Review: Neon Pilgrim by Lisa Dempster

At age twenty-eight, Lisa Dempster undertook something that anyone would find daunting--walking the henro michi, an 88 temple pilgrimage through the mountains of Japan. At the time, Lisa was depressed and unemployed. It was also the middle of summer in Japan. Regardless, she makes the pilgrimage and tells her remarkable story in Neon Pilgrim.

This isn't a story of depression, or of the things that led Lisa to Japan. Instead, it's a story of someone who undertook a daunting task, succeeded and had a number of remarkable experiences along the way. Bit by bit, the author tells the story of her walking journey--of the temples, the traditions, and the people that she encounters--from new friends to people who well, seem to have their own issues.

The author speaks with a lot of warmth and a dash of humour. I enjoyed the gentle storytelling and it was easy to picture her journey through Shikoku.

Highly recommended.

Thank you to Ventura Press for my copy of Neon Pilgrim.

This book was read as part of the Aussie Author Challenge 2017


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