Wednesday, May 7, 2014

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

Harold Fry has just retired.  He is wondering what to do with his day.  His wife, Maureen is hovering upstairs, when a letter arrives in a pink envelope addressed to Harold.  The letter is from Queenie Hennessy, an old work colleague of Harold’s.  Harold opens the envelope under the watchful eye of Maureen.  Queenie is writing from a hospice where she is dying of cancer. She has written to say goodbye.   Harold writes a short reply and goes out to post it, all the while thinking his reply is inadequate.  He hesitates at the first post box and decides to walk to the next one.  In the end he decides to walk to Queenie. On his pilgrimage of 627 miles he meets some colourful characters.  As he walks he thinks about his past, of the things he has left unsaid or undone.  It is a story about the importance of relationships.  I found it laugh out loud funny at times and at others incredibly sad.  I enjoyed it, but felt the pace lagged in places, especially when he is joined by the other pilgrims.

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