The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

For my recent book club meeting at my house, we had read (my selection) a book by Rachel Joyce called "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry". It is a sweet read.

And we had a great discussion about the book.  We learned a lot about each other in the process too.

The story is about Harold who gets a letter from an old friend who tells him that she has cancer and is dying. Harold hasn't been in touch with this friend for years, so he sits down to write her a letter.  He goes to mail it in the postbox, but then keeps on walking, and then keeps on walking....He decides that he will walk the length of England (ill prepared) - from his house in the south, to where she is being cared for in the north and hand deliver the letter.  Over 600 miles. By doing this, he believes she will stay alive.

The story tells of his pilgrimage and how his wife deals with it, how she is supported by Rex, the neighbor, and all the people Harold meets on the way.

It is lovely.  Rachel first wrote it as a play for British Radio, at a time when her father was dying of cancer.

For our bookclub, I charted out Harold's journey on a map and decided that I would make goodies to eat that were all goodies "to go" - ie Harold could have taken them on his journey!

I made buckwheat and lemon mini-pots - perfect for travelling - you could even carry it in your pocket, and then also wrapped up some all-day-long oat bites and some oat flapjacks.

A hedgerow gathering, as Harold would have done, of edible pansies on the buckwheat lemon mini-pots

They went down well :-D

I recommend the book. Harold's pilgrimage and how he changes is delightful.