kitkat2500's review
4.0
This book drew me in slowly. And then it totally enchanted me. The unlikely pilgrimage that Harold Fry finds himself on is essentially a 500 mile walk across England, as he sets off to "save" a former colleague and friend from cancer. During this long walk, the story of his life slowly unfolds. I was deeply touched by the human capacity for compassion and love. Harold Fry has many regrets as a father, husband, son, coworker, and friend. But he manages to grow and transform and heal in a way that I found inspiring and touching. I didn't give the book five stars because there's a slight loss of momentum about four-fifth of the way through. But definitely a book worth reading, re-reading, and savoring.
sarahs_booknook's review against another edition
Might return to it but it just wasn't keeping me engaged
jlworley's review
4.0
Enjoyed this one more than I expected to based on the very impractical premise: a man goes to the mailbox to send a letter and ends up walking 500+ miles entirely unexpectedly. The story is much more than that, though. Without any spoilers, it's a story of a marriage that has been falling apart for decades, broken people, and maybe more than anything else, it's about hope.
findyourgoldenhour's review
5.0
I re-read this for my neighborhood book club, and as usual with a re-read, it was a different reading experience. The books don’t change, but we do.
I liked it the first time around; I was truly moved by it the second time I read it. It’s such a poignant book; it just feels so British: all quiet reserve and restraint on the surface, with deep unspoken emotion just beneath the surface.
As I read this book I kept thinking of an adage I heard once: we don’t usually regret the things we’ve done, we regret the things we didn’t do. The kind words left unsaid. The road not taken. In this book Harold literally takes to the road on an unlikely pilgrimage to process all of his regrets: as a father, a husband and a friend.
There are beautiful passages that will give you pause. There is religious imagery that will make you see the holy in the prosaic. It’s that kind of book. I’m glad I re-read it; it’s the kind of book worth savoring. I’ll add it to my “to read again someday” list, because I suspect it’s the kind of book that holds future wisdom I missed the first two times.
I liked it the first time around; I was truly moved by it the second time I read it. It’s such a poignant book; it just feels so British: all quiet reserve and restraint on the surface, with deep unspoken emotion just beneath the surface.
As I read this book I kept thinking of an adage I heard once: we don’t usually regret the things we’ve done, we regret the things we didn’t do. The kind words left unsaid. The road not taken. In this book Harold literally takes to the road on an unlikely pilgrimage to process all of his regrets: as a father, a husband and a friend.
There are beautiful passages that will give you pause. There is religious imagery that will make you see the holy in the prosaic. It’s that kind of book. I’m glad I re-read it; it’s the kind of book worth savoring. I’ll add it to my “to read again someday” list, because I suspect it’s the kind of book that holds future wisdom I missed the first two times.
memita's review against another edition
4.0
4,5*
Não dava muito por este livro. O início é chato e em certos aspectos até parece pateta. Um velho que decide atravessar a Inglaterra a pé para salvar uma mulher do cancro. Parece, não é? Mas a sua viagem não tem nada de patético. É um tipo de viagem muito importante, que todos devemos fazer nas nossas vidas a determinado momento. O Harold só a tornou física e ao longo dela vamos conhecendo o seu mundo e descobrindo o porquê de ele ter aquela vida que parecia chata a princípio. Casamento, filhos, doença, amor, velhice, morte, amizade... Fala-se de tudo um pouco. Mas foi a velhice e a doença que me deixou num caco. Afeiçoei-me muito às personagens, revi nelas muitos dos "meus" doentes. E pensei em tanta coisa... Dava para escrever uma tese acerca do livro. Chorei horrores no final, excusado será dizer. É um livro triste, sim, mas também é bonito. A escrita da autora é na verdade muito simples, mas aborda os pontos essenciais da história de uma maneira que me tocou muito. E eu nunca me vou esquecer destas personagens.
Não dava muito por este livro. O início é chato e em certos aspectos até parece pateta. Um velho que decide atravessar a Inglaterra a pé para salvar uma mulher do cancro. Parece, não é? Mas a sua viagem não tem nada de patético. É um tipo de viagem muito importante, que todos devemos fazer nas nossas vidas a determinado momento. O Harold só a tornou física e ao longo dela vamos conhecendo o seu mundo e descobrindo o porquê de ele ter aquela vida que parecia chata a princípio. Casamento, filhos, doença, amor, velhice, morte, amizade... Fala-se de tudo um pouco. Mas foi a velhice e a doença que me deixou num caco. Afeiçoei-me muito às personagens, revi nelas muitos dos "meus" doentes. E pensei em tanta coisa... Dava para escrever uma tese acerca do livro. Chorei horrores no final, excusado será dizer. É um livro triste, sim, mas também é bonito. A escrita da autora é na verdade muito simples, mas aborda os pontos essenciais da história de uma maneira que me tocou muito. E eu nunca me vou esquecer destas personagens.
frogautumn's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
nicnels's review
emotional
inspiring
medium-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
3.75
bookishlysophie's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
An incredibly emotional book overall. I knew there was something going on very early but it’s slowly teased and the reveal is satisfying. The ending leaves you with mixed feelings but it’s accurate and I loved the character development. I’d highly recommend.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, and Suicide
charlottespiers's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-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
3.75
ekfmef's review
emotional
inspiring
sad
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What a beautiful book. It has a lot more depth than other 'an old person walks away from their life' books. I loved it that the writer did not choose the easy way out.
But man, this book is super sad...
My only point of criticism is that Harold seems to behave like he is way older than 75, he's more like 85!
But man, this book is super sad...
My only point of criticism is that Harold seems to behave like he is way older than 75, he's more like 85!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide