OK, I’ll come clean, there has been a little confusion as to whether The Artist and myself, Molly, Ralph and Kat are in fact living in Provence at the moment. As I’m not very good at lying, I have to admit that as much as I love living in Provence, we decided that since we are neither independently rich, nor retired, we needed to regroup and reconnect with colleagues, agents, galleries and friends and remind them of our existence (out of sight out of mind and all that) and we are in fact living, for six months at least in Nailsworth, in the Cotswolds, U.K.
Besides it being a foodie town, with a great deli, organic food shops, cafés and restaurants, Nailsworth also seems to attract a lot of Artists and Writers and the other evening we were exited to be invited to the book launch for local writer, Rachel Joyce’s debut novel The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. at Hobbs House Bakery (home to Fabulous Baker Brother, Tom Herbert). It is Joyce’s debut novel and tells the story of Harold Fry, a very ordinary man, who one day leaves his house to post a letter to a colleague he hasn’t seen for twenty years who is dying in a hospice in Berwick-on-Tweed. Her name is Queenie and there is some unfinished business between the two which weighs heavily on Harold’s mind, and he decides that instead of posting the letter he will walk the 600 odd miles to deliver the letter personally.
The fact that part of the journey goes practically past our house adds to the pleasure of reading the book. I say pleasure, but in actual fact, the reading isn’t always that pleasurable and I found myself going through the same doubts and fears for the journey ahead as Harold does himself; just as he is despairing about the many miles he still has to walk with blistered feet and a lame leg, I found myself counting the number of pages I still had to read to get to the end. But then as Harold pushes on and his faith in his mission is restored and his walking pace picks up again, I too found myself eagerly turning the pages again,
As Harold walks, his wife Maureen is at home going through her own journey and the tight knot that is their relationship starts to unravel. The story is about loss, regret, love and redemption and how, if we believe enough, we can achieve things we never thought possible.
It is a very warm and up lifting book and Joyce manages to make you feel like you are right there walking beside Harold, sharing his pain and joy along the way. The story of his life unfolds as the journey progresses and by the end of the book I had become so attached to him I didn’t want to say goodbye. Oh and I almost forgot to mention, a dog also joins him for some of the way,
along with a motley band of people who decide to take on his cause.
The book is beautifully bound and there are lovely illustrations by Andrew Davidson (who also lives nearby) to accompany the text.
If you would like to join the pilgrimage and read the book, I am giving away a free copy to one lucky reader. To take part, leave a comment here about a journey you would like to undertake and I will choose a winner using a random number generator on the 2nd April. Also why not go to Harold Fry’s facebook page and like that too and don’t forget to tweet about it all you tweeters out there.
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is published in the UK by Transworld Publishers and by Random House in the U.S. on the 24th July.
Sounds like a great book. I’d be interested to read it. And I love the new web design. The font is lovely. It does have a very “modern” feel. Congrats!
Thanks Wylie, the site is still under construction, but I love it and the book is a good read too!
This looks a fascinating read – thanks for the chance to win it.
I’d love to tackle the Coast to Coast footpath, but 220 miles is a bit more than my usual Sunday stroll 🙂
I live in the U.S. and would like to someday walk the Appalachian Trail. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry sounds lovely; I have never been to France and to walk (in someone else’s shoes) through the pages of a novel would be nice.
Thanks for commenting the book will be available in the U.S. from 24th July, published by Random House (unless of course you win the giveaway!)
Give me the book. I want the book. Random generator my foot! You can pick whomever you want and you should pick me. My journey? Please. Just getting from the bed to the coffee maker is journey enough. So do I win?
..and some of us do things b(u)y the book! Funniest comment so far……I have to say!
continual existence
we were exited
passed our house
up-lifting
Oh, I heard this book being reviewed on Radio 4 and thought then it sounded good. Really like the idea of long distance walking, but all I’ve managed is a week around a bit of the SW coastpath and that was a very long time ago. But, I’ve always wanted to walk the St Michael’s Lay Line from St Michael’s Mount in Cornwall to Bury St Edmunds in Essex.
Thought it was really funny you were over here in dear old Blighty – Provance sounds a lot more romantic.
I am 60 years old in August of this year and in September my wife and I leave the Uk to walk the Camino de Santiago from St Jean in France to Santiago De Compostela in Northern Spain. The walk is 500 miles long and we plan for about six weeks. It is a chance for us to re-group, re-focus and look at ourselves anew and together, reaching decisons about our retirement and how we are to spend the rest of our lives together. We live in Shortwood, Nailsworth.
One day I want to walk across the Andes from east to west somewehre just north of Lake Titicaca – but, in truth, I’m not entirely sure if this is whereI mean. I want to rediscover a moment that last a fully year when, aged 11, I did a geography project on South America. The very thought of this journey, among so many possible ones in this magnificent world, is like a cupboard door that we dare not open and a reminder of how desparate in some ways our hopes are compared with the reality of making enough money to survive and pay the daily wedge to God knows whom.
Jane and I want to walk the le Puy route, of the Camino which passes through Conques, Figeac, Cahors and Moissac. The highlight should be Conques.
Oh…of course…”in the US’. Crikey malarkey, I thought you woz saying that it is not yet published. But it was in fact published on 15th March by Double-Day. Get viral. Angela, count me out on winning the book; I’ll buy my own when I’ve sold enough oranges in Borough Market next week. This looks like it could be my latest interim job while I await/seek commissions. Anyone with professional juicers needing great oranges to feed the punters, pplease come to me via http://www.wordswriting.co.uk. Lovely Jubbly.
I need to go to India. I have never been and my life does not enable me to visit soon, but I need to walk among the Indian people and have my senses blasted by colour, smells and history. India enters my dreams and thoughts almost every day. I immerse myself in books and films about its culture and imagine how it will be when I finally step off the plane into the heat.
Nice review. I hope I win! Provence is wonderful, but I, too, struggled with it full-time. It’s good to strike a balance and load up on proppa’ cuppa’s while you are at it [and this coming from an American]. Enjoy the Cotswolds but don’t forget to decontracte.
Reading he book has turned into quite a memorable exerience. I limit myself to one chapter a day in the early morning and find myself laughing, crying and remembering my life, as I travel with Harold. The detail of evryday things which we all forget or overlook is amazing. Thanks so much for the book – everyone should read it
This sounds an enthralling read. Should love to receive a copy. Am I too late?
would walk a million miles to see my lovely departed special friend just one more time.
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Rachel has written a book so touching, so alive, so wonderfully simple and yet humanly complex,I have just finished chapter 29(after 29 morning’s reading) and have only two left to read.
Harold’s journey has in many ways become entwined with my own journey through life and I find that I share with him and those who love him each moment, each emotion.
It is probably the best book I have ever read.
Just a passing thought what a film it would make.
I agree and I’m sure we’ll be seeing it on the big screen soon…..
Angela, Is there any way you can put me in touch with Rachel please. I would love to meet and talk with her. So profound has the impact been of her book on my life. I live with my family in Nailsworth so even a glass of wine in a bar would be great.
John
So glad you enjoyed it. You can go to Rachael’s website for contact information and news on up-coming events. The website address is http://www.rachel-joyce.co.uk/
A lovely book I stayed awake to finish. I am rooting for this book to do well….keep talking it up!