The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce: book review

The UnlikelyPilgrimage of Harold Fry (2012) is the story of a retired man from Kingsbridge on the southern coast of England. He receives a letter in a Turkish Delight coloured pink envelope. It is from Queenie Hennessy, dying of cancer in a hospice in Berwick-upon-Tweed in Scotland – almost as far north as you can get.

Harold and Queenie used to work together in the local brewery. She was one of the first women to work there, employed in the finance department.

Harold pens a sympathy letter to Queenie and walks down the street to post it. But he doesn’t stop. He walks to the next post box, and just keeps on walking, with no preparation, no gear, and no mobile phone, and without saying goodbye to his wife, Maureen. He has this idea that he will walk to Queenie’s hospice. He sends postcards to Queenie to tell her to wait – don’t die yet – he’s coming.

Harold telephones Maureen about every second day. How does she cope with his news, his desire to see Queenie? Will he come back to her? Should she get in the car and bring him back home? And what of their son David?

He hasn’t seen Queenie in 20 years, since the time she left work abruptly. After 87 days and 627 miles (1,009 kilometres), he arrives in Berwick.

This is about a journey, a purpose in life, but it is also about the impact of his spontaneous decision on his wife and their 45-year marriage, the people he meets along the way (their influence on him and his influence on them), the anticipation and the outcome of the eventual reunion.

Comments

2016 update on Rike Park, Tbilisi: from construction to busy park

From a flat patch of uninteresting dirt, Rike Park in Tbilisi, Georgia, has transformed in four years (from 2014-2016) into a busy park full of trees, flower beds, sculptures, fountains, and events. Rike (Rikhe) Park is on the left bank of the Mt’k’vari River (the Kura River) near the Old City of Tbilisi. The Peace Bridge links the right bank to Rike Park. Rike Park is below the hillside Presidential Palace and, via cable car, it is the starting point for the ride to Sololaki Ridge (with the Narikala Fortress and the Mother of Georgia statue). The glass box-shaped cable car terminus was opened on 23 June 2012, and since then the park has continually developed into a ‘people’s park’ where people can walk around, eat at the nearby restaurants, sit next to the statue of American president Ronald Reagan, climb the steps to Avlabari district, and access the sights of Meidan Square, the Peace Bridge, the Metekhi Church, the Old City, the waterfall, the sulphur baths, and t...

Pir-E-Kamil - The Perfect Mentor by Umera Ahmed: book review

The Perfect Mentor pbuh (2011) is set in Lahore and Islamabad in Pakistan. The novel commences with Imama Mubeen in medical university. She wants to be an eye specialist. Her parents have arranged for her to marry her first cousin Asjad. Salar Sikander, her neighbour, is 18 years old with an IQ of 150+ and a photographic memory. He has long hair tied in a ponytail. He imbibes alcohol, treats women disrespectfully and is generally a “weird chap” and a rude, belligerent teenager. In the past three years he has tried to commit suicide three times. He tries again. Imama and her brother, Waseem, answer the servant’s call to help Salar. They stop the bleeding from his wrist and save his life. Imama and Asjad have been engaged for three years, because she wants to finish her studies first. Imama is really delaying her marriage to Asjad because she loves Jalal Ansar. She proposes to him and he says yes. But he knows his parents won’t agree, nor will Imama’s parents. ...

Hop on hop off bus tourism comes to Tbilisi, Georgia

City Sightseeing buses have arrived in Tbilisi. The iconic red double-decker buses, a feature of many cities around the world since the company was established in Seville, Spain in 1999, is now in six continents and almost 100 cities. The company established its Tbilisi business in November 2013, with its operations commencing in February 2014. The 90-minute tour stops at 11 major locations in Tbilisi (with 2 to 5 minute waiting times at each location): the Old City (where it commences), Freedom Square, Rose Revolution Square, Marjanishvili Square, the Dry Bridge, Konka, Avlabari, Metekhi, Akhundov Museum, the Sulfur Baths, and European Square. Passengers can hop off at any stop and see the sights, hopping back onto the next bus at any time. Alternatively, passengers can remain on the bus for the whole tour and take photographs when the bus stops at each location. There are one day (24-hour) passes (for 35 lari – about $20) and 48-hour passes for 55 lari, with family d...

FEAST OR FAMINE

Search This Blog