The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce

Book: The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Random House
Publication date: 2012
Pages: 320

Source: Library

Walk the length of England with Harold Fry

Summary: One day, Harold Fry, a recently retired accounts manager, walks to the mailbox to deliver a letter to a dying friend. But, that doesn’t feel quite right. So, Harold keeps walking to the next mailbox, then to the post office, and, then, the length of England. Along the way, he encounters people who help and hinder, support and scoff. In between encounters, he has lots of time to think and remember his life as a family man, a worker, and a friend of Queenie Hennessy, the woman who is dying.

Thoughts: I loved walking through England with Harold Fry! The perfect book to read just before a visit there. Thanks to Judith of Leeswammes’ Blog who recommended it when I mentioned that I would be taking Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson with me to England.

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is simple on the surface, but hints at more and more as the walk continues. Just as you think this might get boring, as moments on a long walk do, a question surfaces that keeps the reader marching along with the character. All is revealed in the end and, like the walk itself, it’s a surprising path that we take.

Appeal: The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is gentle, but with unexpected depths. It will appeal to a reader looking for a book that is charming but not too sweet — an apple bread pudding of a book rather than a cinnamon roll.

Reviews: When I mentioned The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry in a Sunday Salon a few weeks ago, several bloggers mentioned liking the book. One was Karen of BookerTalk. Check out her review for a more complete description of the book.

I’ll link this review in the British Isles Friday link party tomorrow.

Have you read this book? What did you think?

Comments

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce — 7 Comments

tinabakesbread on October 2, 2014 at 7:57 am said:

I also liked that book and you are correct, it has unexpected depth. Reading this book made me want to read Rachel Joyce’s other novel Perfect. I reviewed on my bookish site 🙂

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Karen on October 4, 2014 at 4:41 am said:

I found out yesterday that her new book picks up the story but this time from Queenie’s point of view – in which we get to learn about the secret she has kept from Harold. It’s out this month

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Reno @ Falling Letters on October 4, 2014 at 6:13 pm said:

This one has been on my TBR list for some time. I hope to get to it this month. I’m glad to read it’s “gent,e with unexpected depths” – just what I was hoping for!

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susan on October 5, 2014 at 3:35 pm said:

Yes! I too loved Harold’s pilgrimage. Fun journey. Here are some of my thoughts on it at http://www.thecuecard.com/node/767

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Care on January 31, 2015 at 9:26 am said:

I just finished this and LOVED it! It really was surprising to me in how light and yet deep, as you say. I want to read her next book now.

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- Joy Weese Moll on January 31, 2015 at 9:41 am said:
  
  Oh, yay! Glad you liked it.
  
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Maia on February 6, 2015 at 3:19 pm said:

I bought this for my mom for Christmas (mostly because I wanted to read it!) I like your review, it sounds like a really good, gentle read. I look forward to getting my hands on it when mom’s finished with it!

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