A review by nglofile
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
3.0
Stay with me.
For much of this book, I could take it or leave it. It had lovely moments, and, as a great fan of walking for both recreation and exercise, I appreciated some of his private musings*. I was less enchanted by other elements, not because they were bad, but because they didn't quite seem to accomplish anything special. The same thematic underpinings (journey more important than destination, traveling light, power of faith and hope, companions both supportive and false will come and go, ultimately journey is our own, how journey changes us, etc.) that might provoke thought could also be forced or presented with allegory-like lack of nuance. Again, this doesn't mean it's not successful; it just may not be the book for me. A contributing factor to my ambivalence is the inclusion of two tropes which are well-worn and wearying.
However, as I navigated the final chapters, I realized that this book was making more of an impression than I realized. I doubt I can explain it. It may not be revolutionary, but it does craft a space that invites personal participation in the creation of meaning. It elicits emotion and resonance with more subtlety than I initially credited. Yes, for quite a while the characters are so broadly sketched as to be near-caricature, but there's growth both in and around them. Even when revelations aren't that revelatory, they can still have impact.
audiobook note: The absolute best part of this pilgrimage was keeping company with performer Jim Broadbent. His narration is divine. I've always enjoyed his acting, but even with that foreknowledge I was both soothed and mesmerized to a startling degree by the texture with which he gently layers the reading. His interpretation is heartbreaking in the most wonderful way, and no one else could have been such an effective guide.
*e.g., It surprised him that he was remembering all of this. Maybe it was the walking. Maybe you saw even more than the land when you got out of the car and used your feet.
If he kept going forward, he would of course arrive.
For much of this book, I could take it or leave it. It had lovely moments, and, as a great fan of walking for both recreation and exercise, I appreciated some of his private musings*. I was less enchanted by other elements, not because they were bad, but because they didn't quite seem to accomplish anything special. The same thematic underpinings (journey more important than destination, traveling light, power of faith and hope, companions both supportive and false will come and go, ultimately journey is our own, how journey changes us, etc.) that might provoke thought could also be forced or presented with allegory-like lack of nuance. Again, this doesn't mean it's not successful; it just may not be the book for me. A contributing factor to my ambivalence is the inclusion of two tropes which are well-worn and wearying
Spoiler
: one, which I acknowledge is absolutely grounded in reality, the couple driven apart by the death of a child; and two, a character who keeps information from a partner that could have long ago led to healing or at least the removal of an obstacleHowever, as I navigated the final chapters, I realized that this book was making more of an impression than I realized. I doubt I can explain it. It may not be revolutionary, but it does craft a space that invites personal participation in the creation of meaning. It elicits emotion and resonance with more subtlety than I initially credited. Yes, for quite a while the characters are so broadly sketched as to be near-caricature, but there's growth both in and around them. Even when revelations aren't that revelatory, they can still have impact.
audiobook note: The absolute best part of this pilgrimage was keeping company with performer Jim Broadbent. His narration is divine. I've always enjoyed his acting, but even with that foreknowledge I was both soothed and mesmerized to a startling degree by the texture with which he gently layers the reading. His interpretation is heartbreaking in the most wonderful way, and no one else could have been such an effective guide.
*e.g., It surprised him that he was remembering all of this. Maybe it was the walking. Maybe you saw even more than the land when you got out of the car and used your feet.
If he kept going forward, he would of course arrive.