The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce

"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 20 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, 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 600 miles from Kingsbridge to the hospice in Berwick-upon-Tweed because, he believes, as long as he walks, Queenie Hennessey will live."*

I actually stumbled upon this book when reading The Bookshop Book by Jen Campbell and thought it sounded intriguing. Even though I am not the same age as the narrator I found the beginning very relateable because it is very easy to get stuck it your day to day routines. However, when you finally get out of your comfort zone it can be truly life changing. Not just for yourself but for others as well, this is true for Harold Fry. I recommend this book if your are a fan of fresh starts and Forrest Gump-like journeys that instead take place in the heart of England.

Kelsey Fitzgerald

Library Assistant

Available at the Langley Adams Library

*The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry - Amazon