The unlikely pilgrimage of Harold Fry

Read between the 6th and 9th January this novel written by Rachel Joyce really is quite lovely. And sad. And unputdownable. The main jist of the story is that of a man Harold Fry, a pensioner living in the South of england with his wife Maureen when he receives a letter from an old work colleague, the delightfully named Queenie Hennessy. It's really a goodbye note as she is ill with cancer in a hospice up in Berwick upon Tweed which is pretty much right at the top of England. Harold takes it upon himself to walk to Queenie, because if he keeps walking she'll keep living, all whilst wearing a pair of yachting shoes and no preparation, plan or map. Through this journey we learn about Harold, his life, relationship with Queenie, Maureen, his estranged son David and more besides. There's twists and turns throughout. Things are revealed which are really quite startling and in parts it is terribly moving. As the main character Harold is very likeable and well rounded as our the others we meet throughout his travels, I particularly liked how his and Maureens relationship changed throughout, and how it rang true to both characters. No parts of the novel felt rushed and even though what Harold sets out to do is quite extraordinary it never feels unbelievable. All in all this is a book that is funny, inspiring, touching and in parts terribly sad. It is Rachel Joyce's first novel but reading it you would thing she's a old hand at this sort of craic. Highly recommended, 4.5 stars out of 5.