WALKING HOME Travels with a Troubadour on the Pennine Way

At age 47, Simon Armitage spent three weeks hiking Great Britain's Pennine Way, a trail starting in Derbyshire and crossing into Scotland. He took help from strangers and gave poetry readings each night. Like his journey, Armitage's account rambles, going into asides that let listeners into his thoughts as he walked. Side trips include the reuse of stones from Hadrian's Wall and how Beatles songs relate to his walk. Listeners will also be able to experience his senses of things like the odor of creosote from a freshly fortified utility pole. Usually, he's good at setting the stage, describing a village's barns and trains. Still, there is an occasional monotony to his voice. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2013]