lennie_reads's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Terminal illness
mscalls's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Vomit, Medical content, and Grief
asourceoffiction's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Winn has such an evocative way of writing, when she and Moth are at their lowest on the Coast Path, hungry and filthy, you can really feel their discomfort. Which means when they carve joy out of such small moments, you can really feel that too.
It's horrendous what this couple went through and what led them to their decision to walk the 630 South West Coast Path, and I so worried for Moth's health. But the journey is inspiring and, despite some understandable despair, full of hope.
The connection with nature that Winn captures really left me craving it for myself. It's a really beautiful book and I can't wait to read more.
It's horrendous what this couple went through and what led them to their decision to walk the 630 South West Coast Path, and I so worried for Moth's health. But the journey is inspiring and, despite some understandable despair, full of hope.
The connection with nature that Winn captures really left me craving it for myself. It's a really beautiful book and I can't wait to read more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Terminal illness
lott_oh's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Chronic illness
Minor: Vomit
ruthmoog's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
I really enjoyed listening to this, and would recommend hearing the author narrate their journey; her accent reminded me of Victoria Wood which felt warm and familiar.
The beginning of the book is incredibly tense and difficult, but the journey is explorative and peaceful as Raynor and Moth become a part of the wilderness, rambling along and through the coast and encounters with mostly dog walkers and tea rooms ... Hugely British 😂
How Moth coped with his pain and illness was a highlight: long-term we don't discover his end of life health, but no doubt walking the path gave quality to his life despite a diet of fudge bars and noodles, for at least while they walked.
Plenty to contemplate!
The beginning of the book is incredibly tense and difficult, but the journey is explorative and peaceful as Raynor and Moth become a part of the wilderness, rambling along and through the coast and encounters with mostly dog walkers and tea rooms ... Hugely British 😂
How Moth coped with his pain and illness was a highlight: long-term we don't discover his end of life health, but no doubt walking the path gave quality to his life despite a diet of fudge bars and noodles, for at least while they walked.
Plenty to contemplate!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness and Terminal illness
Minor: Violence
Homelessness, financial difficulty, legal difficulty, trespass, nudityalice_hesse's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Terminal illness
marissab's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
1.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness and Terminal illness
Minor: Vomit
tesslw's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
Goodness me, this book made me FEEL THINGS. This remarkable memoir follows Raynor and her husband, Moth - just days after Moth is diagnosed with an incredibly rare, incurable and degenerative disease, they lose their home and livelihood in the climax of a long and emotionally draining legal battle. With nothing left to lose and a sobering realisation about the realities of their own mortality, Raynor and Moth decide, on a whim, to pack up what is left of their lives and walk the 630 mile coastal path from Somerset to Dorset (passing through Cornwall and Devon en route), wild camping and living out of rucksacks. This momentous decision makes for the most incredible story - the hardship that these two faced and the resilience they show is truly mindblowing. It is a beautiful reminder of the power of hope, and the spirit of love.
The nature writing and the descriptions of the landscape in this are absolutely glorious - whilst some of the descriptions of putting up their tent in the freezing cold or lashing rain made me shiver in my bones, in other chapters I could almost feel the grass between my toes or the salt from the waves as I swim in the glittering sea.
This book also provides just a glimmer of insight into the prejudice and contempt that anyone who is homeless has to face in this country - a community whom we should be treating with compassion and rallying round to offer support, not judgement and vitriol. The assumptions that are made about the circumstances leading to the couple’s journey and homelessness are nothing short of poisonous in places. However it also spotlights the kindness of many - the camaraderie and generosity Raynor and Moth receive from some is wonderful, and in turn the way that they resolve to help others even when they have so little themselves is truly admirable.
Despite going directly against doctors’ orders to rest, Moth’s condition actually seems to improve throughout their journey, despite the gruelling miles and the heavy packs - at least in part a testament to nature’s healing powers (though PLEASE don’t get me wrong, I am not for a moment suggesting that all any serious ailment requires is some fresh air and a good long walk), but Moth’s medical journey throughout this really is remarkable.
I would absolutely recommend this, I think it’s a tender, moving and deeply beautiful memoir about extraordinary people in extraordinary circumstances
The nature writing and the descriptions of the landscape in this are absolutely glorious - whilst some of the descriptions of putting up their tent in the freezing cold or lashing rain made me shiver in my bones, in other chapters I could almost feel the grass between my toes or the salt from the waves as I swim in the glittering sea.
This book also provides just a glimmer of insight into the prejudice and contempt that anyone who is homeless has to face in this country - a community whom we should be treating with compassion and rallying round to offer support, not judgement and vitriol. The assumptions that are made about the circumstances leading to the couple’s journey and homelessness are nothing short of poisonous in places. However it also spotlights the kindness of many - the camaraderie and generosity Raynor and Moth receive from some is wonderful, and in turn the way that they resolve to help others even when they have so little themselves is truly admirable.
Despite going directly against doctors’ orders to rest, Moth’s condition actually seems to improve throughout their journey, despite the gruelling miles and the heavy packs - at least in part a testament to nature’s healing powers (though PLEASE don’t get me wrong, I am not for a moment suggesting that all any serious ailment requires is some fresh air and a good long walk), but Moth’s medical journey throughout this really is remarkable.
I would absolutely recommend this, I think it’s a tender, moving and deeply beautiful memoir about extraordinary people in extraordinary circumstances
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness
Moderate: Chronic illness
gloriazthompson's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Chronic illness
waybeyondblue's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness
Minor: Grief