"Becoming Odyssa" is a pilgrimage memoir that probes the interwoven relationship between the trail, the hike, memory, the self, becoming, and God. It explores both the physical and spiritual journey of one young woman as she sets out to hike the Appalachian Trail out of a sense of calling to do so, and after the 2,175 mile journey finds that she is more certain of herself than she has ever been. She confronts her fears, wrestles with solitude, identity, and community, and grows into an acute awareness of her own experiences of the presence of God. In the process, she finds her way home – not to a physical place, but to a place of truly knowing herself and feeling at home with who she is.
Written in such a way that the reader joins with Jennifer’s steps, it unfolds not as a travelogue but as an inward journey that both parallels and grows out of the outward journey. The reader travels through a new physical landscape and into a new spiritual topic with each successive chapter.
For the reader who desires to explore the relationship between the physical and spiritual trials and triumphs of a pilgrimage-on-foot, Becoming Odyssa is an excellent read. However, the value of this book is not limited to those who will spend several months on an actual, physical journey: it also is an excellent resource for any who long for a story that will provide a means for reflection upon such topics as love, truth, home, generosity, and perseverance.
Pharr Davis, Jennifer. Becoming Odyssa: Epic Adventures on the Appalachian Trail, Beaufort Books, 2010.
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