This is a story full of second-guessing, regret, and hope as Harold relives his life while on his "unlikely pilgrimage." The reader cannot help but cheer for Harold as he encounters one challenge after another ... and in doing so, discover they are cheering for themselves on their own pilgrimages through life. Never would have found this on my own. I am grateful to the other readers who loved it before I found it.

This audio book is a delightful listening experience. It is sad, funny, and insightful. One of the best audible books so far.

It is impossible to change the past, but Harold comes to understand it in a way he has not done before. Harold sets out on his journey impulsively, with a naive belief in his ability to effect change, but grows in knowledge as his pilgrimage continues.

Harold of course. Jim Broadbent is a marvelous reader. Also liked Harold's wife, Maureen.

No, you could, but I wanted to take my time with it.

This is an incredible story about an everyman's journey through life. I love this story and have recommended it to all my friends.

Pretty high up there.

Well, Harold, of course. If he wasn't you wouldn't enjoy the book.

No, but I certainly would. He was excellent.

It made me laugh and cry--but sometimes the tears were for good. It is so touching a story.

I don't think anyone who hasn't been married or lost someone to cancer can truly get this book.

Journey to forgiveness.

Common themes shared by people of a certain age - as a reader, I appreciated that.

The last scene.

I loved the complexity of the characters. Flawed and disturbed but with humor and a realism that is easy to relate to; even across a generation and an ocean.

Harold Fry is Everyman, at least everyman who is 65 years old. I am 65 years old and I can certainly identify with Harold, his regrets, his wistfulness, his determination to make an account of himself with one late, great act of compassion and gratitude. Rachel Joyce deeply perceives the delicate disequilibrium of a man who is slipping down into his own mortality, burdened with regret for his lack of courage and responsibility. Harold Fry is not a loser, but he is a man who put his life in a box not to be touched or opened. His box is filled with regret for the loss of his son and for his not taking responsibility for his anger at his job in a brewery and the cost that was paid by a coworker who protected his folly. And so suddenly,on a little walk to post a letter, Harold decides to go thank the worker who all these years later is in hospice dying. Harold phones the hospice center and tells the answering nurse to have Queenie keep living because he, Harold the Called, Harold the Determined will walk across England to to see her and thank her for her act of sacrifice and character. His journey, like all such books becomes a collection of encounters with various persons who inspire, assist, heal, commiserate, join-up or just hang around to witness and participate in a growing news event. And like the rag tassels fluttering on the end of a kite tail in a shifting wind, his devoted wife trys to understand and assist this huge change in her beloved Harold.
The narration by Jim Broadbent is perfectly nuanced for such a tender and gentle story. His usung various intonations and phrasing for different characters keeps the narrative fresh and vibrant.
Of course, when Harold dos arrive at the hospice facility, he finds Queenie beyond the pale, unable to communicate, suffering and dying and at the total mercy of her caregivers. She did keep living. But the things to be said, the touch of once caring are all too late. Nevertheless, Harold had made a statement by his walk of all those many miles. He honored Queenie and himself. I'd like to think that Queenie felt his presence. The love you save is the love you send. By the end of this pilgrimage, Harold was closer to God. And in the end that indwelling God is the coming and going of our souls.

What a wonderful, wonderful book. The story and the narration by the superb actor Jim Broadbent brought Harold Fry to life, and I felt as though I were walking in his shoes through every town.
I have had my reservations about listening to audio books because the narrator can color the writing to such a degree that it can enhance or subtract from the writing. One of the joys of READING a book is that one gets to imagine that person, that voice, and all the other elements.
In this case, I could not imagine it any better than this.

Don't know

Wild by Cheryl Strayed

No

Yes, I particularly enjoyed the self discovery and personal reflection that Harold experienced as he made his journey. It makes one think about the choices we make as we live our own life. I also loved watching his marital relation evolve as he evolved. The book has an improbable start and a sweet ending.

Yes. Moving story of mature adults finding out that they can change. Through the journey, we do find that life is in the journey, and we all have much in common.

Harold. He was a man of his word and conscientious.

I liked the part when he found a caring friend with the foreign doctor. I felt that she was the first person he began to open up with, and see that others too have their burdens to bear.

When Maureen finally opened up with the neighbor, Rex, and they too found friendship.

Loved the insightfulness the author brought to this story. A very good story!