NOMINATING LIBRARY COMMENTS

How an ordinary citizen, peacefully retired with monotonous daily routines in his small cottage in the south of the UK becomes a hero while changing the course of his life and that of his followers. A moving story, full of humanity.

It is never too late to change one’s life, says the novel. Sometimes, you can find love, forgiveness and understanding just after you have lost everything and when you want to change somebody else’s life, in fact you change your own too. When you ask others for help, in fact you help them. This novel makes you still have faith in people, their goodness and willingness to help.

This is a superb debut novel which entertains and disquiets in equal measure, but is ultimately an uplifting story. With a blend of humour, wisdom and pathos this novel skilfully explores all the weird and wonderful contradictions that make us what we are.

This is a moving and uplifting story of an ordinary man who sets out on a 600 mile walk across the UK to say goodbye to an estranged friend who is dying of cancer. The writing is simple but profound, and engages the reader completely.

A pleasurable story that carries sadness as if it is a simple thing. “You’d think walking should be the simplest thing “she said at last. “Just a question of putting one foot in front of the other. But it never ceases to amaze me how difficult the things that are supposed to be instinctive really are.”

The story of everyman Harold Fry and his quest to say goodbye to a former love is told in gorgeous prose by author Joyce. On his journey, Fry will meet some memorable characters and will rouse his long dormant spirit and sense of promise. This is a tale of faith, loyalty and redemption, told with humor and poignancy that will stay with the reader long after the last page is turned.