called the angel of Mormonism. As the author reflects about him at the beginning of the book before his journey begins he hopes to find him within himself and in his travels in order to finally change. With his friend Jan, they each are searching for their own answers, through the South of France, Italy, Spain and all over Europe they befriend many different kinds of people and learn the true meaning of loyalty, friendship and trust within each other and hopefully in those they encounter along the way. But, before Gerry can change he has to let go of the past, the abuse he took at the hand of his stepfather, the abandonment he feels regarding his mother and finally accept himself as the kind of person he really is.
Every step of the way you hope that Gerry will find his way out of the deep dark world he has been living in and into the light. When you look at the cover of this book you see an arrow pointing left to a shaded area filled with darkness, trees that are brown and no sunlight shining. Looking in the other direction where the arrow says future where the other says past, the water, blue sky and the bright sunlight represents hope, change and a new start. But, each time he takes a drink, smokes a joint or does drugs he goes deeper into the darkness and does not head for the future but is stuck in the past. Hear his voice as he meets the many people along the way, the groups he and Jan team up with, the arguments that ensue and the hope that they will always remain friends. From the hippies to the wonderful people that give them rides and money to celebrities they encounter along the way, this story is one that could be life changing and bring both Gerry and Jan into a better place but will they allow themselves to try? Parties, living on the street, on beaches or just hoping to find shelter, begging for food and finding a way to steal from markets, they use everything they have and know to survive. Odd jobs do not often come their way and fending for themselves they use every method they know whether right or wrong. Throughout the book the author is haunted by the past, the abuse he encountered at the hand of a man who was supposed to care and a mother who was helpless.
. When his sister and her friend join him the journey becomes more fun and meaningful but yet Gerry does not really change his ways and continues drinking and smoking. Even his sister when she sees him has a hard time recognizing him since his appearance greatly changed. The people he meets, following the grapes to get jobs, living in houses of strangers and taking bold chances with his safety and life allow readers to know just how far it seems that he will go to escape himself, his past and hopefully create a future. Washing dishes at a resort in the Alps just might be the turning point for him. But, first he has to learn to accept himself for who he is appreciate the qualities that make him the person that people seem to like because if they did not they would not give him rides, look away at his indiscretions and help him and Jan along the way. The harsh realization about what he was doing with his life and the fact that taking pills caused him to act in different ways should have been a wake up call. Friendships change, people fall out of his life, jobs change and one man has faith in him and tries to give him a chance to rise above and see the light in the future. But, his actions sometimes speak louder than his words and meeting Mel and Pete would change things but not always in a good way. Fights break out, hands are raised and now Gerry needs to look inside himself, let the past go and become the person he can be if he allows himself to see who and what he really is.
Within the ending Gerry learns quite a bit about himself, his true goals and what he thinks he wants for his life. A harsh reality and a difficult decision and an ending that will allow readers to understand that some people do not want permanent in their lives while others do. Some want to travel the world and see it all and others want stability. But, drinking, smoking grass and using drugs is one way to see things but not through your own eyes and not in the right way. Just where is Gerry now and what will he do? What about his friendship with Jan and what about that changes? What does he learn about himself, God and Raphael? Read the memoir and find out for yourself and decide which part of the cover he is moving towards: Is he still in the past? Going towards the future or right in the middle?
Archangel Raphael is the “supreme healer in the angelic realm. His main role is to support, heal and guide in matters involving the health. Raphael means “ God Heals or He who heals in Hebrew. Calling upon Raphael, as the author does many times in this novel, you will learn he is there. He wants you to know that he’s with you and as a way of comforting you and taking way your stress along with helping you on the way to a healthy recovery.
In order to connect some people just close their eyes, relax and breathe imagining that they are surrounded with light, angels and that the angel is now with you. Opening your mind and see the emerald green light all round you and you will know he is there. Gerry just open your mind and your heart and you will see that he is with you right now. To change and become who I know from reading this novel who you really want to be you have to believe in yourself first.
A Brilliant True Travel Story About Freedom
I couldn't put this book down. The story chugs along at a fantastic pace and you are always wondering what is next in store for the two characters as they travel around France (and a bit of Italy) looking for adventure and new experiences. It's a true story of a young man putting his (awful) past behind him and finding freedom and himself through his vagabond travels with his girlfriend. There is a bit of soul searching and plenty of amazing encounters as they tumble from one experience to the next on a shoe string.
If you like true, autobiographical travel stories, you will love this book. Now I want to go hitch-hiking around Europe!
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