The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

By: Rachel Joyce

Narrated by: Jim Broadbent

Length: 9 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

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

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)

Fabulous

I loved listening to this book it was moving and heartfelt without being soppy. The reader was brilliant!

A gentle story with lasting memories

Would you consider the audio edition of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry to be better than the print version?

I thorughally enjoyed Jim Broadbent's performance. As a female I find it interesting to listen to the male voice of a novel.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I would have made Harold a bit stronger in the latter stage of the journey. But ultimately I was pleased with his character. I really disliked the pilgrims!

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

Harold! He was a wonderful Mrs Fry as well.

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

I like the title.

Any additional comments?

I did find the third quarter of the book very frustrating and tedious - but I suppose that was how Harold was also feeling. I thought it was wrong of him to expect someone with cancer to wait for him given the terrible pain they are in but that could well be because of my recent experiences.

The description of grief being like a big hole given by Reg was spot on! A book I would recomend to friends and may well buy the printed version to keep.

Unusual well worth a read

This story is a well worth a read. I was fascinated discovering what made the characters tick as the experiences of their past unfolded. Harold became an endearing character with his persistence and good heart coping with many difficulties while considering so many other people's feelings. I am glad I read it and was not put off by the title. Highly recommended.

In more ways then one: a moving story

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Definitely! The story is well written, poignant and in many ways recognizable. In one way or another (whether young or old(er)), I am sure we can all relate to Harold's situation at the beginning of the book.

It doesn't matter whether or not his decision to go on a pilgrimage is realistic or not. What matters is, he decides to do something. About his life, about his friends and, as it turns out, much more.

Good for him! And good for all of us/you who - like Harold - dare to go for the unexpected, the nonconformistic and take our/your lives into our/your own hands!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Harold, off course. The way he starts out and slowly evolves; he grew on me more and more.

What does Jim Broadbent bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I love Jim Broadbent's voice and presentation of the book. I especially like the way he gives each character his/her own voice without going overboard with accents, funny diction, etc.

If you could take any character from The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Maureen and Harold after he - or in a sense they both - finished his pilgrimage. I would love to get to know them both better after they both learned and evolved so much.

Any additional comments?

Really recommend it!

Brilliant!

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

What a book!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Harold was my favourite character and his evolution on the journey was incredible.

Heart-warming & life-affirming

A beautifully narrated Heart-warming & life-affirming story. Harold is a character you can't help but love. Very highly recommended.

Unexpected pilgrimage of Harold Fry - great story!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes - I already have. The story is well written, big belly laugh funny at times and culminates into the telling of the Fry family's very sad past.

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

The girl from the garage visiting Harold's wife

What does Jim Broadbent bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I'm not sure - but I did picture Harold Fry in my head as someone that looks like Jim Broadbent!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Not an extreme reaction, i did get teary towards the end as more of the Fry's history was revealed, but the book also make me laugh quite a lot.

Any additional comments?

A really worthwhile read, I put my ear phones on and listened while I and cleaned out cupboards, I wanted to keep listening so I kept on cleaning!

I found an artwork in the words

Where does The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I am a new comer, but most definitely amongst the top 5, so far.

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

Silver Linings Playbook

Which scene was your favorite?

Where he got rid of his possessions and simplified his journey - the symbolism

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

Harold Fry

Loved it

Love the humility of the story and how we all have to remember what makes us happy

Kept waiting for it to get better

I plodded my way through the whole book, waiting for it to get to the point. I didn’t bother listening to the last ten minutes because I just didn’t care any more. I couldn’t force myself to like Harold’s character because I found myself completely unable to relate to him. Most of the book was detailing minute by minute what he was feeling about everything around him, while somehow coming across as robotic and unemotional. The story had an interesting premise, but the execution fell completely flat.