iljareads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kelbi's review against another edition
5.0
Nearly finished it and its very good and very moving. In some ways I don't want it to end. Have finished it now. This is a quite wonderful book. Ultimately uplifting.
ablotial's review against another edition
3.0
For the first quarter of this book, I really loved it. I loved the idea of this old man walking to his mailbox to post a letter, but deciding to mail it by hand instead. It was great to "hear" his thoughts as he walked and to watch his mindset change, and to see the other people's reactions to his journey. But after a while, it got a bit repetitive. To be fair, I bet it would get pretty repetitive to be the one walking for so many months. And then the stuff with his family got a little weird and .. I dunno. By the end of the book, I had mostly lost interest. The ending itself was good -- both Harold and his wife had grown as people, and their relationship seemed to be taking on a totally different tone. It's sad that this walk had to occur for them to take those steps but ... that's life I suppose.
It was a cute book, and had a few very good moments that really made you think about life and appreciating all you have and not taking for granted all of the small blessings. But I think the book has a whole could have been done differently (better?) and had even more impact.
It was a cute book, and had a few very good moments that really made you think about life and appreciating all you have and not taking for granted all of the small blessings. But I think the book has a whole could have been done differently (better?) and had even more impact.
amymo73's review against another edition
4.0
This book will stay with me for a long time. Some of the concepts of life's journey and regret and second chances are typical (though I wouldn't say cliche) but Joyce writes about them with care. The book leads me to ask more questions than it does in trying to give me answers, which I freaking love. I was interested in the commercialization of Harold's walk, how he felt allowing people to walk their journey alongside him was part of his calling but how the nature of groups dilutes the intention. We all want to morph our journey into something specific, even Harold. But his greatest moments of joy, and of wisdom, come when he is in the process not when he is trying to parce out meaning. Perhaps my greatest call to action (more specifically call to question) is how will I leave my mark on the world? What do I want that to look like? Is it even for me to decide?
Favorite quotes;
"It seemed important to allow himself to be true to the instincts that made him Harold as opposed to anyone else."
"There were times when not knowing was the biggest truth and you had to stay with that."
Favorite quotes;
"It seemed important to allow himself to be true to the instincts that made him Harold as opposed to anyone else."
"There were times when not knowing was the biggest truth and you had to stay with that."
bookish20's review against another edition
3.0
I felt a sense of melancholy, reading this. Not sure if it was the right book for me. At times I wanted Harold to stop walking as I struggled to turn the page and yet other times I didn’t want his journey to end. A very thought-provoking book. It makes you realise you need to appreciate the people in your life more than your possessions and achievements.
weebelfastgirl's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
francesca2002's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
jcpdiesel21's review against another edition
4.0
Sentimental, delightful and touching. I very much enjoyed following the wonderfully introspective Harold and reading about his walk's many unexpected repercussions. The premise of the novel is fairly straightforward and simple, but there is underlying depth to the story and a couple of twists near the end caught me by surprise. I liked how bits and pieces of the backstory are revealed at at time to fill in the blanks of why exactly Harold is walking. Maybe I'm just a sap at heart, but I cherished reading this and it would make a fantastic movie. Reread in 2015.