The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry - Book Impressions⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

My Impressions

I really enjoyed this audiobook.

What it's about:

Harold leaves his house to post a letter to his dying friend, Queenie. Instead of posting it, he decides to journey on foot to the care home, telling Queenie to wait for him as he undertakes what becomes an 87 day trek. 

He is ill equipped, with no forward planning and wearing only a pair of yachting shoes. During this pilgrimage, both Harold and his wife, Maureen, go through their own personal journey.

How I came by this book:

I had already seen the movie and thoroughly enjoyed it. My friend recommended the book to me, and so I decided to listen to it on audiobook. 

Retrospectively, I enjoyed the book more than the film as it allowed me to get inside the head of Harold and Maureen, capturing their thoughts and emotions. This added depth and meaning to their characters.

What I loved:

• The journey was initially difficult because of Harold’s level of fitness, but as he became fitter, the journey seemed to flow. During this flow, he was left with his thoughts and memories mainly around his past, his son and his wife - tackling his own personal demons.
• The way the journey and the experiences encountered change Harold’s relationship with his wife for the better. 
• The way Harold’s solitary journey gave Maureen time to reflect on the past and the present, as she remained at home on her own. How her grief at losing a son had turned to anger and judgment of Harold and impacted their life and happiness together.
• The change in Harold and his wife's relationship at the end of the pilgrimage as they both came to terms with their grief.
• I loved the flow of the journey, aided by lack of overplanning, which allowed the journey to unfold naturally.
• How the people that Harold met along the way expressed support and kindness to a stranger.

What I didn’t like:

• I didn't like the way the recently retired Harold was presented. It felt like his best life was behind him and what followed was drudgery and then death. Was this because of his mundane relationship with Maureen? A relationship stifled by grief, blaming, and unexpressed emotions over their son’s death? Or did the author think that retired people led mundane lives?

The narrative:

There is a sense of unspoken words between Harold and Maureen, sculpted by a tragedy that does not become apparent until about 2/3rds of the way through the story but is hinted at. 

Other thoughts:

The book is really about the impact of grief in a relationship when both parties do not take the time to unravel how they feel and communicate this. It is about the good in humankind reaching out a helping hand to a stranger. It is about the power and beauty of nature. It is about sunrises and sunsets. 

This book would be great for:

This book is a must read for anyone who has ever felt stuck in a relationship, is bored with their day-to-day existence, is navigating the landscape of grief, or is retired and feeling stuck in a new monotonous routine and fancies an adventure.

10 Lessons learned

1. Be willing to accept help from strangers when it is kindly given
2. Don’t let your feelings and emotions fester; instead, communicate
3. If you are bored with your day to day existence, put one foot in front of another and walk or find another purpose
4. Taking small steps forward can change the trajectory of your life - there is a healing power in momentum
5. Make an effort to keep those that you value in your life before death takes them from you
6. It is never too late to confront your past traumas 
7. Building walls to hold back your grief and emotions only leads to emotional stagnation and distancing
8. Sometimes you have to cast aside logic for a leap of faith
9. Your commitment to change can cause others to reflect on their own lives
10. There is a value in absence; it can renew appreciation

Favourite Quote:

Harold as he starts out on his journey:

“ If I just keep putting one foot in front of the other, it stands to reason that I’m going to get there.“

If you enjoyed this, you may enjoy my other book impressions.

Other related posts you may enjoy:

The Salt Path A healing journey along the South West Coast Path in the UK

Jurassic Coast Path My solo walk along the Jurassic Coast Path

An Adventure: One step at a time My journey along the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path

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