Although I wasn't sure about this book when I was assigned it as a responsibility for the adult version of "Battle of the Books," I found myself oddly struck by its realness. Although Harold is portrayed as an awkward guy, he is remarkably humble, and many of his stories of inadequacy, heartbreak, and regret/chances not taken are something we all experience (albeit somewhat different from his).  Although it seems outlandish--his spur-of-the-moment pilgrimage--it actually makes sense and the ending is that much more believable.

I just found out there's a sequel, but it's written about Queenie, the woman for whom he starts this journey.

Pop Quiz... about who else? ..... me!

Which of these do you think is true of me as a reader?

1.  I didn't reach my goal of reading 52 books last year (only 42).

2.  I love reading books where a young adult has a life-changing event.

3.  I can't stand horror or scary fiction.

4.  I read most titles out of suggestions from friends.

5. I chose to read The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry because I'm participating in my first Battle of the Books.

That's right... all of them are true!

So.... I just started reading The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry: Awkward.  Just awkward. The whole premise of the book seems so unlikely.... weird word choice.   Anyway, Harold Fry is  a timid, middle-aged married man in England goes on a walking journey to deliver a letter to a long-lost friend he recently discovered is dying... wait for it...  he says:

"as long as I walk, she'll stay alive." 

He seems to think she'll wait for him; the cancer won't kill her, but she'll wait.  So, yes. This book is a little odd.  But, I can't help but feel compelled by this character.  He is so real. Even when he has an awkward conversation from a payphone to his wife, you can't help but feel intrigued and happy for him; he has an enlightened joy and newly found happiness in his purpose... silly as it may be.

 I can't help but wonder, as Harold stays in a hotel for an unexpected two-day stay, whether he'll have the stamina to continue... also, he doesn't have the appropriate great... I mean, won't his shoes fall apart?

Quite a story!
I can definitely see why this book is a favorite for many. Told with many intricacies, that have you mind-bent at times.
Was the journey Harold took crazy? You're damn skippy. Was it worth it? It definitely was. Even if it stopped being about what it was in the first place.
I got nothing but mad love for Harold and Maureen. You think one thing and are going to be totally wrong... it is what it is... but you know this is a great thing, because what you're rooting for is even better than expected!
Yeah, all I can say is, if you haven't read it. You really need to. Seriously.

I had this one sitting on my TBR for quite some time. I'm glad I finally picked it up, because it was all worth it in the end. 

"Recently retired, sweet, emotionally numb Harold Fry is jolted out of his passivity by a letter from Queenie Hennessy, an old friend, who he hasn't heard from in twenty years. She has written to say she is in hospice and wanted to say goodbye. Leaving his tense, bitter wife Maureen to her chores, Harold intends a quick walk to the corner mailbox to post his reply but instead, inspired by a chance encounter, he becomes convinced he must deliver his message in person to Queenie--who is 600 miles away--because as long as he keeps walking, Harold believes that Queenie will not die."

 

 

This book was so different from all the others I've read over the last year or so. I was very impressed with the writing, because despite my scepticism and fear going in, the book captured me right from the start. I couldn't stop reading, even though I didn't enjoy all parts of the story equally. 

It was Harold who broke my heart pretty much in the first chapter. He was so lost, so uncertain of everything, but then something just snapped in his mind and he HAD to walk the distance to see Queenie. Because if he only belived hard enough, a miracle might happen and Queenie would be cured. He mad eme smile and hurt for him at the same time. His wife Maureen was a different story. I had a harder time with her. Maybe because she didn't always make sense to me on an emotional level. Maybe because I still understood her - she had a very eerie resemblance to someone in my own family. But all in all, these two MCs touched me on a very personal level, one I didn't expect or was always completely comfortable with. But they got under my skin, and once they did, I enjoyed their journey very much. 

Sadly, some parts of the story dragged a little. Especially the happenings involving all of Harold's "followers" and the whole media hype. It was probably not far from a potential reality, but it still annoyed me one moment, then bored me the next. I felt somewhat disconnected at that point.

The last part packed another punch though, and really got to me. So much. It was Harold, again, so beautifully real and human and flawed, who broke my heart and drew me in again. I felt for him, I even felt a little more for Maureen. Their loss and hope slayed me all at once.

All in all, I really liked this story despite the niggles and issues I had with in now and again. I'd recommend it to everyone who likes a well written story about life, love, regrets and loss, combined with a very unusual adventure.