Episode Overview

Podcast: From the Front Porch
Episode: 565: Into the Backlist: Walking With Sam
Date: January 22, 2026
Host: Annie Jones

This episode of "From the Front Porch" continues the "Into the Backlist" series, in which host Annie Jones spotlights older or “unsung” books that deserve renewed attention. This session centers on Andrew McCarthy’s 2023 travel memoir Walking with Sam, chronicling McCarthy’s experience walking the Camino de Santiago with his then 19-year-old son, Sam. Annie explores what makes this memoir resonate—not just as a travelogue, but as a candid portrayal of parenting and the process of letting go as children step into adulthood.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Magic of Bookstore "Backlist" Titles

• Indie bookstores create serendipitous experiences for readers—not just with new releases but with overlooked, older titles.
• Annie shares her process of highlighting backlist gems ("Books we secretly hope a customer stumbles upon, asks us about, and eventually takes home for themselves." [03:23]).

Discovering Walking with Sam

• Annie discovered the book by chance during a Barnes & Noble date night, attracted by its bright yellow cover and evocative title.
• She felt an immediate connection after reading the first paragraph, identifying with Sam's penchant for tipping over glasses and drawn in by McCarthy’s warm, detailed writing.

"I opened Walking with Sam, and I read the first couple sentences... and I was hooked. I immediately was like, I think I need this book." (08:41)

Andrew McCarthy's Evolution

• Yes, “that Andrew McCarthy”—the former Brat Pack actor—has shifted into a successful second act as a travel writer and memoirist, even serving as an editor at large at National Geographic Traveler.
• Annie gives an overview of his writing and film career, noting that his fame in youth and subsequent search for meaning and belonging infuses his memoir work.

The Memoir's Dual Identity: Travel and Parenting

• The book follows McCarthy and Sam along the Camino de Santiago. But, Annie emphasizes:
  • It’s as much about parenting a near-adult child as it is about the journey itself.
  • McCarthy’s reflections on his own anxieties and overprotectiveness—paired with moments of letting Sam be himself—make for compelling and relatable reading.

"McCarthy spends much of the book trying to reconnect or just connect with his son, occasionally offering wisdom that's rebutted more often than not, repeatedly encouraging him to wake up in time to beat the sweltering heat..." (14:32)

• Annie was particularly struck by the universality of the parenting experience, especially as Sam, freshly broken up with his girlfriend, oscillates between independence and vulnerability.

The Structure and Feel of the Journey

• Walking with Sam is structured so readers share the physical and emotional arc of a pilgrimage:

  • Early chapters are filled with expectation, the middle gets sloggy in the Spanish summer heat, and the ending brings together movement towards the goal—Santiago—as both literal and metaphorical closure.
  • Each chapter begins with a quote and a “miles to Santiago” countdown, reinforcing the pilgrimage's progression.

• The book meanders engagingly, covering:

  • Relationships and generational dynamics
  • The Camino’s culture and history
  • Snapshots of fellow travelers and local color

"You really do, as a reader, get to travel with them." (18:44)

Appeal, Readership, and Bookstore Magic

• Annie finds the book short, propulsive, yet deeply satisfying—"I flew through it, and at the same time, I took my time with it because I really enjoyed it." (20:08)
• She reflects on the importance of bookstores being able to keep titles like this in stock, acknowledging the serendipity of discovery—both for her and for potential readers.

Book Stats, Critical Reception, and Context

Book Details:

• Originally published: May 2023 (Grand Central Publishing, 256 pages)
• Paperback: 2024

Critical Reception:

• Mostly positive; Kirkus and New York Times reviews praised the honest, hard journey and father/son dynamic, but noted the book is "no advertisement for the pilgrimage" due to heat and discomfort (Annie disagrees, finding these parts core to the experience).
• 4.3 stars on Goodreads, over 7,000 ratings, New York Times bestseller

Notable Review Summaries

• Kirkus: "A candid record of a difficult journey."
• The New York Times (Gregory Cowles): Finds the depiction of Sam's teenage angst realistic, ultimately recognizing the strength in "physical togetherness and shared experiences."

"Sometimes physical togetherness and shared experiences are the most you can ask for in a relationship. And there are lovely examples of both here." (38:11, quoting NYT)

Comparable and Recommended Reads

If you like Walking with Sam, Annie suggests:

• Wild by Cheryl Strayed
• Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
• A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
• Travels With Charley by John Steinbeck
• Traveling with Pomegranates by Sue Monk Kidd and Ann Kidd Taylor (mother-daughter pilgrimage)
• Along the Way by Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez
• See You in the Piazza by Frances Mayes
• One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle
• The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
• TV/film reference: The Way (directed by Emilio Estevez, starring Martin Sheen—based on their own Camino experience)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the uniqueness of heartbreak:

  "Each person's first heartache is the first heartache ever and needs to be honored as such. Let the Camino do its work, I silently remind myself. Just walk alongside him."
  — Andrew McCarthy, as shared by Annie (44:04)

• On walking into the unknown:

  "Walking out of a city is considerably more agreeable to the nervous system than walking into one...something in walking so intently demands attention to the present and explains why the days feel so full, even as little other than one foot after the other is taking place."
  — Andrew McCarthy (45:31)

• Annie's hand-sell:

  "A father and son travelogue, not just about the Camino de Santiago, but about the pilgrimage of parenthood." (41:09)

TV, Movie, and Author Interview Connections

• No adaptation of Walking with Sam, though Andrew McCarthy’s background as an actor (and the film The Way by Sheen/Estevez) offers a related cinematic tie-in.
• Annie recommends viewing Julia Whelan’s interview with McCarthy on YouTube for insights into his transition from acting to writing, touching on his sense of aging out of Hollywood and embracing new creative pursuits.

"He's pretty upfront about his fame came when he was really young and then he kind of aged out and did not know where he really belonged." (54:20)

Closing Thoughts & Personal Reflection

• Annie found Walking with Sam to be "the armchair traveler’s perfect book," and suggests it as a gift for parents or young adults at transitional life stages.
• It’s an ideal pick for moments when real adventure is out of reach:

  "I think you should read this if you long to be on an adventure, but the adventure you're living looks a lot like your own backyard." (47:12)

• She closes with warmth and enthusiasm, emphasizing her affection for both the book and the "backlist" browsing experience that led her to it.

Important Timestamps

• [02:56] – The purpose of the Into the Backlist series
• [08:41] – Discovering Walking with Sam and the “first paragraph test”
• [14:32] – Parenting themes and the father/son dynamic
• [18:44] – Structure and emotional arc of the pilgrimage
• [38:11] – Key critical response and Annie’s hand-sell
• [41:09] – Shelf recommendations and comparison titles
• [44:04] – Memorable quote on heartbreak
• [45:31] – Memorable quote on walking and presence
• [54:20] – Julia Whelan’s interview with Andrew McCarthy

Episode Takeaways

• Walking with Sam stands out for its honest depiction of a parent-child relationship under strain and growth, set against the physically challenging yet metaphorically rich Camino de Santiago.
• Annie Jones’s affinity for backlist discoveries and her narrative warmth make this a particularly engaging and relatable recommendation, perfect for readers seeking meaning in both the literal and figurative journeys of life.