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Although the story is compacted into a short time frame, “The Walk” by Richard Paul Evans has some heavy-hitting lessons to impart. No matter how secure we think we are, or how well put together our lives seem from the outside, we’re all only a misfortunate event or two from disaster. And–take it from someone who’s been there–the world can drop a misfortunate event or two on anyone, anywhere, anytime, for any reason or no reason at all.

The first part of the story shows the unraveling of the protagonist’s world in vivid detail, which leads him to the darkest of places. We need to see him hit rock bottom so we can have the privilege of watching him drag himself back from the brink and claw his way, inch by laborious inch at first, from the depths of grief into the richness of life.

“The Walk” is beautifully written, in that healing happens naturally, not through preaching or time-worn platitudes, but through the wisdom of ordinary people the main character meets as he travels on foot from Seattle to Spokane. Some of the people have been through trials, some are simply kind, and a few are just plain eccentric. But all contribute to his journey in meaningful ways.

“The Walk” is the first book in a series that tells about the travels of the main character on foot from Seattle, Washington, to Key West, Florida on a quest for healing and discovery. I’m intrigued enough that I’ll probably look up the remaining books in the series and put them on my Audible wish list.

About the Author

Jo Elizabeth Pinto was among the first blind students to integrate the public schools in the 1970’s. In 1992, she received a degree in Human Services from the University of Northern Colorado. While teaching students how to use adaptive technology, she earned a second degree in 2004 from the Metropolitan State College of Denver in Nonprofit Management. She freelances as an editor and a braille proofreader and is a contributor of The Writer’s Grapevine Magazine where more articles like this may be found.

As an author, Pinto entertains her readers while giving them food for thought. In her fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, she draws on personal experience to illustrate that hope is always an action away.

Pinto lives in Colorado with her husband, her teenage daughter, her guide dog Spreckles, and an aging family cat named Sam-I-Am.

Her website is: http://www.brightsideauthor.com.