Reason for Reading: This is the third Booker longlist book for 2012 that I've read.
My Review:
When Harold Fry gets a letter from an old friend who's dying of cancer, he decides in a leap of faith to take a pilgrimage across England to "save" her. Along the way, he meets many interesting characters and learns to listen to their troubles. He also has time to reminisce about his past...some happy memories, but mostly memories of things he should have done better. This is a bitter-sweet story with deep characters and a good message. The type of person who would love this book is sentimental, and loves reminiscent stories about past mistakes and new beginnings.
Personally, I'm not that sort of person. Bitter-sweet stories tend to make my eyes tear up, and then I get angry at myself for being so infernally hormonal. :) Stories in which people reminisce about past mistakes also are a little depressing to me. I've always felt that we should learn from the past, but not waste energy with regrets. Everybody makes mistakes. If we regret them, do something about it. If we can't do something about it, accept it as a part of our pasts that makes us who we are today. Try not to make the mistake again. But maybe I just feel that way because I don't have anything worth regretting yet, I don't know. *shrug*
This was a cute book, but I don't see it winning the Booker.
Sounds wonderful Rachel. I have see this distinctive cover all over the place, but had no real idea of the story. I'll have to check it out at some point.
ReplyDelete