Fiction Friday: 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry' by Rachel Joyce

(note to self: learn to take better pictures!)

Blurb:

“When Harold Fry leaves home one morning to post a letter, with his wife hovering upstairs, he has no idea that he is about to walk from one end of the country to the other.

He has no hiking boots or map, let alone a compass, waterproof or mobile phone. All he knows is that he must keep walking. To save someone else’s life.”

My thoughts:

The first thing I’ll say about this is that if, like me, you think the book sounds like a thriller from the blurb, you’re wrong. It doesn’t matter though because, although it’s not a thriller, it doesn’t disappoint at all.

The Sunday Express reviewer claimed it made them laugh and sob and I couldn’t agree more; especially towards the end. The book follows Harold as he walks from his house to Berwick after he receives a letter from an old colleague of his. On the journey, Harold meets various people, discovers fame, and has time to think about his past and his relationship with his wife, Maureen.

I kept telling myself that the next chapter would be last but it got harder and harder to put the book down. Rachel writes in such a way that you can’t help but get drawn into Harold’s life; you laugh with him, sob with him, share the moments that give him elation as well as those that make him sad.

It shattered some illusions I had about elderly couples (whenever I saw elderly couples together before reading this book, I always assumed that they were happy and had been together for many years – this book proves that’s not always the case) but it gave me some kind of renewed hope about love and relationships. It also proved the kindness of strangers that, sadly, we sometimes forget exists.

The book focuses on more than just a hard walk from one end of the country to another… It focuses on the reality of some relationships and the affect grief can have. It looks at regret and grief but in a way that resolves in happiness.

‘The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry’ is dangerously easy to read but worth staying up for. Just make sure you have some tissues nearby… You’re more than likely going to need them!

What was the last book you read that made you cry?

Book Review: Claire King - The Night Rainbow

This novel follows the life of two sisters, Pea and Margot, as they cope with the fallout of the loss and devastation that struck their family a short while ago. Along the way, they make a new friend who, despite their own tragedy, slowly helps to make everything better.

The story is told through the eyes of Pea, aged 5 and a half. At times the narration felt as though it was coming from somebody much older than Pea is supposed to be. Instead of seeing that as a flaw, I'd like to think that's just the author's way of further proving that Pea had to grow up a lot quicker than any child should have, as a result of the misfortune her family suffered. Despite everything Pea has gone through, the narration perfectly encapsulates the optimism that many young children seem to possess. It is this optimism that keeps you turning the pages.

The novel focuses on very few characters, allowing you to learn a lot about each of them. It's this fact that helps to make it so captivating - it's like following the lives of people you know and care about. It also shows the various ways in which tragedy affects a person and how differently people cope with it; for that alone, it is a brilliant piece of literature.

One element of this novel became fairly obvious quite quickly. I'm not sure if that's an intentional act by the author but, either way, it didn't make the novel any less enjoyable to read. Early on in the story, a relationship develops that makes you wonder whether you should continue to read... All I can say is you'll regret it if you don't. This book touches on some of the darkest places a human can find themselves in but the ending shows that there's always hope.

There's something slightly magical about a story that contains so many negative emotions and situations yet can still portray positivity throughout. This novel manages that with ease. It's an absolute delight to read, even if it is slightly haunting at points. It's the kind of book you read and, thanks to the wonderful descriptive nature of Pea's narration, find yourself getting lost in her world.

The book is available at Waterstones for £10.39, from Amazon for £7.19, or on your Kindle for £1.39 (what a steal!!)