This morning, I finished 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry' by Rachel Joyce. Unusually for me, this is a relatively recent publication (this year). I saw it reviewed in a weekend newspaper and decided to check it out of the library. Within a few pages, I was hooked and desperate to hitch a ride with the unexpected traveller, which is how come it became a new addition to the list.
Harold Fry's unlikely pilgrimage begins with a letter from an old colleague, Queenie Hennessy, delivered to his South Devon home. Dying of cancer in a Berwick-Upon-Tweed hospice in the far north east of England, Queenie has written to say a final goodbye. Harold is surprised to hear from her after 20 years absence from his life, but writes a reply to take to the post box. As he walks, however, he realises that something doesn't feel right. His written words aren't enough, but he doesn't know what else to do. Then a chance encounter with a sales assistant at a petrol station inspires him to do something remarkable; to leave his wife, his home and the predictable mundanity of his retired life and walk to Berwick, all in the hope that Queenie will live after all.
This book begins with a comi-tragic tone which makes it hard not to fall completely in love with Harold and root for him from the start. The first chapters describe lives and settings I feel so familiar with it gave me chills to see them described in print. Perhaps I've been reading too much science fiction lately, but I can't remember the last time I read a story set somewhere that felt so familiar! I also know quite a few of the locations Harold visited, which perhaps made it easier to sink into the story.
The beautiful simplicity of the plot is a smokescreen for a more complicated, moving and heart wrenching tale of regret, misunderstanding and the everyday reality of love. Only readers with a heart of flint could read this book and not shed a tear as the truth of Harold's less than happy life and relationships with Queenie, his son David and his wife Maureen become clear during his journey.
Although I suspected the truth about David from the start, it by no means took away from the narrative. Once my affection for Harold was established, I found I couldn't put the book down because I was so worried about whether he would be alright. But then, I am quite a softy.
On the whole, I felt this was a beautiful, engaging, moving book which will definitely be given to a few people as a present, but probably more likely to appeal to a female rather than a male audience. I would love to know what men who read it did think, though, as I fear I may be doing them a disservice.
Although a seasoned writer of radio plays, I understand that this was Ms Joyce's first novel. I will be keeping my eyes out for her second.
Now, back to the shelves. Where to next..?
