I absolutely adore nature memoirs so this book was a very suitable recommendation for my tastes. Beautifully written, covering the literal and metaphoric ups and downs of alpine adventure

I really enjoyed this account of Marianne and her husbands trials and tribulations whilst hiking the GR20 trail in Corsica, despite her age and illness she still committed to the hike and gave it her all, a true inspiration. It really made me want to get out there and experience the trek for myself.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"The Twenty" by Marianne C. Bohr is a delightful travel memoir that captures the essence of adventure and personal growth. A beautiful journey for wanderlust enthusiasts.

Loved this story! It is perfect for anyone who has the grit and the go to tackle something new in life. Perfect for anyone who has a love for the outdoors.

Thank you to the publishers for the opportunity to check out an ARC of this book through Netgalley!

I am such a lover of a memoir especially when it is something that is so out of my wheelhouse! I am someone who has gone on a a couple of "hikes" in my life, but certainly nothing like the hike that Marianne and her husband went on. I enjoyed that this book brought a unique perspective as someone who is older, but still enjoying the things they love.

Overall, I felt like the book struggled to keep my attention and I kept putting it down and coming back to it. I think if I was the intended audience (someone who loves hiking) I think this would be the perfect book for them.

Across Corsica with a backpack! I'll be honest: I had not heard of the GR20 before picking up this book—I had barely heard of Corsica. But I love a hiking memoir, and I've been meaning to read Bohr's first book for ages, so...off to Corsica.

"The Twenty" takes Bohr and her husband from their home in the US, on the verge of retirement, across the ocean to the rocky, sunny, sometimes tempestuous landscapes of the GR20. Billed as one of Europe's toughest hiking trails, it's not for the faint of heart. Chains and scrambles and scree; scraped skin and bruises—it sounds like some of the difficulty comes down to your age and starting shape, although deaths are not unheard of, as a number of places present risks for nasty falls, and the weather can be fickle. Bohr and her husband went with a guided group, tucking recent health concerns in their back pockets and hoping that their previous hiking experience and determination would do the job.

Bohr weaves in snippets from her childhood—the oldest of eleven in a determinedly Catholic household, she describes being expected to be a smiling second mother of sorts...with high academic (and domestic) expectations but low athletic expectations. It sounds like those expectations dogged her somewhat for much of the trail: how long does it take to unlearn the lesson that you're one thing and cannot be another?

I'm reminded a little bit, in Bohr's descriptions of her group and the way she and her husband interacted with them, of Gail Storey's "I Promise Not to Suffer". I've never really considered doing a group hiking trip (I did end up with something of a group on the Camino, but it was informal, and I started and ended alone), but altogether this sounds like a wonderful—if exhausting—experience. The GR20 probably isn't going to be high on my priority list (I'm more into woods than rocks), but oh my this does make my feet itchy.

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.

This was a really well done travel memoir that captured the spirit of why some people seek adventure travel. There were plenty of details about the GR20 hike, the island of Corsica, and the bonds that form between people who share these travels. There was a lot of self reflection and personal growth for the author - maybe a little too much for me near the middle of the book… but keep reading - the book finishes strong and is well worth the read.

💕You might like this book if:
🔹 you like a realistic travel memoir that shares the good and the bad moments
🔹 you need some motivation or reminders that adventure travel can be possible at any age
🔹 you like books that explore the impact of the-people-we-meet, even if just in passing

A truly inspiring book recounting the physical and emotional challenges presented to the newly retired author as she undertook a gruelling hike across Corsica with her husband and fellow trekkers.
If there is one quote in 'The Twenty' that epitomises the author's approach to life it is this one:
'Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming 'Wow! What a Ride!' (Hunter Thompson).
The book is beautifully written allowing the reader to vicariously travel across stunning yet extremely challenging landscapes which tested both physical and mental strength to the extreme. Bohr skillfully portrays how the greatest challenges can give rise to the deepest learning experiences and I loved how she finally found the self-compassion to balance the need to respect the body's ageing process whilst continuing to explore its limitations.
A story of battered and ageing yet strong and resilient bodies, healing of souls, the kindness and wisdom of strangers, group dynamics and the beauty of planet Earth.
A fascinating, reflective read not just for anyone interested in adventure travels but for those wanting inspiration to explore the boundaries they may impose on their own lives.
I am grateful to NetGalley , the publishers and the author for an advanced reader copy of this book and will be recommending it to others on publication.