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The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

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The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

By: Rachel Joyce
Narrated by: Jim Broadbent
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Winner: New Writer of the Year – Specsavers National Book Awards 2012.

When Harold Fry nips out one morning to post a letter, leaving his wife hoovering upstairs, he has no idea that he is about to walk from one end of the country to the other. He has no hiking boots or map, let alone a compass, waterproof, or mobile phone. All he knows is that he must keep walking - to save someone else's life.

Harold Fry is the most ordinary of men. He just might be a hero for us all.

Oscar-winner Jim Broadbent has starred in a huge range of films, from British favourites including Bridget Jones, Hot Fuzz and The Iron Lady, to Hollywood blockbusters such as Moulin Rouge, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and the Harry Potter films. He is set to star in the upcoming film adaptation of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.

©2012 Rachel Joyce (P)2012 Random House AudioGo Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Women's Fiction Feel-Good Heartfelt Inspiring Tear-jerking Thought-Provoking Funny

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Critic reviews

“From the moment I met Harold Fry, I didn't want to leave him. Impossible to put down.” (Erica Wagner, The Times)

“Harold Fry is infuriating, hilarious and completely out of his depth, but I held my breath at his every blister and cramp and, felt, as if by turning the pages, I might help his impossible quest succeed. Marvellous!” (Helen Simonson, author of Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand)
“A magical, moving and uplifting tale about a man's journey across Britain and into his own heart.” (Deborah Moggach)
“I loved this book. I loved its purity, its brutality and unerring honesty. I don't think I have read such richly composed metaphors before. They are like shooting stars glittering across each page. I can't believe this is her first novel- I wait with bated breath for her next.” (Natascha McElhone)

“The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry isn’t just a book I enjoyed reading, it’s a book I feel lucky to have read. It takes the most ordinary and unassuming of men and turns him into a hero for us all. Harold Fry faces the same questions we all do as we age, questions about the meaning of our lives, faith and love, but confronts them in a most surprising way. To go on this journey with him will not only break your heart, it might also just heal it.” (Tiffany Baker, New York Times best-selling author of The Little Giant of Aberdeen County)
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This is so far the best book i have got off audible, I buy my books here to keep me company while i walk the dog and its a testament to how good this book is that i kept finding diversions to walk just a bit further and hear a little more. The story is engaging and inspiring. One of the major plot points is predictable but when revealed is no less dramatic or heartfelt. I would add though that Jim Broadbent really adds great things to the story telling and gives the characters life.

Makes for a tired dog

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What a lovely book. I relied on the reviews of others and did not regret it. Beautifully read, thought provoking. Even if the story doesn't always go as you would wish, because that is life, a thoroughly enjoyable experience, to be recommended.

One of my better downloads!

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The pace was steady but didn't feel too slow. I learned to love the characters and the twist caught me out. I wanted a happy ending so much- such was the way it won me over. Warm, thoughtful and beautifully read. Well done.

Won me right over!

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I really loved this book. It's so wise and warm and it draws in. Jim Broadbent is the narrator who captures Harold's nature perfectly. The story unfolds gently and you always want to listen a bit longer to see what happens next. This is such a gentle book with very believable characters, I've never listened to anything like this before and I hope I stumble onto something similar soon. Well done Rachel Joyce for seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary.

What a lovely book

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What did you like most about The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry?

I found the whole story so moving. I could not stop listning, and was very sad when the book ended. I loved the voice of Jim Broadbent. He brought the story alive for me. It was funny, sad and a great listen.

moving story

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Usually I fall asleep to audiobooks but this was captivating, tender and beautifully poignant. Fantastically read by Jim Broadbent. An excellent listen.

Really touching

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Where does The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is by far the most enjoyable audiobook that I have listened to. Was a great book to listen to while walking my dog every evening.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Of Course Harold was my favorite character.

Which character – as performed by Jim Broadbent – was your favourite?

Harold, and what a wonderful voice has Jim Broadbent in narrating this book.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Harolds desperate need to connect and be with someone from his past !.

A great book which I didn't want story to end.

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I enjoyed this book and I liked the way the narrator read it. The main character encounters many adventures within the book, both physically and mentally, which kept me interested, . There were a number of twists in it, that I didn't expect, and it was funny in parts. Well worth listening to.

Very enjoyable journey!

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This is an emotional and psychological journey of Harold, and to a lesser extent of the wife he leaves on the spare of the moment to address a wrong of the past. It's beautifully narrated, the story unfolds piece by piece revealing the agonies of Harold's life. The metaphor of the pilgrimage is really apt. It did leave me awake at night though as I wanted to plough through it, and it arouses many thought provoking modern day dilemmas. I really would recommend this gentle book, it leaves the listener free to analyse and to come to thier own philosophical conclusions. Lovely - even worth another listen

Emotional journey ...

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We listened to this as a family to while away a journey to and from Edinburgh. There was silence in the car as Jim Broadbent created a picture that captivated us. By a long way this is the best I've had from Audible by a long way.

A real belter

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