A review by pandaorb
A Hiker's Guide to Purgatory by Michael Norton

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Norton's debut novel takes readers on a scenic journey through Purgatory in a way that feels almost Tolkien-esque in its descriptions of nature. The pace is as relaxed as one might expect from a meandering hike through rolling mountains but punctuated with frequently intense flashbacks through life that our protagonist needs to work through.
Despite being a story about Purgatory I can't say that this book felt exceptionally Catholic. It may as well have been The Great Divorce but for all its brief mentions of Catholic theology. There were no deep dives- no point at which Dan had a profound experience through any sacrament in his life, and that left me wanting more. The book was also a little too introspective for my taste, but I anticipated that going in. As it stands, A Hiker's Guide to Purgatory feels inescapably like a first novel, but with more time spent on editing (there were a few missing words, typos, and pacing issues) I think this could have easily gained 4.5 stars. In the end, this was a quick and enjoyable read that invited me to spend more time reflecting on my life, and that's really all I can ask. 
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