by Rachel Joyce
Probably my absolute favorite read for 2012! Retired businessman Harold Fry, stuck in a life of established routine with his wife Maureen, with whom he barely communicates, finds his world put akilter when he receives a letter from a long-ago co-worker, Queenie Hennessy. Queenie is in a hospice in far northern England, dying, and just wants to say goodbye. Not a man of eloquent words, Harold none-the-less writes a short note to Queenie, puts on a jacket and tells Maureen he's going to drop off a letter at the nearest postbox. Only...when he gets to the neighborhood drop box, he continues on to the next box, and the next box after that. Ultimately, Harold finds himself walking down the road, starting in Southern England and planning to walk all 500 miles to Queenie's bedside, reasoning to himself that Queenie will have to live long enough for him to say goodbye in person. What starts off as a fairly lightweight, quirky novel, quickly builds drama and emotion, as Harold meets a number of colorful characters who help him on his journey. Though the antics of some of the folks who join him on his travels threaten to distract him from his mission, Harold looks deep within himself to find the strength to carry on, and to deal with some of the personal crises in his own life at the same time. A surprisingly weighty and emotional book! [Also enjoyable as an audiobook, read by actor Jim Broadbent.] -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library
[Also available in downloadable audio and downloadable E-book formats.]
[ official Rachel Joyce web site ]
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