2013-38 - The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, by Rachel Joyce

38 - The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, by Rachel Joyce
WHY I PICKED IT: Recommended by my friend Ling Sian
ELAPSED TIME: 3 Days
RATING: Good

Harold Fry, a retiree in Southern England receives a letter from an old friend one morning, she is saying goodbye to him from a hospice in North England.  Harold writes her a quick note, and then walks to the post box to send it to her.  He skips the first box, ... and the second one, and the post office in town, and finds himself walking to see his friend himself.

Over 87 days and 600 miles of walking we experience Harold's life through his memories.  His childhood, his career, his friendship with Queenie, his relationship with his son, and the relationship with his wife.  We also see how Harold grows through the experience of walking, and can watch the re-development of the love for his wife.

This is the second book recommended to me by Ling Sian (the other being One Day, by David Nichols), and both were character driven love stories spanning distances between the couple.  They are also dominated by characters who will seep their way into your consciousness... people who I will miss now that the story is done.