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 … 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.
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.
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I loved traveling north through England with the lovable protagonist. And I loved the conclusion of the book – good philosophy, good psychology.
Everyone has a journey to to become who we really are and find peace. Often the journey is too long and too late to be helpful to our loved ones and our inner being. But step by step we all must try.
Slow at times. Too much movement from the past to the present.
It was slow going for 2-3 chapters, but then things begin to get interesting. It’s not a quick page turner and isn’t action packed, but it’s reflective and it really does make you think about life and the choices we make that make us into who we are. It makes you think about how to interact with those around us and understanding that everyone has …
Made me evaluate my relationships
Well written with characters who are representing a bit of us all, just very exaggerated
A fun and sad read. Good character development Good for readers over 50. Just because I think it is easier for people near or past retirement to relate to the older characters in this book.
One of the best books I’ve read this year! Truly magical and unforgettable!
An amazing inspirational story. I couldn’t put it down
Very entertaining.
Good but a little slow.
One of my favorites ever. A simple man makes a not-so-simple journey and learns a great deal along the way. I loved this book.
I adored this book! I walked every mile with Harold and would do it again. A classy tale about a classy man. Thanks for putting it on your list.
Harold goes out for a walk that turns into a journey, physical and metaphorical. Each person he meets becomes a teacher, in a sense, and his goal, to bring a letter in person to long lost Queenie Hennessy, allows Harold to regain some of the joy and meaning in his life. A very unique story, well told and long remembered.