Review: Gloryland Reprise by Drew Signor

Take an entrancing journey through the wild and wickedly beautiful world of Arizona in Gloryland Reprise: Walking the Arizona Wilderness and the Spiritual Implications of Landscape, a touching ode to the road by author Drew Signor. Detailing dozens of mountain ranges, backcountry journeys, tiny towns, unexpected detours, and unforgettable characters along the way, this eclectic read is a testament to a windblown life well lived.

As Signor explains in the introduction, “In my imagination, all my roads are headed west,” and his years of yarn-worthy trips certainly follow that trajectory. Drawing on the tradition of great wanderers, and the epic songs they tell of their travels, this is a road journal like few others, one that carries readers through years and decades through eclectic and page-turning stories.

The prose is humble and reverent for the sheer beauty of the natural world. Though there are some religious overtones, the author addresses his viewpoint on God at the start of the book, and those subsequent reflections that feel spiritually driven are subtle and far from preachy. As Signor states so eloquently, “If things are beautiful just because they are beautiful, then so be it.” The book is full of such anecdotes, ripped from the author’s own experience, and coupled beautifully with quotes, musings, and poems from other sage wanderers, philosophers, and writers.

Having traveled for over three decades, ten of which were spent walking in the Gloryland of Arizona, all of Signor’s insights into nature and humanity’s duty feel heavy with import and careful consideration. The stories, songs, and confessions in these pages took time to percolate and brew, which are unexpectedly accompanied by sketches and illustrations by Kate Horton that range from still life and silhouettes to meticulously detailed landscapes, giving the reader a truly immersive experience with multiple art forms. The timeless nature of the anecdotal chapters also adds to the mystique of this road collection; there are no dates or precise coordinates, nor a completely clear order, merely a wonderfully curated series of vignettes and memories.

It is impossible to deny the author’s grasp of the serenity, ruggedness, and majesty of the region. However, there are some proofreading stumbles that could be addressed in the writing, including some sentences that feel awkward and unedited, either missing a word or using an incorrect one. Some of the entries in this travel journal can also feel redundant, as there are only so many descriptions of riverbeds and campsites that can feel unique, but the pace is generally steady and engaging, as though you’re taking a hike through a salt wash right alongside the writer.

Reminiscent of Whitman’s endless awe and Steinbeck’s wandering soul, this is a tremendous homage to a sacred part of America, and an impressive songbook that hits hard with both lyrics and themes. Readers may not be able to hear Signor’s songs being played while reading these stories, but after delving into this author’s impressive memory, it isn’t difficult to imagine the tune, resulting in a book that is truly lyrical, in every sense of the word.

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