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The Book Club :
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

Topic is Sleeping.
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 Neznayou (original poster member #40654) posted at 6:21 PM on Sunday, August 23rd, 2015

I picked this book up off one of those "take one, leave one" shelves when I was TDY last week. I found it to be profoundly moving. It is the story of a man who's been retired for all of 6 months. He gets a letter from someone he hasn't heard from in 20 years. He decides to walk to her hospice. During the walk, he reflects on his life, his wife, his parents, his career, his son, all the things that one might think about when looking back over one's life. I was especially moved by the state of his marriage and how it got to be the way it was and how it changed from the beginning of the story to the end. NOTE: No infidelity was committed in the plot of this novel. Did anyone else read it? In my college days I was an English lit major and sometimes I miss the deeper conversations about stories.

Him: BH 1969
Me: WW 1973

Wedding: April 9, 1994

Son: 1998 (college freshman)
Son: 2002 (high school freshman)

Caught at AP's house: 10 Aug 2012

I do not have it all together.

posts: 862   ·   registered: Sep. 12th, 2013   ·   location: Far, far away
id 7324062
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mike7 ( member #38603) posted at 3:43 AM on Monday, August 24th, 2015

sounds like an interesting book. I'm guessing you recommend it?

BH 60
WW 58
Two grown kids

DDay 1/15/2013

posts: 1106   ·   registered: Mar. 2nd, 2013   ·   location: West Coast
id 7324497
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Hawke ( member #47517) posted at 4:48 AM on Monday, August 24th, 2015

I read it a couple of years ago. It was very moving and quite sad in many parts.

Me: BS (b. '75)
Him: exWS (b. '76)
D-Day: April 2015
Together 10 years
2 kids: 2011 and 2014
Separated (no divorce required for common law couple in my jurisdiction)

posts: 2370   ·   registered: Apr. 13th, 2015   ·   location: Alberta, Canada
id 7324531
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Skye ( member #325) posted at 2:55 PM on Monday, August 24th, 2015

Yes, I read it and liked it. My book club read it and there was much discussion. One discussion focused on the doctor or was she a nurse he met on the way who cared for his feet. I read it many years ago so I don't remember all the details. If you're interested, there is a sequel: The Lovesong of Miss Queenie Hennessey.

posts: 5662   ·   registered: Jul. 21st, 2002
id 7324800
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 Neznayou (original poster member #40654) posted at 8:21 PM on Monday, August 24th, 2015

Mike7, yes I recommend it. It's not a challenging read. I thought it was very engaging. I finished it in less than a week.

Skye, she was a doctor. Did your bookclub discussion involve the idea of seeking vs. being sought? Maureen and the doctor were both waiting to be sought out Harold went seeking.

I liked the parts where Harold's mind wandered as he walked. The parts where his life kinda flashed before his eyes, but in slow motion.

Him: BH 1969
Me: WW 1973

Wedding: April 9, 1994

Son: 1998 (college freshman)
Son: 2002 (high school freshman)

Caught at AP's house: 10 Aug 2012

I do not have it all together.

posts: 862   ·   registered: Sep. 12th, 2013   ·   location: Far, far away
id 7325227
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funnelcakes ( member #45249) posted at 7:43 AM on Tuesday, August 25th, 2015

I was so pleasantly surprised by this book. It's very engaging, and I thought it would be either too precious or just twee. It's neither.

There are some descriptions (one of death) that I thought were incredible.

d-day in August of 2014, when I was SAHM 34 weeks pregnant with kid #3
A year of incontinent alcoholic cheater word salad and shitweasely blameshifting during R/S
I got a job and busted a move with three kids to a 1BR apt
D final 4/27/17.

posts: 1168   ·   registered: Oct. 15th, 2014
id 7325840
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CallMeRed1 ( member #36870) posted at 7:42 PM on Wednesday, August 26th, 2015

I read this book shortly after my D Day and I think at that time it was the only time I could focus on anything else as I loved it.

I have also read the sequel which is another really good read.

D-Day mid 2012
I was the BS
Status: Divorced early 2013

posts: 442   ·   registered: Sep. 18th, 2012   ·   location: England
id 7327573
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Skye ( member #325) posted at 2:19 PM on Monday, August 31st, 2015

We definitely felt Harold was a seeker. Isn't that what journeys are for? There was also a lot of discussion about Fry and Christ. Check out this review. I'm sure there are more. http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/rachel-joyces-the-unlikely-pilgrimage-of-harold-fry-reviewed-by-ron-charles/2012/07/24/gJQAFI0Q7W_story.html

posts: 5662   ·   registered: Jul. 21st, 2002
id 7332434
Topic is Sleeping.
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