The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry: A Novel
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “Joyce’s beguiling debut is [a] modest-seeming story of ‘ordinary’ English lives that enthralls and moves you as it unfolds.”—People (four stars)
IN DEVELOPMENT AS A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE • LONGLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE • NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE WASHINGTON POST
Meet Harold Fry, recently retired. He lives in a small English village with his wife, Maureen, who seems irritated by almost everything he does. Little differentiates one day from the next. Then one morning a letter arrives, addressed to Harold in a shaky scrawl, from a woman he hasn’t heard from in twenty years. Queenie Hennessy is in hospice and is writing to say goodbye. But before Harold mails off a quick reply, a chance encounter convinces him that he absolutely must deliver his message to Queenie in person. In his yachting shoes and light coat, Harold Fry embarks on an urgent quest. Determined to walk six hundred miles to the hospice, Harold believes that as long as he walks, Queenie will live. A novel of 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.
IN DEVELOPMENT AS A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE • LONGLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE • NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE WASHINGTON POST
Meet Harold Fry, recently retired. He lives in a small English village with his wife, Maureen, who seems irritated by almost everything he does. Little differentiates one day from the next. Then one morning a letter arrives, addressed to Harold in a shaky scrawl, from a woman he hasn’t heard from in twenty years. Queenie Hennessy is in hospice and is writing to say goodbye. But before Harold mails off a quick reply, a chance encounter convinces him that he absolutely must deliver his message to Queenie in person. In his yachting shoes and light coat, Harold Fry embarks on an urgent quest. Determined to walk six hundred miles to the hospice, Harold believes that as long as he walks, Queenie will live. A novel of 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.
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Community Reviews
Touching and funny. I loved the characters. You get to know them deeply and understand why they became who they are. A very human book.
More like 3.5 stars. But a quality comfort read. A bit of a realistic feel good book to get cozy with. I saw the ending maybe halfway through? But it was nice.
Great story. It made me think about getting older and having memories, thoughts and dreams all coming together.
This book was an unexpected delight. "Unexpected" because I came upon the book at my library's used book shop -- a treasure trove of literary pickings.
Joyce's writing is superb, beautiful and creative. And the plot is also very original -- slowly unwrapping the interior life of an ordinary man, Harold Fry, seemingly recently retired and living with his bitter wife, Maureen, with whom he shares a physical home but otherwise from whom he is estranged.
The unexpected delivery of a short letter to Harold from Queenie, a former work colleague, bidding him farewell because she is dying in a hospice in the north of the country, somehow prompts Harold to do something unprecedented and unplanned -- instead of mailing his return letter to Queenie, he decides to keep walking -- more than 600 miles north to deliver it to her in person. His thinking is that if she knew he was coming personally, she would have the motivation to keep living.
As Harold walks, without any provisions for such a trip, and not even his cell phone, he meets many other people on the way, with whom he shares his intention. Harold's world expands as he absorbs the stories and challenges of other people, and at the same time, he reflects back on his own marriage, his difficult childhood and pained relationship with his own son.
I sort of wish the latter part of the book didn't have so much sadness, but it still ends on a hopeful note and one of renewal. Harold is a wonderful character, seemingly simple but determined not to finish out his days without having tried something new and bold.
I look forward to reading Joyce's other works as soon as possible.
Joyce's writing is superb, beautiful and creative. And the plot is also very original -- slowly unwrapping the interior life of an ordinary man, Harold Fry, seemingly recently retired and living with his bitter wife, Maureen, with whom he shares a physical home but otherwise from whom he is estranged.
The unexpected delivery of a short letter to Harold from Queenie, a former work colleague, bidding him farewell because she is dying in a hospice in the north of the country, somehow prompts Harold to do something unprecedented and unplanned -- instead of mailing his return letter to Queenie, he decides to keep walking -- more than 600 miles north to deliver it to her in person. His thinking is that if she knew he was coming personally, she would have the motivation to keep living.
As Harold walks, without any provisions for such a trip, and not even his cell phone, he meets many other people on the way, with whom he shares his intention. Harold's world expands as he absorbs the stories and challenges of other people, and at the same time, he reflects back on his own marriage, his difficult childhood and pained relationship with his own son.
I sort of wish the latter part of the book didn't have so much sadness, but it still ends on a hopeful note and one of renewal. Harold is a wonderful character, seemingly simple but determined not to finish out his days without having tried something new and bold.
I look forward to reading Joyce's other works as soon as possible.
A very charming novel, though I did feel it went on rather long at times. It was very feel good with some sad moments in it.
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