Monday 10 June 2013

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce

Third Time Lucky

 
 
....  On a sultry Sunday evening in Corbridge, the Hussies reconvened at ... Artisam.  "Haven't you  been there before?" I hear you ask.
 
....  Indeed we have, in fact, our last three meetings have taken place in this quaint back street Chinese Restaurant. Not because we lack imagination, but because it proved extremely difficult, if not impossible, to find somewhere in the Tyne Valley that serves food on a Sunday night! Your suggestions welcomed.

....  Our third time was not particularly lucky but equally it was not unlucky , the food and service was up to its usual standard and left little to complain about. The toilets are, however, almost inaccessible to those with limited mobility. 

....  Our conversation was dominated by diets, perhaps because we are all feeling the after effects of our last meeting, an evening with Mary Berry. Her recipes are just too good to resist. As the waitress took our orders we tried to choose sensibly but without the aid of a calorie counting app its hard to know what your eating. Prawns seemed a good choice as did chicken and soup , although the salt and pepper spare ribs probably wouldn't feature very highly on a dieters guide to Chinese food.

....  As the food came and went we got down to discussing our last book.
 


....  Overall, a resounding success, although one of our group gave up two pages in because it was too dull!.  However after some gentle persuasion, she has agreed to give it another go. Rachel Joyce gives a well written account of a 45 year marriage on the brink of destruction. Two people trying to come to terms with a shared tragedy, each cocooned by their own grief, unable to reach out to each other. A voice from the painful past jolts the eponymous Mr Fry out of his cocoon and sets him on a journey, both physical and emotional. The author carries the reader with Harold on each step of his long, long walk to Berwick. In parts the story is deeply depressing but told in a simple light hearted way that really involves you in the lives of  this elderly married couple. The authors style is reminiscent of  David Nobbs. At times funny, very entertaining and always thought provoking, a worthwhile read that we would definitely recommend. 

....  As the evening drew to close the title of our next book was revealed.................

....  Arrgh  ....  It's a diet book!, 

....  "The Fast Diet" by Dr Michael Mosley and Mimi Spencer 

....  Join us at the local health spa to hear how we got on with this book.


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....  With the addition of another book to keep our mind off the hunger!!!
 
 
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....  This book is rather topical in view of everyone enjoying The White Queen on TV at the moment!
 
 

 
 




 

 
 

 
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