Thursday 20 September 2012

International Book week: you have to read "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry"

 "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry" by Rachel Joyce is brilliant. I laughed more reading this book than I have in a long time, and cried plenty at the end. It is a classic novel. I have just bought lots of copies to send to friends.

It is the story of recently-retired Harold Fry, who sets out one morning to post a letter to a dying friend. Quite unexpectedly, in a moment of impulse, Fry finds himself at the start of a journey which will lead him to walk hundreds of miles from home, en route making chance encounters and reflecting on tragic events from his past which transform his life and in turn alter the lives of the people he meets.
I particuarly like that he decides to walk to Northumberland!!

The book was on the longlist for the Booker Prize and was cruelly denied a final place - probably the only bad decision actor Dan Stevens [who is the star of Downton and on the Booker Prize panel] will make all year.

It is International Book Week - buy this - you will not be disappointed.