The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry - Rachel Joyce.

Title: The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
Author: Rachel Joyce
Publisher: Random House
Publication date: July 24, 2012
320 Pages
3/5 Stars

Goodreads Synopsis

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 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. 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 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.

Review

This story sounded really interesting, and I was intrigued by it....but by the end of it, I had very mixed feelings - hence the rating of 3 stars. 

Starting out (from the synopsis) this sounded like a straightforward (enough) story. Harold receives a letter from Queenie who is in hospice and is writing to say goodbye. Harold writes a reply, but instead of mailing it, he decides to walk 600 miles to the hospice, believing that as long as he walks, Queenie will live. We also know that Harold and his wife, Maureen are going through a rough patch in their marriage, and Harold's walking causes Maureen to miss him for the first time in years.

There's so much more to this book, than that though. There's all the people that Harold meets along his way. Some pass quickly through, others stay a little longer. With each stop, and each new person that you meet, you get a new glimpse into Harold's life, and into his past. And you see how each person you come in contact with affects you and your heart, and each person is dealing with their own set of struggles. Some people have a good heart and help you along the way; encouraging you as you go, while others may walk with you - and at first they seem like kindred spirits, struggling like you are with their past - but then they use you and leave you. Sometimes solitude is the best. 

I came away feeling like - everything is not what it seems. Communication is key - in life and marriage. Everyone deals with loss and hope in their own way. Don't sell yourself short.

There were just so many different emotions that I felt while reading this. It was just a lot, and like I said before, it left me with mixed feelings. Heartache and hope. Shock and numbness. Read if you want insight into a simple man's life - who's been struggling with demons his whole life. Just be prepared for some slow parts.