'Maureen Fry & the Angel of the North' by Rachel Joyce

Firstly, I want to make it clear that this has not become a Rachel Joyce fan site.  It just happened that the lady herself was one of the many brilliant writers to take part in a local literary festival recently, so I ended up getting my hands on the third book in the Fry family series much sooner than I expected.  On top of that, 'Maureen Fry and the Angel of the North' is much shorter than it's companions, and I couldn't wait to discover where Mrs Fry's travels would take her.

Silly but it's Fun

'Come Again' by Robert Webb

Well, what a year!  One thing that many of us have found ourselves doing during lockdown is reflecting, thinking 'What if...' and seeing where it takes us.  What if I'd said 'Yes'?  What if I'd gone back to college?  What if I travelled back in time and relived my teenage years?  Well, maybe not the last one... unless you're the lead character in Robert Webb's debut novel, 'Come Again'.

Conflict Resolution

So, in my 2017 review, I said that I wanted to read some more of the books I'd been given in 2018.  I've made a start with 'The Reason You're Alive' by Matthew Quick, sent to me at the end of last year by Picador.

When Vietnam veteran David wakes from a serious brain operation with one name on his mind -

'The Reason You're Alive'
by Matthew Quick
(Picador, 2017)

'Clayton Fire Bear', a fellow soldier he wronged long ago - he realises that he must make amends before it's too late.  But first he has to recover, which means spending more time with the son he doesn't see eye-to-eye with over politics, relationships, food... well, pretty much anything really.  Fortunately, he'll also get to see more of his adored granddaughter Ella and David's friends are happy to help.  There are surprises all round as their worlds collide and old wounds as well as eyes are opened, but ultimately, David mustn't lose sight of the one final mission that must be completed despite his reservations...

Going Walkabout

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..?