Rachel Joyce's impressive first novel, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry depicts a heart-warming, yet poignant view of old age, relationships and one man's quest for self-discovery, in a journey that inspires, exasperates and elates.
Joyce's background as a playwright for Radio 4 comes into it's own as the reader is taken on a journey across England that is filled with understated imagery of landscapes, cities and the variety of people our hero, Harold Fry, meets along the way.
His aim is to see an old friend who has informed him she is dying of cancer, so without thinking or preparing, Harold undertakes a pilgrimage to see her. The only request being that his friend waits for him to get there before she dies. Interspersed with flashbacks of Harold's eventful life which are highlighted by themes of neglect, guilt, remorse and breakdowns of relationships, the reader becomes immersed in his journey and walks alongside him as he experiences the highs and lows of being a yacht-shoe'd, blister-footed, penniless, fetid traveller. The highs are harder to come by than the lows, but it is the comradery one feels towards Harold's simple and humble quest that inspires hope, challenges ideas of consumerism and leaves the reader striving for a life with less..baggage (although he could have at least taken a mobile phone with him!).
Nantwich Bookworms meets on the first Sunday of the month at the Black Lion in Nantwich at 8pm. This month we are reading The Gift of Rain by Tan Twen Eng and are meeting on 2nd June. New members are always welcome! You can follow us on twitter @booknantwich or visit our blognantwichbookworms.blogspot.com
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