Raynor Winn/Sally Walker issues Statement

I enjoyed the book and the film. The book is well written, no literary masterpiece but despite it's fairly simple story it is good enough to carry the reader along without too much effort. The photography in the film is stunning. I know quite a few stretches of The Salt Path well and she wrote accurately about it, she is not without talent as a writer, she would not have found a publisher it it was poorly written. I worked in publishing for 20 years so I'm not completely without experience.
In the book she glosses over how they found themselves homeless, certainly I wasn't sure of the facts behind it as they were not discussed in any detail in the book. Probably a convenient omission but hardly a hanging offence! She has produced medical evidence of Moth's medical condition that confirms a neurological condition so tbh I think this hate fest is a completely over the top. I read the story as a fictional autobiography, which used the writer's personal story as a base for a novel so didn't expect the book to be an absolutely truthful account. fwiw all autobiographies are written from the writer's perspective so it's naive to imagine any of them stick scrupulously to proven facts.

The Observer published a follow up to their article as well as an interview with the landlord of the farm that the Walkers/Winns lived on observer.co.uk/culture/books/article/fact-and-fiction-raynor-winn-wont-talk-to-us-but-heres-what-she-said-about-our-story

Totally agree honeyrose

I did read the Salt Path 2 or 3 years ago and really enjoyed it. I can be quite naive at times, but whilst reading the book, I did find it difficult to comprehend how Moth, with his very serious and life-limiting health condition, could walk all those miles every day, live rough (in tents) and survive on hardly any decent food. I did think about seeing the film - I shalln’t bother now. Nor shall I read any more of Raynor/Sally’s books. Best wishes to them both, but I won’t waste any more of my precious time on your stories.

MayBee70

Having read more articles it does seem correct that Moth had some sort of neurological condition because one article said he had been struggling with the work that he did. But, like many such conditions, there are no tests for such things so it’s down to the doctors to make a diagnosis on the symptoms presented to them.

Yes but today's Observer article says that at the same time that he was telling their benefactor he didn't have long to live, she was saying that a brain scan showed there was no longer any damage (and attributing this miracle to their walk).

Having read more articles it does seem correct that Moth had some sort of neurological condition because one article said he had been struggling with the work that he did. But, like many such conditions, there are no tests for such things so it’s down to the doctors to make a diagnosis on the symptoms presented to them.

BlueBelle

*Actually I don’t think there is a difference between what is happening in politics and the Salt Path goings on*
That’s ok then Lathyrus !!!
two wrongs don’t make a right old saying but true

I absolutely can’t see how you think I was saying it’s ok🤔

My whole attitude, (for which I have been heavily castigated on other Salt Path threads) is that lying, deceit, self-interest and greed are wrong - whatever the circumstances.

Other people might believe that it’s wrong n the big issues of life but quite understandable and justifiable in everyday life, but I don’t see it like that.

Actually I don’t think there is a difference between what is happening in politics and the Salt Path goings on
That’s ok then Lathyrus !!!
two wrongs don’t make a right old saying but true

Interesting article in today’s Observer following their original last Sunday.

observer.co.uk/culture/books/article/fact-and-fiction-raynor-winn-wont-talk-to-us-but-heres-what-she-said-about-our-story

I was reminded recently of the Watergate scandal of 1974. Ex-president Nixon published his memoirs some time later and the response from some quarters was "Don't buy books from crooks". The same advice could apply to Sally/Raynor's books.

Incidentally and irrelevantly, Nixon's crimes pale into insignificance compared with all the things Trump get up to.

I don't think they'll ever be trusted with the truth again, it's annoying, a lot of us took it on face value

Actually I don’t think there is a difference between what is happening in politics and the Salt Path goings on.

The issues Colls mentioned are fundamentally about greed, contempt for others and over-riding self interest, as are the Walkers actions.

I’ve been heartened that there are still many, many people who are shocked by her deceit and greed. Perhaps our society is not as moribund as I thought when people were defending her right to steal and lie.

That’s what politics is, isn’t it. The kind of society in which we want to live. Greed and deceit matter in every case.

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! 🙂

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

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.

Very, very dark grey, I would think.

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?

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

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?

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

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.

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.

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.

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 !

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