Die unwahrscheinliche Pilgerreise des Harold Fry - Die Harold-Fry-Trilogie, Band 1 (Gekürzte Fassung)

Geschrieben von Rachel Joyce

Erzählt von Heikko Deutschmann

"Ich bin auf dem Weg. Du musst nur durchhalten. Ich werde Dich retten, Du wirst schon sehen. Ich werde laufen, und Du wirst leben."
Harold Fry will nur kurz einen Brief einwerfen an seine frühere Kollegin Queenie Hennessy, die im Sterben liegt. Doch dann läuft er am Briefkasten vorbei und auch am Postamt, aus der Stadt hinaus und immer weiter, 87 Tage, 1000 Kilometer. Zu Fuß von Südengland bis an die schottische Grenze zu Queenies Hospiz. Eine Reise, die er jeden Tag neu beginnen muss. Für Queenie. Für seine Frau Maureen. Für seinen Sohn David. Für sich selbst. Und für uns alle.

Ein ganz außergewöhnliches und tief berührendes Hörbuch - über Geheimnisse, besondere Momente und zufällige Begegnungen, die uns von Grund auf verändern. Über Tapferkeit und Betrug, Liebe und Loyalität und ein ganz unscheinbares Paar Segelschuhe.

• Sprache: Deutsch
• Herausgeber: Argon Verlag
• Erscheinungsdatum: 23. Aug. 2012
• ISBN: 9783839811696

Rezensionen für Die unwahrscheinliche Pilgerreise des Harold Fry - Die Harold-Fry-Trilogie, Band 1 (Gekürzte Fassung)

[meredk · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

I loved this book. At first, I thought it would just be sort of a charming, quaint story as only the Brits can write - and indeed on one level it is. But it gets better and better (which I find is a rare thing with books), becoming a tale with a deeper message, and manages to achieve that without resorting to sentimentality. Really a joy to read.

[cornelia16-1 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

Das in die Jahre gekommene Ehepaar Harold und Maureen Fry lebt nur noch nebeneinander her, als Harold zu einer wundersamen Pilgerreise aufbricht. Eigentlich will er nur einen Brief an eine frühere Freundin, die an Krebs erkranktist, einwerfen. Doch spontan entscheidet Harold, Queenie zuFuß im 600 Kilometer entfernten Hospiz aufzusuchen. Er trägt Segelschuhe und Krawatte und hat keinerlei Ausrüstungdabei. Auf seinem Weg macht er viele neue Erfahrungen und lernt ganz unterschiedliche Schicksale verschiedener Personen kennen. Schmerzhafte Erinnerungen an seine Kindheit, die Ehe mit Maureen, an den Sohn und an viele verpasste Chancen, seine Liebe zu zeigen, steigen hoch. Auch Maureen fängt an, sich zu verändern. Sie vermisst Harold und denkt über die vergangenen Jahre nach. Nach vielen Wochen und Strapazen erreicht Harold Queenie, die mit dem Sterben auf ihn wartete. Durch Harolds Pilgerreisewird das Ehepaar aus einer öden Routine gerissen und lerntdas Leben und die Gefühle füreinander wieder zu schätzen. Das sehr bewegende, fesselnd erzählte Buch findet hoffentlich viele Leser. Sehr breit empfohlen.

[nwieme-1 · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

Ordinary or extraordinary... enjoyed it.

[dogear360 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

One of my favorites. Unexpected journey and ending.

[pamjw · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

What an utterly beautiful book.Harold Fry goes to post a letter in response to one from a name from the past, Queenie Hennessy. As he gets to the post box, he decides that is not enough, and that he must go beyond that. So unfolds his journey walking the length of most of England. Along the way he has time to think over his past, his relationship with his parents, his wife and son, and also with Queenie.At it's core this is a heart-wrenching book as Harold reflects on his life; and, home-alone, so does his wife. It is a real study of human relationships and the things that can take over without us realising them.We are kept guessing on the actual truth right up until the end of the story.Anyone who has any interest in human beings will enjoy this book.

[brookeott · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry was nothing like what I’d expected. I had thought it would be in the genre of cozy British novels but it turned out to be an intricate study of human emotions and weaknesses as experienced by ordinary people. The most mundane features of the natural world through which Harold was walking became stunning descriptions that made me long for an experience such as he was having. But this sublimity was shortly followed by some of the worst things with which our culture can confront us. That Harold was able to experience it all with acceptance was remarkable. DH is currently reading it following my recommendation. He just announced “I see what you mean. It’s really starting to get under my skin.” This is a book to be shared with friends and recommended to all.

[justella_1 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

I received this books through LibraryThing Early Reviewers and I must add that I am thrilled to have received this book. Harold, is a retired man who lives in a small village in England with his wife, Maureen, who finds fault with all that Harold does. One ordinary day Harold receives a letter from Queenie, a woman he had worked with many years ago. Queenie writes that she has cancer. When Harold goes to post the letter that he has written Queenie he just keeps walking. Thus begins the pilgrimage to see Queenie. At first I found Harold and Maureen to be unlikable and very ordinary but this is the beauty of this story to me.They are so ordinary yet there story becomes so extra-ordinary. I was hooked after reading the chapter, "Harold and the Silver-Haired Gentleman" and I quote one of my favorite passages, "It must be the same all over England. People were buying milk, or filling their cars with petrol, or even posting letters. And what no one else knew was the appalling weight of the thing they were carrying around inside. The inhuman effort it took to sometimes be normal and a part of things that appeared both easy and everyday. The loneliness of that." Very easy book to read and I liked the way the chapters switched from Harold's story to Maureen's story and at the end even Queenie's story! This would be an excellent book for a book club.

[lidbud · Bewertung: 2 von 5 Sternen]

I seem to be in the minority, but I really didn't like this. I found it overly sweet and manipulative, and it just annoyed me. And I saw the 'twist' at the end coming from a mile away. Bah humbug.

[cjservis · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

Compelling read. I'm so glad I went on this odyssey with Harold Fry. (Thanks Cindy.)

[dudes22_1 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

“In walking, he freed the past that he had spent twenty years seeking to avoid, and now it chattered and played through his head with a wild energy that was his own.”In The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, Harold Fry has been retired 6 months and spends most of his time just hanging around. Until the day he gets a letter from an old co-worker, Queenie. She is writing him to tell him she has cancer and in hospice and to tell him good-bye. Harold pens a reply and leaves to walk down to the post box to mail the letter. When he gets to the first one, he decides to walk on to the next, and then to the central box in town. Soon he decides that if he keeps walking all the way to the nursing home where Queenie is, then she won’t die. He has no cell phone with him, is wearing inappropriate shoes, and Berwick-upon-Tweed is 500 miles away.The book follows Harold’s journey – the roads he travels, the sights he sees and the people he meets along the way. Mostly though, it’s about his thoughts: memories of the past, introspective thoughts of what he should have done and didn’t, memories of his wife and marriage, memories of his son and how he feels he failed him. In her debut novel, Rachel Joyce has written an absorbing story about life and its regrets. You can feel the weariness of Harold’s life as his thoughts jump from one time of his life to another. The changes in Harold’s wife from the beginning of the book to the end are done slowly and skillfully. I look forward to reading more from this author.

[cassandra2020 · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce - Very Good

What a lovely book. On the surface, Harold is performing a quest to save a friend, but the book is about so much more. He's a little old for a mid-life crisis, but that is the crux of it. Unhappy and unfulfilled, at odds with his wife and searching for direction, the walk gives him and his wife time and space to think and deal with life.

A reminder that we should make time and space for ourselves and our loved ones.

[blogbrarian · Bewertung: 3 von 5 Sternen]

3.5 stars
I love Rachel Joyce and I thought that this was a very thoughtful book that held some surprises. However, in the end, just like "Cold Mountain", I just wanted Harold to get to where he was going. Please. Also, I would just like to say that dogs are more loyal than the one in this book. So there.

[uberbutter · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
320 pages

★★★★

Harold Fry is a retired man living in England. He leads a fairly ordinary life with his wife, who seems to just find him a nuisance. Then one day he receives a letter from an old friend which will send him into a new adventure and new thoughts he never saw himself reaching for.

The storyline may seem fairly mundane and straight forward, but I assure you it’s not. This book gripped me pretty quickly and wouldn’t let go. Even though I am a girl that often reads a few books at any given time, I put all other books to the side to focus on this one. I really enjoyed the story development and the characters. I wish I could have gotten to find out more about Queenie and while it wasn’t in this book, I was excited to find out that next year the author is releasing The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy! You can truly see the characters grow throughout – a growth in love, friendships, marriage, and life – and it warmed my heart. I ended up liking this more than I thought and am glad I got the chance to read it. Loved it.

[hanneri_1 · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

Once in a while you read a book that touches you on some level that is difficult to describe. The book was beautifully written and I had empathy for all of the sweet characters. It remined me again to look beyond the superficial and to appreciate that people may not be what they seem on the outside. A book that will stay with me for a very long time.

[laurochka-1 · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

This is a lovely, gentle, thoughtful book. You find yourself rooting for Harold even when nothing turns out quite as expected.

[pitcherbooks · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

A deceptively simple story kindly told with gentle humor. An old man surprises and challenges himself (& a few others) with an ill-prepared and unexpected 600 mile cross-country hike. What he (& a few others) learn along the way made me want to take a 600 mile hike too! (I may yet! :-) The best book I've read in a while. Highly recommend it.

[vanderschloot · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

As many of the previous reviewers have already pointed out, this is a slow-moving narrative, and very English. I admit to being a dyed-in-the-wool Anglophile, so this sort of thing should be right up my alley. It is also part of a growing list of recent books that take older people and their quiet lives and relationships more seriously and with more nuance than has often been the case in popular fiction. This is a lovely book and well-written, and the character of Harold, as everyone else has pointed out, is wonderful and charming.

[ahef1963 · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

Review in 25 words or less: Harold takes a long walk, his wife doesn't, and they both learn about their failings, and about marriage, love, and grief. Harold Fry, a resident of South Devon, is a recent retiree, married, and the father of a grown man. He has received a letter from an old work colleague, Queenie, who is dying of cancer in a hospice in the north of England. Harold decides to write her a letter, then to go out and post it, and then he makes the portentous decision to walk to Berwick-upon-Tweed, which he thinks will give Queenie hope, and quite possibly stop the cancer in its tracks. Harold is not prepared for the journey. He lacks the proper equipment, the right shoes, the level of fitness required. In many ways, too, he is not equipped for the journey on an emotional level. Although in some ways he is invigorated mentally by having time to think and be alone, he discovers that there are things that he is thinking about that he'd much rather not. Circumstances and people on his way northward detract from his peace, his isolation, his plans. The journey takes on a life of its own, separate from Harold. This is a great story of a marriage, a man and a woman, of friendship, faith, belief, in the great things and in the small. It is a romance, a brief return to youth, and an acceptance of old age. It made me cry, but in a good, cathartic way. I felt sometimes that the author was tugging a little too hard on the heartstrings, where subtlety would have done better, but on the whole, I enjoyed the book, and put it down only to sleep. The novel's biggest strength, I think, is that it made me think about what I've done with my life, and about what I need to change; a book that can invite that sort of self-reflection has done its job well. I recommend this book highly.

[gypsysmom_1 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

This book was chosen by my book club for our January 2016 read. I'm so glad it was. Others have remarked on how much they enjoyed it. In fact when I reviewed Etta and Otto and Russell and James earlier this month one of my virtual friends recommended it. But let's face it; there are lots of other books vying for our intention and unless they get thrust upon us we might never read them.Harold Fry retired from the brewery where he worked for most of his life six months ago. Since his retirement he has hardly moved from one chair in the lounge much to the disgust of his wife, Maureen, who spends her time cleaning. Then a letter comes from Queenie Hennessey with whom he worked twenty years ago. She has cancer and is in a hospice in Berwick-upon-Tweed. Harold writes a brief letter saying "Thank you for your letter. I am very sorry." He goes out to the post box to mail it and feels how inadequate a gesture it is. He keeps walking to the next post box and the next and then to the main post office and then past the post office. Before he realizes it he is on the outskirts of town and he stops at a garage for a snack. He tells the girl there about Queenie and she tells him to have faith. He decides to walk the length of England to see Queenie in person and leaves with only the clothes on his back and wearing his old yachting shoes. Harold is by no means a walker and he is certainly not equipped for a walk of this distance. He is determined though and somehow keeps putting one foot ahead of the other. As he walks he thinks of his marriage which has been in name only for twenty years. He also thinks of his son, David, from whom he is estranged. He talks to people he meets and tells them what he is doing and many of them encourage him. He phones his wife to tell her of her progress and he also sends postcards to her and to Queenie. At one point he decides to continue without spending any money and in this way his walk becomes more like a pilgrimage.Harold transforms himself by his pilgrimage. More importantly, he changes other people including his wife. He is an ordinary man who has made an extraordinary trip.

[nu5bibliophile · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

I really liked this story even though in some parts it was dragging a bit.

[ntpawelski · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

What at first seems like your average novel about a dysfunctional family blossoms into a beautiful meditation on the nature of love, the meaning of life, and the lies that we tell ourselves and each other in order to get by. The novel's emotional climax is devastating. This is a lovely, funny, and heartrending book.

[kakadoo202 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

So beautiful. Just on the border to romance and corny. Very sweet but characters. Everyone carries a burden and struggles with it. Interesting twists.

[triduana-794064 · Bewertung: 2 von 5 Sternen]

An interesting book. Enjoyable for the most part, but at times a little plodding and forgettable, just like a long walk is.

It's definitely a book of three distinct parts. Part one , where Harold decides on his pilgrimage and walks to Stroud, is the longest part of the book (about 200 or so pages). This bit deals a lot with Harold's memories, and those of Maureen. This part of the book I thought dragged on quite a bit. Every time I thought he was making some progress (both geographically and metophorically), we are introduced to another incomplete scene from his past, which slowed the story to the point at which I got a little bored. The details of the scenery were pleasant and helped to give a sense of place. There was alot of detail about feet, which got a bit bit tedious though.

Part 2 is where Harold attracts a number of followers along on his journey. This bit was interesting although reminded me a bit too much of Forrest Gump. We don't get to know too much about any of them, but that's generally how things go when you're on a long walk - you meet people, get to know a little about them, and then they're gone ... which doesn't really add much to the story (or it didn't to me). But here the story finally became exciting.

However, at this point I noticed that at one point in the story we were in Stroud, the next thing we are in Darlington. There's a lot of country between Stroud and Darlington (I've worked in both). The descriptions of the towns and landscape have vanished. Once Harold starts meeting people, the story could be taking place anywhere. The sence of place has gone. I think this is explained a little by the fact the author lives in Gloucestershire, but I felt a little let down that her georaphical detail failed beyond that point.

Harold also manages to learn the entire British flora in a few weeks, which annoyed me ... I do botanical surveys professionally and it took me two weeks to learn the common ones ...

In part 3, when Harold arrived at Berwick, the story ties up nicely. There are some interesting facts revealed about Harold's past. But I was left feeling a little disappointed. Again this could be taking place anywhere, which is a shame considering that it is about a journey, but that is not the point at this stage. It ended, and I was left thinking, 'Is that it?'

In all it was an interesting idea, but it was formulaic, and in terms of level of detail and character developemnt, it was unbalanced. I'm still not sure whether I actually liked it or not.

Changed my rating from 3 stars to 2 as I just sent it to the charity shop.

[sheririchey · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

Enjoyed the book overall but the ending was not quite what I had hoped for.

[kristelh_15 · Bewertung: 3 von 5 Sternen]

Read in 2021 for f2f book club, August. This is a debut novel by Rachel Joyce (2012) and tells the story of a 65 y/o, retired man who suddenly decides to walk 627 to save a former coworker who is in hospice dying of cancer. As Harold walks he begins reflecting and reviewing his life. I think walking does encourage thinking so it makes sense and it works well as a device to slowly revealing all that is behind Harold's decision to walk. I generally like stories of grief and dying. I also have always liked the idea of walking and it seems walking is much more acceptable activity in England than it is here in the US. The negatives for me was the fact that it reminded me of the The Elegant Gathering of White Snow, especially when the crowd started to form and walk with Harold. The walk, pilgrimage is to transformation with psychological and religious implications. This book did make the long list for the booker man prize.

[aliceap-1 · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

First things first, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce was a delightful surprise. This is one of those instances where the cover perfectly captures the essence of the story. (Trust me when I say that I appreciate this cover design for its brilliance even more now that I've read the book.) The reader follows Harold Fry, recently retired from the local brewery, who receives news that a friend from his past (as in distant past) is dying from cancer. So naturally he decides to mail her a letter but then he passes by the mailbox...and the next one...and the next one...until suddenly he's on a journey across the length of England firm in his belief that she will stay alive until he gets there. On his journey (or pilgrimage as it comes to be known) he examines moments from his past that he had repressed (his tumultuous home life, distant relationship with his son, and his strained marriage to name a few) while also discovering his inner strength and fortitude. It's a beautiful (and at times tragic) story about love, loss, and faith. If you enjoy reflective tales with lots of descriptive prose then this book is a great way to spend a lazy afternoon or maybe take on a trip. ;-) 9/10

[moosenoose · Bewertung: 3 von 5 Sternen]

“If we can’t accept what we don’t know, there really is no hope”Another book that did not live up to the hype. This seems to be an extremely popular book and I can kind of see the appeal, but who the hell would walk 500+ miles, without suitable supplies, when a train would have been quicker and much easier? Yes ok, it’s the journey and not the destination that is important, and it would not have been much of a pilgrimage if made by train, but a woman was dying dammit! Yet Harold decided he would walk the whole journey, buying silly (and heavy) souvenirs along the way, without once stopping to buy some walking shoes or a rucksack. Whilst the journey was the most important element of the story, allowing Harold to reflect upon the regrets and mistakes of his life, the purpose of the walk was to ‘save’ Queenie Hennessy from end-stage cancer. Yet when he finally reached Queenie, he was shocked that yes, she was dying and (obviously) looked like a sack of shit. Did he thank her for saving his arse many years earlier, or apologise for his actions? No, he bloody well did not! Yes, he managed to reconnect with his wife, and they trotted off into the sunset together, but poor old Queenie became merely an afterthought. Living in the Southwest, not far from Harold, it was nice to read the descriptions of the towns & villages he travelled through, recognising so many stops on his journey. However, for me the tale was far too predictable and too long of a journey.

[desiree_reads · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

While not completely original (it's a bit like Forrest Gump), taking the journey with Harold is an entertaining read. We learn, along the way, his hopes, fears, his dreams that were dashed. Along the way Harold, unwittingly, finds out who he really is.

[reader1009-863136 · Bewertung: 3 von 5 Sternen]

Adult fiction; 2012 man-booker shortlist. First 50 pages were ok--I like Harold, I just wasn't sure I wanted to continue reading about his 500 mile (km?) walking journey across England (interspersed with flashbacks about his life).

[kittycunningh-815148 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

This was incredibly sad. I loved the unfolding of Harold's life as he walked. I loved how Harold and Maureen took the time apart to find themselves again. They were so sad for so long and holding each other in that sadness. It took him walking for them to finally let go of it. For a little while, I was afraid they weren't going to be able to do it.