Raynor Winn/Sally Walker issues Statement

pamdixon if you are still 'not sure what the fuss is about', may I suggest you Google the Observer article and read it. The reason given in the article for the Raynor's financial difficulties is different from the reason given in The Salt Path. This puts a very different light on the story I'm afraid.

We do love our black and whites; falls from 'grace'!
First she was perfect, now less so. And we the chorus chime in with our boos and hisses.
But most situations are really a variety of shades of grey.
Maybe he was misdiagnosed?
Maybe she saw an opportunity, took it, started down that route, then as it snowballed, did not have the insight or courage to go back.
People often start believe the inner stories they tell themselves - or, as in her statement, see it as an interpretation of the truth.

And we, we like a bite sized, human black and white story.
It saves us having to think about what is happening in politics. The billions of our money that all governments give to energy companies, arm manufacturers.

Most people aren’t revelling in this particular fall from grace. More a case of some of us feeling uncomfortable about the author, feeling somewhat guilty about feeling that way and feeling a bit relieved that we weren’t just being horrible by not warming to her.

I'm certainly not revelling in their fall from grace. I'm sad to hear the truth. That the the situation they found themselves in is, apparently not as described in the book.

That should be....that the reason for the situation they found themselves in is, apparently not as described in the book.

Re gut feeling, Saville always gave me the creeps could not understand why anyone liked him. Disliked H Edwards.

I think most people would show empathy to those who are having a difficult time, but swerving the truth is not acceptable.
I’m refraining from putting it in stronger terms.

I’m so gullible! There were things I didn’t like about the book and definitely exaggerations (at best) but I didn’t suspect her of lying.

Well whatever people say I am planning to watch it at our local seniors showing next Friday afternoon.

He was poorly that he could walk 600 miles - I bet.

Eh?

Any mistakes I made during the years in that office, I deeply regret, and I am truly sorry

Well, are they 'mistakes' or is it theft/embezzlement? If it's theft and she calls them 'her mistakes', it doesn't bode well for her being honest on any level.

Like you wouldn’t notice tens of thousands of pounds going into your pocket by “mistake”🤔

The hype is already dying down but we feel duped by her tale of woe.
Personally liked the book but highly suspicious throughout. All of it !

I think people underestimate the 'pain' caused by embezzlement, I worked in an organisation once where an office worker took thousands of pounds. The damage done to those who worked with her ( not to the actual organisation which was able to recoup the money) was considerable.

I don’t think any of this matters. It’s a book and a film, not a documentary. Who knows how much is true in any book or film? I remember learning that Laurie Lee made up most of his ‘autobiographical’ writings, as did Gerald Durrell and probably most other authors.

It was our book club choice and I said at the time certain things didn't seem to add up. It was glossed over exactly how they lost their money with few real details.
When I was younger and fitter I walked quite a bit of that coastal path having mini maps for each section and some of the geography was wrong. I have a illness now that makes me fatigued and very achy and muscle weakness if I overdo things and I just couldn't imagine how anyone with what he supposedly had could walk those sections and sleep in a flimsy tent with inadequate sleeping bags and the supposedly diet.
I know quite a few people found the books inspirational and they must feel very let down.

An article in yesterday’s Guardian stated that “memoirists have a duty to tell the truth, however complicated or murky it might be.”

watermeadow

I don’t think any of this matters. It’s a book and a film, not a documentary. Who knows how much is true in any book or film? I remember learning that Laurie Lee made up most of his ‘autobiographical’ writings, as did Gerald Durrell and probably most other authors.

It does matter because it claims to be a true story on the cover! I felt sorry for them when first reading the book but quickly realised she went into huge detail about things she wanted us to know but things like how they “lost” their home she just glossed over and then I started doubting it.

Genuinely homeless people are top priority for social housing along with people leaving abusive relationships and street sleepers. Even if it’s a hostel or B and B they would have initially had a roof over their heads until something permanent came up. With a supposedly very ill husband that would have been the sensible thing to do.

I do not buy her story about finding a book under her stairs (as the bailiffs were knocking on the door) by someone who had walked the path before and thinking “we should do that”.

It is also very unfair to claim that the walk helped to heal her husband. In her second book she says she got hundreds of letters from people who were very ill with similar conditions and they had been inspired to push themselves like he supposedly did. How come none of those have come forward with their miracle recoveries too?

Liars always give too many details. It’s a sure giveaway.

Colls

We do love our black and whites; falls from 'grace'!
First she was perfect, now less so. And we the chorus chime in with our boos and hisses.
But most situations are really a variety of shades of grey.
Maybe he was misdiagnosed?
Maybe she saw an opportunity, took it, started down that route, then as it snowballed, did not have the insight or courage to go back.
People often start believe the inner stories they tell themselves - or, as in her statement, see it as an interpretation of the truth.

And we, we like a bite sized, human black and white story.
It saves us having to think about what is happening in politics. The billions of our money that all governments give to energy companies, arm manufacturers.

I'd like to know what the "shade of grey" is for her stealing £64,000 from her employer is?

Very, very dark grey, I would think.

Disapproval of the way Raynor/Sally has conned people does not preclude thinking and worrying about what is happening in politics. Many GNs have expressed concern about both issues.

I had no inclination to read this book thinking it was going to be more fiction than fact which it turned out to be.

Magenta8

Disapproval of the way Raynor/Sally has conned people does not preclude thinking and worrying about what is happening in politics. Many GNs have expressed concern about both issues.

Yes, many of us can multi-task! 🙂