Raynor Winn/Sally Walker issues Statement

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.

Eh?

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

I read the book as it was on my book club list. We all felt there was 'something' not gelling in the story but not sure why. I just thought she must be too good to be true but was impressed. I wondered where all the money she made from her books, speaking tours and film rights was going and if anything was going to thank those who helped her along the way. I was going to see the film this week - not going now.

I read the book ages ago, and can't remember all the details but thought they had admitted to having had financial/housing/health problems which was why they had hit the road. Maybe I am missing the point. So, I'm not quite sure what all the fuss is about. Not seen the film though.

I read the book when it was first published because I love the SW coastline and have walked a lot of it . I didn’t really enjoy it and something about her story just didn’t ring true ….and she really annoyed me !!!!
So when all this came out about the validity of her story I felt that maybe my instincts had been correct…. We shall see!

I read the book a few years ago, didn’t enjoy it at all, it wasn’t well written and all the way through it I kept feeling that something didn’t ring true. A guy who was supposedly dying’ is walking miles each day hmmm…..
I was astonished to see that they had made a film of it to be honest!

I didn't read the book but did see the film and was very disappointed, boring with no on screen chemistry between the couple. If the latest revelations are true then it's amazing that it wasn't discovered earlier and if the aim was just to make money then why not just publish the book and film as a works of fiction?

Yes, discerning is a good word.

There is so much hype in the media about the latest book/film/art/music etc sometimes it's hard to sift out what is quality and what is rubbish.

We seem to over rely on others when making our judgements, though sometimes it is good to try new things I suppose.

“The diagnosis doesn't come from a simple test, but rather from a long and complex route of observation, where sufferers may have symptoms for many years before they finally reach a diagnosis.
“Even then, many sufferers' symptoms present in an atypical way. They might not present with the same symptoms, occurring in the same order, or with the same severity. As I've explained many times in my books, we will always be grateful that Moth's version of CBS is indolent, its slow progression has allowed us time to discover how walking helps him. Others aren't so lucky.”
This is what she said. I know my doctor said to me once that miracle cures are the result of a misdiagnosis in the first place. What annoys me about this is that I fear that, as per usual, it will result in people with ME or long covid not being taken seriously. I could understand if ‘ Moth’ had suffered from eg ME because sufferers can have good days and bad day ( bad days sometimes resulting in being bed bound for long periods of time) although with that the worst thing that sufferers can do is push themselves. Or maybe as an outdoor person he might have been suffering from Lyme disease, something under diagnosed and often ignored by doctors. If I’d known Gigspanner were not going to be performing Saltlines I would have gone to see them. They don’t deserve to have their tour ruined by her.

droopydraws

Very disappointed in this couple. I was brought up to trust people but realise that you can't trust anyone now.

Hi droopydraws. I hope you dont really mean you cant trust anyone. Maybe just not everyone. I know for myself and my friends, we are trustworthy and no doubt GNetters too. Just need to be realistic and discerning.

keepingquiet

I think naivety comes from wanting the world to be a good place, cynicism comes from realising it isn't.

Yes, absolutely!

They are well turned out, lean, white ,middle class people. Imagine a couple of people not quite so photogenic having this tale made into a film.

eddiecat78

There is now an item in the Daily Mail (admittedly not the most reputable source) saying they fell out with the kind chap who allowed them to live at a cider farm - despite having giving interviews at the time saying how wonderful it was and that they were devoting their time to rewilding it.
I'd have a bit more sympathy for them if they had compensated all the small businesses they stole from while doing the walk, but there's no sign of that being done

It’s true. She talks about it in her second book The Wild Silence. The wealthy guy allowed them to live there and rewild his land. She wrote that they were very suspicious of his motives and I believe they fell out with him, as they do with most people.

There is now an item in the Daily Mail (admittedly not the most reputable source) saying they fell out with the kind chap who allowed them to live at a cider farm - despite having giving interviews at the time saying how wonderful it was and that they were devoting their time to rewilding it.
I'd have a bit more sympathy for them if they had compensated all the small businesses they stole from while doing the walk, but there's no sign of that being done

I mentioned on the other thread that it often is not a good idea to ignore out instincts. That feeling that 'something is off' can often be very helpful.