The Salt Path (The Film)

I saw a copy of her third book “Landlines” on the Aldi charity book stall today. I bought it thinking she wouldn’t get my money but a Teen Cancer charity would!

No doubt that will be a pack of lies too.

She's rolling in the money anyway! The controversy put the book right back on the bestsellers list- I imagine being bought by people who hadn't read it when it first came out. Plus of course the film...

I know this thread was a while back, but as the film is now on prime, and most of the fuss has died down, I thought I'd give it a watch.
And to be honest, it's a lovely film! A render story.
I havent read the book, don't I tend to, but the acting in the film was brilliant, the scenery was awesome, and I think, if only she had written it was a fictional story not a real one, she would still be rolling in money and not have all the crap she's getting now.
My opinion.

I went away when my teenage daughter was waiting for her AS level results. I wasn't worried as she always did fantastically at school and I had visited the college who waxed lyrical about her academic achievements at parent's evening. Unfortunately, she did really badly for the first time in her life and I was hundreds of miles away. It was horrible for both of us. If I had my time over again, I'd have stayed home.

Yes I agree about being in contact with children, one of mine, late teens, went off to a music festival in Portugal, whilst we were simultaneously going⁷ to a hotel in Cornwall. I remember writing hotel phone number on a piece of paper....."just in case you lose your phone" "I won't! so I don't need your number" came the overly confident reply. Later that week, the phone was lost somewhere in a mosh pit, "wasn't it a good idea that we agreed you gave me your phone number at the hotel" said he after the event

Glad those days are over, I certainly felt the need to stay in touch with my nearly adult children back then if we were to be apart for a while.

I have not read the book, but not mentioning their children does not mean that they were not in contact with them. It jsut means that the focus of the book was elsewhere. They could have been in constant contact with them, but, for the books structure and purpose left them out of it.

Film scripts always slim down and simplify books, they could not otherwise be filmed.

Neither have I said I thought it was a good idea to go off walking with a sick husband except that doctors are now considering whether he is even sick at all ??

Me neither.
I'm far from a helicopter parent but I think they need to know where their parents are and how they are.

I can’t imagine leaving my university age children to walk hundreds of miles with their very ill father,

Allira

MayBee70

Iam64

Ray or Winn has published some of Moth’s letters from consultants. I should learn how to link 🙈. My brief reading raised questions

I think I read that it is one of those conditions that doesn’t have a specific test but is diagnosed by a sort of process of elimination so perhaps a misdiagnosis could have been made initially. However, with something with such a bad prognosis I would have thought that he would have been under the hospital and required frequent appointments? I’ll try to find the letters.

However, with something with such a bad prognosis I would have thought that he would have been under the hospital and required frequent appointments?

Yes, I agree. The immediate reaction would be to follow the recommendations of the Consultants, not to change your names and disappear. I'm surprised, having received such a diagnosis, he went along with the hare-brained scheme.

Not having read the books or seen the film, I wonder if this couple was still in touch with their children throughout?

They were barely mentioned in the book and just briefly in the film. She said they were at Uni.

MayBee70

Iam64

Ray or Winn has published some of Moth’s letters from consultants. I should learn how to link 🙈. My brief reading raised questions

I think I read that it is one of those conditions that doesn’t have a specific test but is diagnosed by a sort of process of elimination so perhaps a misdiagnosis could have been made initially. However, with something with such a bad prognosis I would have thought that he would have been under the hospital and required frequent appointments? I’ll try to find the letters.

However, with something with such a bad prognosis I would have thought that he would have been under the hospital and required frequent appointments?

Yes, I agree. The immediate reaction would be to follow the recommendations of the Consultants, not to change your names and disappear. I'm surprised, having received such a diagnosis, he went along with the hare-brained scheme.

Not having read the books or seen the film, I wonder if this couple was still in touch with their children throughout?

Thanks Merlot

Iam64

Thanks Merlot, I missed ch4 will try catch up

Very short….Nothing we don’t already know.

Lathyrus3

If you divest it of the emotive narrative there is not actually much there of facts. It is a statement designed to restore the sympathy that followed The Salt Path.

The one thing she disputes that is provable is the Observers statement that a relative loaned money to pay of the embezzlement and avoid criminal proceedings and her statement that the money was actually a repayment of a loan that they made to him some years earlier.

That will be easily provable if it is the truth or one lie amongst many.

I hold no credence to her claim that the embezzled money was a “mistake”. It was a very large of money taken over several years.

Moth’s illness is a matter between him and his doctors and only he and they can judge on that.

No doubt I will now open myself again to jibes of “the Lathyrus show” for posting and to judgements of being “pious”, “sanctimonious” “”without compassion” and unable to appreciate the ‘shades of grey” of life.

Actually I prefer to think of it as ‘clear-sighted”.

Lathyrus, I’ve missed these accusations of pious sanctimonious posts. I missed the posts as well 😁

I agree with your summary

Thanks Merlot, I missed ch4 will try catch up

On Channel 4 News now.

If you divest it of the emotive narrative there is not actually much there of facts. It is a statement designed to restore the sympathy that followed The Salt Path.

The one thing she disputes that is provable is the Observers statement that a relative loaned money to pay of the embezzlement and avoid criminal proceedings and her statement that the money was actually a repayment of a loan that they made to him some years earlier.

That will be easily provable if it is the truth or one lie amongst many.

I hold no credence to her claim that the embezzled money was a “mistake”. It was a very large of money taken over several years.

Moth’s illness is a matter between him and his doctors and only he and they can judge on that.

No doubt I will now open myself again to jibes of “the Lathyrus show” for posting and to judgements of being “pious”, “sanctimonious” “”without compassion” and unable to appreciate the ‘shades of grey” of life.

Actually I prefer to think of it as ‘clear-sighted”.

Well she can afford to use the very best lawyers. I wonder if the relative that lent them the money was actually very dodgy. She says she’s paid everybody back but isn’t that what the £100,000 was for anyway?

I have just read the statement.

If even half of what Sally/Raynor claims is actually true she would be able to take The Observer to the cleaners and make even more money. It will be interesting to see how much, if any, of her statement actually holds water.

www.raynorwinn.co.uk/

This is the link to Raynor Winn’s statement today.

Another interesting read.

I read the letters, I’m prepared to be told I’m wrong but, I couldn’t see a diagnosis, reference to Mother reporting symptoms

There was an article in today’s Times where Raynor Winn/Walker, produced redacted snippets from the consultants letters. Because they were not in context it is very difficult to give them credence.

TerriBull

I think there have been quite a few discussions on GN about the book since its publication. We went to see the film this afternoon, mixed reviews, not an overwhelming 5 stars from some critics. I loved it, found it very affecting in the portrayal of the depth of Ray and Moth's relationship, a rock solid marriage facing insurmountable problems, losing their home, subsequently made homeless, related in flashbacks. Practically penniless bar the meagre weekly benefit they received drawn along the way, whilst they set off on what would seem an insane challenge given Moth's serious and rare illness. Set backs en route, not least of all the elements wreaking havoc on their flimsy tent whilst they undertake the daunting, but beautiful south west coastal walk, I love that part of the world one of the reasons that drew me to the book in the first place.. Fantastic acting particularly from Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs ultimately uplifting.

I think I would just add now the dust has settled, given everything that has come to light since I first opened this thread.....well just suffice to say, I probably would never have started it in the first place, if I'd known a fraction of what has been uncovered. I wasn't wearing my cynic's hat when I read the book and saw the film, just thought it was an uplifting account of a couple overcoming some of the adversity that life had dished out, not realising the role they'd played in their own downfall and worse than that the embezzlement and cheating, they've made a fortune on the back of the books and the film, hope they will be paying some of it back. All very disappointing. I bet their publishers, Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs are none too pleased

Pantglas2

We saw the film this afternoon and I will source the book to see what they left out!

I prefer to do it this way round as I’m normally rather cross when I enjoy a book first then find the film has cut corners.

Well this was rather noncommittal of me! Seems rather a lot was left out…🫣

I had thought of buying the book but given developments I’ll wait for a cast off from my local charity shop!

Iam64

Ray or Winn has published some of Moth’s letters from consultants. I should learn how to link 🙈. My brief reading raised questions

I think I read that it is one of those conditions that doesn’t have a specific test but is diagnosed by a sort of process of elimination so perhaps a misdiagnosis could have been made initially. However, with something with such a bad prognosis I would have thought that he would have been under the hospital and required frequent appointments? I’ll try to find the letters.