The book is about retired man, Harold Fry who receives a
letter from someone he used to work with. The letter informs him that she has
cancer and is dying. He is understandably upset about this and decides to write
back. However, when he gets to the post box he doesn’t post the letter. He
decides to deliver it himself. The story follows Harold on his journey and his
wife waiting at home for him to get there. He isn’t prepared for his walk and
has to overcome various obstacles along the way. His wife also isn’t prepared
and she has her own things to overcome.
The book is written from both Harold point of view and his
wife, Maureen’s, point of view. Usually, finding yourself stories are about
young people but Harold has been retired for a few months when he starts to
find himself. He’s got himself stuck in a rut. He did the same job for years
and now he has nothing to do as he never really made any lasting friends in his
job. He and his wife keep themselves to themselves and only really talk to
their next door neighbour, Rex. They’ve got themselves into a routine and are
now finding that they can’t get out of it. Until Harold receives a letter and
changes their lives and their relationship with each other.
Harold meets a variety of people along the way. Sometimes
they inspire him and keep him motivated to keep going on his walk. Sometimes he
inspires them. They too may have found themselves stuck in a rut in their lives
and telling Harold their story helps them to work their way through their
problems. It’s often said that people don’t talk to each other anymore and you
do get a certain sense of that as some of the characters have become isolated
and no one seems to have noticed until Harold comes along. He is happy to talk
as, doing his walk has got him doing things he wouldn’t normally, like engaging
strangers in conversation. He finds that the majority of people are friendly
and will help him if he needs to or offer him a cup of tea if they are chatting
by their house. It’s not just the older generation who are happy to talk. Harold
talks to everyone and they are interested in what he’s doing and share a part
of themselves with him in return.
The only thing Harold has to do on his walk is think, and
that’s exactly what he does. He thinks back to his life with Maureen when they
were first married and how happy they were but now they barely speak to each
other. He remembers what it was like when their son was born and how terrified
he was that he wouldn’t be good enough as a father. He thinks back to his
childhood and how his parents’ mistakes made him the person that he is. He is
such an unassuming person that it doesn’t occur that he has problems that he
hasn’t resolved and that his life isn’t as good as it seems. Harold’s walk has
a massive effect on Maureen. She and Harold have been married for years and now
he’s gone off on his walk she’s left by herself. She has to pay the bills and
put the rubbish out, jobs that he would usually do.
Living in the technical age and meeting a lot of people,
Harold begins to find out that people know who he is. Some of the people he’s
met have told others about his walk and he’s gone viral. When he was able to
walk by himself at his own pace and was able to take in his surroundings he had
a sort of freedom. Now people know who he is, he finds people joining him on
his walk. And while they think they are trying to help, this is Harold’s walk
not theirs. When people get a whiff of fame they come flocking. There’s always
someone who gets carried away and ruins it for everyone. Harold didn’t ask for
anything like that to happen to him but now, anyone can become famous without
even trying.
I really enjoyed this book. It made me think quite a lot
about life and stuff. You really connect with Harold and what he has been
through and the massive change he is making to his life. It’s a brave thing to
do and it definitely helps that it was a spontaneous act. He would never have
done it otherwise. It shows that you’re never too old to start again, to get
new hobbies, make new friends or reacquaint with old friends. This is an
excellent book and well worth a read. It’s not difficult to read and you’re
with Harold all the way.
Overall rating 5 out of 5
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