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djax_tx's review against another edition
4.0
A very lovely and necessary follow up to The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. In this book we hear Queenie's side of the story. I love this series so far and have read the three books. Wondering if we will ever get David's story?
natalie_mcw's review against another edition
5.0
Beautiful parallel novel to The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry!
swaye's review against another edition
4.0
What a twist! And here I am sobbing again. This book taught me that we carry so much unnecessary guilt. It helps me to finally put mine down as well.
lpcleland's review against another edition
5.0
Fine complement to Joyce's "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry." Joyce beautifully captures the human need to connect, reflect, and confess through the "voice" of a heart-warming relatable character.
kinseylove's review against another edition
2.75
There were a lot of sweet moments in this book. However, the pacing and the agony of the choices of the main character made it difficult for me to get through.
mollyhyland's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
peaknit's review against another edition
4.0
Charming but tragic other view of the unlikely pilgrimage. It started out rather slowly, but I found myself really enjoying Queenie as the book went on.
klparmley's review against another edition
5.0
Once again, Rachel Joyce made me cry. And laugh. This is an excellent companion to The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. It is the other side of the story.
Do not read this first. Order matters.
Do not read this first. Order matters.
katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars. "People think you have to walk to go on a journey. But you don't, you see. You can lie in bed and make a journey too."
As the author herself says, "what I have written is a book that sits alongside 'Harold Fry'. They really should come that way - her in the passenger seat, him in the driving seat. Side by side. I would call this book a companion."
It's a lovely way of describing a book. This novel probably won't read as well if you HAVEN'T read 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry', as the events in it happen concurrently, refer to those happening in Joyce's first book, and fill in gaps we wanted to know about Harold and Queenie's histories.
I took a little while to warm to Queenie, her setting and the style of the story. It starts at the same time as 'Harold Fry' - when Queenie writes to him to tell Harold she's dying, and he sets off on his walk to her. Queenie narrates the story though, in her present in the care home, and scenes from her past, where she met Harold and how their lives changed as a result. The book is a series of letters that Queenie is writing to Harold to explain her past actions to him, and flitting memories of their shared past.
I hadn't read the first book for more than a year, so my memory is hazy over some details. But as I read I could recall certain scenes and knew that this was adding to the picture I had in my mind of the two characters and what had happened to them decades ago.
The care home scenes are rather poignant - the various residents are well-drawn with their own quirks and sad illnesses, the oft-returning ambulance to take away another friend who succumbs to their body's deterioration, sadly noted and accepted. Queenie's slowly fading conscious and body, her confusion and pent-up emotion are powerfully but quietly written in. You see her personality and passions in the writing, there are famous quotes from books used ("Last night I dreamed I went to my sea garden again"), that show Queenie's past and love for literature.
And you see the past itself - we slowly understand Queenie's relationship with Harold, and also with his long-dead son David. Her emotions of guilt, sorrow and love, the creation of her sea garden where nobody else is willing to reside as repentance for the crimes she believes she committed. Her story is so sad, her personal sacrifices from 'Harold Fry' finally make sense.
You never see what Queenie looks like, either now or in her past, though I can imagine her in her brown wool suit quite easily. I can see Harold too, in her description of him. But I can't imagine the sea garden, and Joyce makes me want to see it. Something Queenie created over many years of toil and dedication to mean something very personal, that other people come specially to see and talk about. Her own little temple to her guilt and alter to her sacrifice.
Through writing her letters, Queenie relives her past, and is forced to think about what her life has been, how she affected those around her. Harold may be on his own journey to her, but she is also on a journey in her care home bed, medicated, assisted and surrounded by death.
The ending is incredibly moving and sad, after what has gone before. Beautiful, but did cause a few tears to fall.
This really must be read as a 'companion' and not a stand-alone.
With thanks to Netgalley for the advance e-copy.
As the author herself says, "what I have written is a book that sits alongside 'Harold Fry'. They really should come that way - her in the passenger seat, him in the driving seat. Side by side. I would call this book a companion."
It's a lovely way of describing a book. This novel probably won't read as well if you HAVEN'T read 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry', as the events in it happen concurrently, refer to those happening in Joyce's first book, and fill in gaps we wanted to know about Harold and Queenie's histories.
I took a little while to warm to Queenie, her setting and the style of the story. It starts at the same time as 'Harold Fry' - when Queenie writes to him to tell Harold she's dying, and he sets off on his walk to her. Queenie narrates the story though, in her present in the care home, and scenes from her past, where she met Harold and how their lives changed as a result. The book is a series of letters that Queenie is writing to Harold to explain her past actions to him, and flitting memories of their shared past.
I hadn't read the first book for more than a year, so my memory is hazy over some details. But as I read I could recall certain scenes and knew that this was adding to the picture I had in my mind of the two characters and what had happened to them decades ago.
The care home scenes are rather poignant - the various residents are well-drawn with their own quirks and sad illnesses, the oft-returning ambulance to take away another friend who succumbs to their body's deterioration, sadly noted and accepted. Queenie's slowly fading conscious and body, her confusion and pent-up emotion are powerfully but quietly written in. You see her personality and passions in the writing, there are famous quotes from books used ("Last night I dreamed I went to my sea garden again"), that show Queenie's past and love for literature.
And you see the past itself - we slowly understand Queenie's relationship with Harold, and also with his long-dead son David. Her emotions of guilt, sorrow and love, the creation of her sea garden where nobody else is willing to reside as repentance for the crimes she believes she committed. Her story is so sad, her personal sacrifices from 'Harold Fry' finally make sense.
You never see what Queenie looks like, either now or in her past, though I can imagine her in her brown wool suit quite easily. I can see Harold too, in her description of him. But I can't imagine the sea garden, and Joyce makes me want to see it. Something Queenie created over many years of toil and dedication to mean something very personal, that other people come specially to see and talk about. Her own little temple to her guilt and alter to her sacrifice.
Through writing her letters, Queenie relives her past, and is forced to think about what her life has been, how she affected those around her. Harold may be on his own journey to her, but she is also on a journey in her care home bed, medicated, assisted and surrounded by death.
The ending is incredibly moving and sad, after what has gone before. Beautiful, but did cause a few tears to fall.
This really must be read as a 'companion' and not a stand-alone.
With thanks to Netgalley for the advance e-copy.
sandysmith's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
It's a companion book rather than a sequel to The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and is about Queenie and the reason Harold starts walking to her. It's a delightful read and adds to the original story that you so do need to read first. Queenie is in a hospice, and the characters around her add depth to the story. They do die off over time, but this adds to the story and the reality of hospice life. Delightful and thought-provoking, but also beautifully written and unexpectedly uplifting. A joyous, moving book. The ending left me speechless. Wonderful stuff.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Cancer, Chronic illness, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Addiction
Minor: Miscarriage