A novel of unsentimental charm, humor, and profound insight into the thoughts and feelings we all bury deep within our hearts, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry introduces Rachel Joyce as a wise - and utterly irresistible - storyteller.
Meet Harold Fry, recently retired. He lives in a small English village with his wife, Maureen, who seems irritated by almost everything he does, even down to how he butters his toast. Little differentiates one day from the next. Then one morning the mail arrives, and within the stack of quotidian minutiae is a letter addressed to Harold in a shaky scrawl from a woman he hasn't seen or heard from in twenty years. Queenie Hennessy is in hospice and is writing to say goodbye.
Harold pens a quick reply and, leaving Maureen to her chores, heads to the corner mailbox. But then, as happens in the very best works of …
A novel of unsentimental charm, humor, and profound insight into the thoughts and feelings we all bury deep within our hearts, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry introduces Rachel Joyce as a wise - and utterly irresistible - storyteller.
Meet Harold Fry, recently retired. He lives in a small English village with his wife, Maureen, who seems irritated by almost everything he does, even down to how he butters his toast. Little differentiates one day from the next. Then one morning the mail arrives, and within the stack of quotidian minutiae is a letter addressed to Harold in a shaky scrawl from a woman he hasn't seen or heard from in twenty years. Queenie Hennessy is in hospice and is writing to say goodbye.
Harold pens a quick reply and, leaving Maureen to her chores, heads to the corner mailbox. But then, as happens in the very best works of fiction, Harold has a chance encounter, one that convinces him that he absolutely must deliver his message to Queenie in person. And thus begins the unlikely pilgrimage at the heart of Rachel Joyce's remarkable debut. Harold Fry is determined to walk six hundred miles from Kingsbridge to the hospice in Berwick-upon-Tweed because, he believes, as long as he walks, Queenie Hennessey will live.
Still in his yachting shoes and light coat, Harold embarks on his urgent quest across the countryside. Along the way he meets one fascinating character after another, each of whom unlocks his long-dormant spirit and sense of promise. Memories of his first dance with Maureen, his wedding day, his joy in fatherhood, come rushing back to him - allowing him to also reconcile the losses and the regrets. As for Maureen, she finds herself missing Harold for the first time in years.
And then there is the unfinished business with Queenie Hennessy.
(jacket flap)
Review of 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (Harold Fry, #1)' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
This is nearly a 5-star novel. In many (most) ways this novel is inspiring albeit tragic (in the Greek Tragedy sense). The novel's characters are well rounded, imperfect humans. The plot is nearly believable aside from Harold's lack of daily walking progress. (I am biased because as a power-walker I walk as much in a hour and 1/4 as he does in a day, without blisters... I understand that's a personal problem.)
Given this the initial novel in a series, I'll test the next volume to see how things 'go'.
Review of 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (Harold Fry, #1)' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Looking through other people's reviews of this book, they seem to be divided pretty much down the middle. People either liked it or they strongly disliked it. There seems to be very little in the category of 'it was okay, but nothing that really made me stop and think.' Previous reviewers, whether in the like or dislike camp, all do seem to have been made to think. Granted, in some cases what they thought about was more like 'why do people keep recommending this?' and when I've looked at some of their reviews, I wonder if the real reason they disliked it was because they never really fully understood it. Because it's not really a book with an action-y plot or about Harold doing something as much as it's a book about Harold feeling something. And about Maureen feeling something as well. And about both of them finally coming to …
Looking through other people's reviews of this book, they seem to be divided pretty much down the middle. People either liked it or they strongly disliked it. There seems to be very little in the category of 'it was okay, but nothing that really made me stop and think.' Previous reviewers, whether in the like or dislike camp, all do seem to have been made to think. Granted, in some cases what they thought about was more like 'why do people keep recommending this?' and when I've looked at some of their reviews, I wonder if the real reason they disliked it was because they never really fully understood it. Because it's not really a book with an action-y plot or about Harold doing something as much as it's a book about Harold feeling something. And about Maureen feeling something as well. And about both of them finally coming to terms with the thing that came between them 20 years ago. It's not a book about exciting things happening. It isn't even trying to be. Sometimes I think the real message of it all is hidden somewhere within the encounters Harold has with other people during the journey, that all people have a story that the rest of the world never sees. Like the bicycling woman with the slashed wrists or for example. She never tells Harold of her past, but the story is there all the same for him to see. Or Martine, whose partner just walked out on her with another woman one day. Every person, however ordinary they may seem, has some sort of story in their past with joy and sorrow and things they regret. And I can't help thinking that those reviewers finding the book dull and action-less, like Rich Lion, has somehow rather grasped the wrong end of the stick.
I enjoyed the book. At first I was a little uncertain about it, but very quickly it grew on me. I wound up keeping google maps up in a tab on my browser to see how far Harold had got and giving Husband regular updates on his progress. (Husband, having not read the book, obviously didn't really get it, but there you are. I did it anyway.)
I am not sure if I will carry on with the book about Queenie. Probably not. I think I'd like to leave Harold and Maureen to their peace now. After all that media attention they suddenly got, I think they deserve it.
Review of 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (Harold Fry, #1)' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Completely blown away by the book, such an emotional ride, the closest a book has ever come to making me shed a tear, beginning to understand how humans feel now. I enjoy walking long distances, most of the time on my own and Rachel Joyce has captured perfectly the experience, the feeling of being outside with nobody for miles around. She also captures how much your mind works, you remember so much of your past without the distractions of media and it is always a great feeling when you get home to your family.
The writing is amazing, it drew me in right away and I found myself cheering Harold on, shouting at him when he does something dumb and laughing at his experiences and the strange people he meets.
Wonderful book, an instant classic in my mind and I can't wait for what she writes next. Feeling really knackered …
Completely blown away by the book, such an emotional ride, the closest a book has ever come to making me shed a tear, beginning to understand how humans feel now. I enjoy walking long distances, most of the time on my own and Rachel Joyce has captured perfectly the experience, the feeling of being outside with nobody for miles around. She also captures how much your mind works, you remember so much of your past without the distractions of media and it is always a great feeling when you get home to your family.
The writing is amazing, it drew me in right away and I found myself cheering Harold on, shouting at him when he does something dumb and laughing at his experiences and the strange people he meets.
Wonderful book, an instant classic in my mind and I can't wait for what she writes next. Feeling really knackered now, time for a cuppa I think.
Review of 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (Harold Fry, #1)' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
It was definitely a good read. Is a bit sad in the end, and reminds me of Old man and the sea. I read it all in about two sittings, so it had me reasonably hooked. There's a not a lot of complexity of plot. It's a simply book, with a simple premise and starts very quickly. It's a bit linear, but somehow is still endearing. It's very easy to picture Harold Fry, a helpless old man stuck in a rut, saddened by how life has passed him by. That is until he subconsciously decides to do something about it.
Review of 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (Harold Fry, #1)' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Listened to audio version read by Jim Broadbent. <3 <3 <3
Short review. 1. This needs 6 stars. 2. Go read this book.
Longer, rambling review. God, I loved this book. I wept openly for the last part. The emotions in the book made that happen. I feel like walking more, now. In fact, I walked through a park-like area on my way to work yesterday, and I swear I felt more alive at work for that experience. I felt more open to my surroundings, as if I were Harold Fry walking through the countryside, observing the clouds, the trees, the plants, ... and the people. Someone else he was observing, was himself, of course.
I LOVED Jim Broadbent as the reader. He WAS Harold Fry. Harold Fry was thinking out loud directly to me. That's why I was so drawn in. And ditto for Maureen. I was in their …
Listened to audio version read by Jim Broadbent. <3 <3 <3
Short review. 1. This needs 6 stars. 2. Go read this book.
Longer, rambling review. God, I loved this book. I wept openly for the last part. The emotions in the book made that happen. I feel like walking more, now. In fact, I walked through a park-like area on my way to work yesterday, and I swear I felt more alive at work for that experience. I felt more open to my surroundings, as if I were Harold Fry walking through the countryside, observing the clouds, the trees, the plants, ... and the people. Someone else he was observing, was himself, of course.
I LOVED Jim Broadbent as the reader. He WAS Harold Fry. Harold Fry was thinking out loud directly to me. That's why I was so drawn in. And ditto for Maureen. I was in their lives. I felt their emotions.
I don't know what else to say without revealing some spoiler, and I do want to encourage everyone who happens to pass by here to go and read this book. The writing is wonderful and delightful. This book is just marvelous and incredibly moving.
Thank you, Rachel Joyce.
PS I say I wept openly. But I ended with a huge smile and a laugh. Oh, and I didn't really say what the book was about because you can read the publisher description everywhere else.
Review of 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (Harold Fry, #1)' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
I wouldn't say the events of the latter portions of this book were telegraphed, but I could easily have mapped out the emotional content to come by the midpoint. Highs, lows, a couple of big reveals and either a success in the guise of a failure or vice versa. Either way, it'll be bittersweet in such a way that the sweet will almost overwhelm the bitter.
I was right.
By rights, the top marks from even the British judge should be three stars. Harold Fry is a pretty beautiful character, though, and more than makes up for what would otherwise seem pat or trite or manipulative.
