Fans of Miss Benson’s Beetle, also by Rachel Joyce, will quickly become fans of Harold Fry. Harold embarks on a journey to see an old friend whom he has just learned has terminal cancer. His walk is spontaneous, and since it is across the country of England, he is more than a little unprepared. The people he meets along the way become gateways to humanity that Harold has been isolated from since he retired. While he wants to be no trouble to any one, he finds himself listening to strangers who share intimate details of their lives with him just because he is there. This novel is not about fast-paced action, but rather a slow walk where the main character learns about himself as much as he learns from the people he meets. Readers looking for novels with more mature characters would enjoy this book.
