The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry Audiobook By Rachel Joyce cover art

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

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The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

By: Rachel Joyce
Narrated by: Jim Broadbent
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Brought to you by Penguin.

Winner: New Writer of the Year – Specsavers National Book Awards 2012.

When Harold Fry nips out one morning to post a letter, leaving his wife hoovering upstairs, he has no idea that he is about to walk from one end of the country to the other. He has no hiking boots or map, let alone a compass, waterproof, or mobile phone. All he knows is that he must keep walking - to save someone else's life.

Harold Fry is the most ordinary of men. He just might be a hero for us all.

Oscar-winner Jim Broadbent has starred in a huge range of films, from British favourites including Bridget Jones, Hot Fuzz and The Iron Lady, to Hollywood blockbusters such as Moulin Rouge, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and the Harry Potter films. He is set to star in the upcoming film adaptation of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.

©2012 Rachel Joyce (P)2012 Random House AudioGo Family Life Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Women's Fiction Heartfelt

Critic reviews

“From the moment I met Harold Fry, I didn't want to leave him. Impossible to put down.” (Erica Wagner, The Times)

“Harold Fry is infuriating, hilarious and completely out of his depth, but I held my breath at his every blister and cramp and, felt, as if by turning the pages, I might help his impossible quest succeed. Marvellous!” (Helen Simonson, author of Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand)
“A magical, moving and uplifting tale about a man's journey across Britain and into his own heart.” (Deborah Moggach)
“I loved this book. I loved its purity, its brutality and unerring honesty. I don't think I have read such richly composed metaphors before. They are like shooting stars glittering across each page. I can't believe this is her first novel- I wait with bated breath for her next.” (Natascha McElhone)

“The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry isn’t just a book I enjoyed reading, it’s a book I feel lucky to have read. It takes the most ordinary and unassuming of men and turns him into a hero for us all. Harold Fry faces the same questions we all do as we age, questions about the meaning of our lives, faith and love, but confronts them in a most surprising way. To go on this journey with him will not only break your heart, it might also just heal it.” (Tiffany Baker, New York Times best-selling author of The Little Giant of Aberdeen County)
Moving Journey • Heartfelt Storytelling • Perfect Narration • Endearing Protagonist • Poignant Reflections

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This is a very enjoyable listen. It is the story of an old man who has become horribly stuck in a rut. He is living an empty life of mediocrity and is scarred by his failures and weaknesses as a human being. He goes out to post a letter and just carries on walking, a la Forrest Gump.

His journey is not easy, and he experiences desperation and crisis on the way, but ultimately he grows as a person, learns to understand himself and to cope better with his demons. It is not a corny feelgood happy ending, but some things improve for Harold. In Harold's 'happy ending' we are not allowed to escape life's realities of death, loss and grief, but we can appreciate the value of the discoveries Harold makes.

It is a moving story, grim at times. You engage with all the characters and you do want to keep listening to hear the rest of the story. It is also a very English story, and I'm not sure whether this would make it more or less enjoyable to someone who isn't from that country (as I am).

It is a little bit twee and reminded very much of a serialised BBC radio play. There were also some aspects of the storyline which stretched my credulity a bit. If you don't want to spoil the story by seeing my examples of this, stop reading now:

1. When the media find out about Harold's walk they camp outside his (wife's) house but they don't actually go out and find him, which would have been very easy to do.

2. He sleeps rough and lives off wild plants for a while. I don't think you could do this sustainably in the English countryside

This is why I couldn't quite give the storyline a 5. But I wholeheartedly recommend it nevertheless. The Narrator was magnificent.

Harold hunts for the meaning of life

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If you could sum up The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry in three words, what would they be?

gentle, sad, wonderful

Who was your favorite character and why?

Harold - he was the only main character everyone else was secondary really. I loved the way this otherwise normal, boring man, did something totally out of his comfort zone. He discovered himself along the way.

Which character – as performed by Jim Broadbent – was your favorite?

Harold, we get to know him very well. Jim Broadbent is the best narrator I've listened too so far. Excellent pace, doesn't try to imitate a lady's voice. We can picture Harold when we hear Jim's voice talking.

If you could rename The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, what would you call it?

I think the title is great. It aptly expresses what the book is about.

Any additional comments?

Don't expect a racy drama. This is a beautiful story of human nature, and the pace and limited number of characters make it perfect for listening to in the car.I'm don't find many audio books particularly easy to listen to, but this is by far my favorite audio book, I hope Jim Broadbent will do more in the future.

Perfect audio book

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If you could sum up The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry in three words, what would they be?

Honest, ironic, human

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry?

The time Harold spends with the Eastern European doctor

What about Jim Broadbent’s performance did you like?

Exactly captured the tone of the story, Broadbent WAS Harold. Perfect casting.

Who was the most memorable character of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and why?

Harold because he grew in self knowledge in the story and came to understand something about human nature which was both tragic and bleak yet also ordinary and hopeful.

Any additional comments?

Highly recommend the book.

Thought provoking late in life coming of age story

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warm riveting story of determination and lost live. I lived the background to Harold, the sadness of un recognized love.

great sequel

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Would you listen to The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry again? Why?

Maybe?

What other book might you compare The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry to and why?

'The Alchemist' both have that same thought provoking quality. Gives you insight into people, their hopes and dreams etc

Have you listened to any of Jim Broadbent’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

If you could rename The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, what would you call it?

No that's a good title for it

Any additional comments?

Gives you food for thought, I enjoyed it.

Very philosophical.............

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