The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry - now the book club thread!

Found this a wonderful, engrossing read which must allude to every emotion known to man. Most people's lives are touched by cancer and having had some experience of hospice visiting I found the care described in the book very similar to what I saw.
Can I ask Ms Joyce whether the passages inside the hospice are from her research, personal experience or is it her fiction? And were you surprised at the success of the book, both critically and in sales terms?

PS I dont know where the extra "just me" came from at the end!
I dont usually sign myself off like that!

Thank you Gransnet for my copy of Harold Fry.
I have just finished it, with many tears, as unfortunately I too have been
looking back on mistakes made over the last 78 years.
Babba you ask if such unhappiness exists in Marriage, I am glad you have
not experienced it yourself. I berate myself quite a lot these days over
past failings now I am widowed, and Maureen I expect is replicated quite a lot - I hope its not just me.
Enough of that, it was a lovely book, and when I started it I was reminded
of "Mr. Finchley discovers his England" by Victor Canning, and also "The
History of Mr. Polly" but as I got further into the book and especially
toward the end I realized that this was a much more thoughtful, and,
unfortunately, true to life book.
I hope the Radio Play is repeated as I would like to hear that.
The questions in the back are interesting, did Rachel Joyce have Book
Clubs in mind when writing this?
just me.

Has anyone else been so impulsive and what have they done?

I've not managed to read this yet but hoping to start it tonight.I've heard really good reports about it so can't wait to get into it.

I too received a copy of "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry," so thank you for that GN. I thoroughly enjoyed it and could not put it down, I finished it in three sittings.
What a lovely heartwarming story it is, it restored my faith in human nature, if only there were more characters like him in the world, or perhaps there are and I just haven't met them. He and Maureen seemed almost real and I believe that people similar to them do exist in that sort of complicated relationship which needs something to set them free.
I wonder how Rachel Joyce got the idea for the book and if she knows anyone who actually gave her the inspiration? They say authors base their stories on things they know as well as their creativity.
I shall read it again and enjoy it just as much and then I shall pass it around for my friends to share.
Thank you.

What a wonderful book, both funny and moving a great read. I will be taking it to the next WI meeting where I think it will prove to be very popular.

Got this as an audio book & thoroughly enjoyed it. Found the section with the followers a bit difficult but got there in the end. Have re-played it and found it more enjoyable the second time. A well-written, lovely story

It was such a poignant book for me because the last part was so similar to my sister's illness just before she died last year. Didn't stop me appreciating the beauty of the book, though.

Loved this book. Best one I've read in a long time. I think it was interesting the way he had difficulty in facing difficult emotions, burying them under the carpet and only being able to face up to them when he finds the space and peace of the open road.

Do you think he would have gone on his journey if the garage girl had told him that her aunt had, actually, died?

Have now finished thid wonderful and beautifully written book and found it incredibly moving.
Grateful thanks to Gransnet for the opportunity.

Delighted to receive my copy. Another excellent choice for the Book Club. Very simple storyline, yet sensitively touching on a number of aspects of modern living on the way. Wasn't the ending I was anticipating.

Just read the book in 2 days. Really enjoyed it - a couple of cliff hangers kept me wanting to keep at it. It would have been helpful if the map at the end had been at the beginning. I didn't see it was there until I finished the book, and would have liked to have known it was there during the progress of the book. Would definitely recommend this book and look forward to Rachel's next.

Hard to find anything to say that others haven't already said before me! I found this book interesting and quite moving, with moments of self realisation. The characterisations of Harold and Maureen were excellent, but I didn't enjoy the section with all those who joined Harold along the way. Knowing Exeter and Bath quite well I also appreciated the descriptions of these towns, but was disappointed that we didn't get the same for some of the northern places that Harold passed through.

Apologies for my belated thanks for sending me this book.

I loved it and was drawn in from the first page. As it is set in Devon, I recognised many of the places in the first part of the journey (only recently I was in Kingsbridge for work, visiting the college.)

However there was one part that I did not see coming. I wont say which, as I would not like to spoil it for anyone who might read this but has yet to read the book, but those who know a little of my experiences will probably know what I mean. I read, recognised and understood with a feeling so strong it was practically a physical ache.

I have just finished the book and I loved it. What a wonderful unusual book, I couldn't put it down.

I loved it, it was subtle and clever, and very moving. Makes you think about love, life and ageing. Read it and weep!

I love the book and I love Harold- looking forward to the rest of the journey. He's nearly at Exeter. I hope he buys some walking boots.

What a wonderful book- I travelled every step of the way with Harold . The path to Berwick was an emotional rollercoaster with the intermittent snap shots of his wife's life. The revelations of the true sequence of their lives were unexpected but the finally was sympathetic and approached with sensitivity. I was sad when I the book came to an end I could have read on for ever. I look foreward to futher books

I loved this book for many reasons, especially for its simplicity and healing ending.
2 questions from my book group discussions.
A couple of readers couldn't get past Harold's unsuitable footwear. They thought he couldn't possibly have done the walk wearing them so this made them dislike the whole book. Was there a reason for this? (I thought it meant he came as he was...)
Also , why make Queenie so disabled that she couldn't communicate with Harold? Would it have been too pat for her to put the past right with him?
Look forward to reading Rachel's answers.

I've only read the first few chapters so far, so I've skipped all the reviews above.

Thank you so much! I received this book free from gransnet ! I really loved it. There was so much that I could identify with and couldn't put it down, it was so moving that I cried at the end and couldn't stop thinking about all the issues raised,many that are so close to home!

I loved this book so much. When I'd finished I couldn't give it to the charity shop as I usually do, I gave it to a friend, so we could talk about it !

Found the couple quite sad though in the beginning but it was a brilliant read, so compelling and I was willing him to finish his walk. Got cross with all the hangers on though. I will read it again in the future.

Just finished this book, it was so sad to come to the end. A very moving story about a family loss, and how we cope with such things.