Waypoints: My Scottish Journey

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To Kill a Tiger Director Reveals How Her Mindy Kaling & Dev Patel-Produced Documentary Is Already ChangingLives I read a lot of books in the above genres. This one was a little different though. The author, Sam a.k.a Jamie Fraser, told his story in two parts and then mixed them together. He told of a gruelling hike he was on by himself and then he mixed in stories of his childhood, his schooling, the way he got into acting and how he landed the part of Jamie Fraser in the Outlander series. His acting journey wasn’t an easy one. So many slammed doors and disappointments, but he managed to not lose heart. He talked about times when his account was in the negative and he honestly didn’t know what he would do. He even became a bar tender and talked about the embarrassment of what it was like serving your peers (fellow actors) umm, Richard Madden. Very humbling.

Having only read this one memoir, I don’t have anything to compare it to. I think in an effort to protect others, it’s not as revealing or as in-depth as one might expect, but he’s also quite candid at times too. Occasionally, it felt a bit repetitive, but overall, I really enjoyed the journey. I can’t imagine any fan not liking it! At points I felt my own feet and bones ache as it's so descriptive about his travels along the West Highland Way you feel your traipsing along with him. Getting that role as The King of Men, Jamie Fraser. My God he was made for this role. I love how he said when he read through the audition script he got a “feeling” that he knew this man. That’s some special kismet stuff right there. Gives me chills. He talked about how much he loves Diana Galbadon and how she shared the ending of the whole OL series with him and Maryl. The mushrooms!! Him and the mushrooms!! Oh, and the midges! 😂 😂 Even after watching all the episodes of Men in Kilts, I never saw any hint of Sam’s little obsession with the mushrooms! The midges – most definitely! But now, I’ll never think the same of the mushrooms. I am now well aware that they are always watching us. 😂 🍄

I would like to think of this as a beautiful gift that we have been given, though I am pretty sure this was more for himself than his fans. Either way, I am thankful for the opportunity to be able to join in on Sam's journey. I feel like I gained some perspective that could benefit my own life and I didn't even have to leave my couch. Thanks for putting in the hard work Sam. Along the way, there are many ups and downs but one thing’s for sure - I could never be an actor. Such a pride swallowing, cutthroat industry. The pressure to look/act a certain way, years of juggling part time jobs/auditions, countless rejections, contract negotiations, projects falling through, the self-doubt, living hand to mouth, renting crappy bedsits/relying on the hospitality of others; whilst friends are finally beginning to settle and put down roots, Sam’s living out of a suitcase, existing on a shoestring, still dreaming of that elusive big break. It’s exhausting. If only he could have just been himself a bit more.

I actually appreciate that he doesn’t try to invent trauma or drama where it doesn’t exist and is honest about his life. His Father did a run-out when he was young but he never missed what he didn’t know because his Mom was so loving and supportive and responsible. Spend agloriousevening withaward-winning actor and Sunday Timesand New York Timesbestselling author of Clanlandsand TheClanlands Almanac, Sam Heughan, as herecounts his journey of self-discovery along the West Highland Way.Some of the best parts of the book are when he runs into random strangers in the wild and then they suffer, er… enjoy, walking together through miserable weather elements, shin splints and aching Achilles. A traveler named Graeme recognizes Heughan right away. He says, “I saw your movie, it was shit.” And a beautiful friendship was born. Waypoints begins sort of ominously. Heughan and his brother enter someone’s house in Canada, and you soon start to think they might be at a fan’s house, as Heughan discovers a DVD of a movie he’s in on the shelves. But the owner is someone who has been watching Heughan from afar. His father – who had left them when Heughan was very young. But this visit isn’t necessarily a happy one. His father is dying, and they are told that he’s not ready to see them. “And I would walk 500 miles…” As the title suggests, Waypoints is a rewarding mix of markers, both personal as he reflects on his life and geographical as he leads the reader along the West Highland Way' - The Scotsman Waypoints is a memoir with a difference! I wanted to tell the stories and share the experiences that have shaped me, but to do that I needed to challenge myself and spend some time in my own company, away from the distractions of everyday life. And for me there's no better place to reflect than in the wild Scottish Highlands.” Waypoints is a deeply personal journey that reveals as much to Sam about himself as it does to his readers.