Most Popular Books by Rachel Joyce

Jolted out of emotional numbness by a letter from an old friend who wants to say goodbye before she dies, Harold Fry embarks on a 600-mile hiking journey to his friend''s side without supplies, an endeavor that stirs up memories of his unhappy marital and parenting experiences.

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry comes an exquisite love story about Queenie Hennessy, the remarkable friend who inspired Harold’s cross-country journey. “This lovely book is full of joy. Much more than the story of a woman’s enduring love for an ordinary, flawed man, it’s an ode to messy, imperfect, glorious, unsung humanity.”—The Washington Post A runaway international bestseller, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry followed its unassuming hero on an incredible journey as he traveled the length of England on foot—a journey spurred by a simple letter from his old friend Queenie Hennessy, writing from a hospice to say goodbye. Harold believed that as long as he kept walking, Queenie would live. What he didn’t know was that his decision to walk had caused her both alarm and fear. How could she wait? What would she say? Forced to confront the past, Queenie realizes she must write again. In this poignant parallel story to Harold’s saga, acclaimed author Rachel Joyce brings Queenie Hennessy’s voice into sharp focus. Setting pen to paper, Queenie makes a journey of her own, a journey that is even bigger than Harold’s; one word after another, she promises to confess long-buried truths—about her modest childhood, her studies at Oxford, the heartbreak that brought her to Kingsbridge and to loving Harold, her friendship with his son, the solace she has found in a garden by the sea. And, finally, the devastating secret she has kept from Harold for all these years. A wise, tender, layered novel that gathers tremendous emotional force, The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy underscores the resilience of the human spirit, beautifully illuminating the small yet pivotal moments that can change a person’s life.

''Tense and engrossing... readers who loved The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry will not be disappointed.'' - Sunday Times ''An instant classic.'' - Daily Express ''You will end up grinning dippily and recommending this wild, searching book to everyone you know.'' - The Times ''Brilliantly realized... a powerful study of grief, loss, guilt, depression, mental illness - and ultimately the power of love - which grips the reader on every page.'' - Daily Mail Summer, 1972: Two seconds have been added to the Atomic clock so as to counteract the irregularities in the Earth''s rate of rotation. Eleven-year-old Byron has been told this but still struggles to understand. What might it mean? In the claustrophobic heat, he and his friend begin ‘Operation Perfect’, a hapless mission to rescue Byron’s mother from impending crisis. Winter, present day: As frost creeps across the moor, Jim cleans tables in the local café, a solitary figure struggling with OCD. His job is a relief from the rituals that govern his nights. Little would seem to connect them except that two seconds can change everything. If your world can be shattered in an instant, might time also put things right?

“An unforgettable story of music, loss and hope. Fans of High Fidelity, meet your next quirky love story.”—People NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE TIMES (UK) AND THE WASHINGTON POST It is 1988. On a dead-end street in a run-down suburb there is a music shop that stands small and brightly lit, jam-packed with records of every kind. Like a beacon, the shop attracts the lonely, the sleepless, and the adrift; Frank, the shop’s owner, has a way of connecting his customers with just the piece of music they need. Then, one day, into his shop comes a beautiful young woman, Ilse Brauchmann, who asks Frank to teach her about music. Terrified of real closeness, Frank feels compelled to turn and run, yet he is drawn to this strangely still, mysterious woman with eyes as black as vinyl. But Ilse is not what she seems, and Frank has old wounds that threaten to reopen, as well as a past it seems he will never leave behind. Can a man who is so in tune with other people’s needs be so incapable of connecting with the one person who might save him? The journey that these two quirky, wonderful characters make in order to overcome their emotional baggage speaks to the healing power of music—and love—in this poignant, ultimately joyful work of fiction. Praise for The Music Shop “Captures the sheer, transformative joy of romance.”—The Washington Post “Love, friendship, and especially the healing powers of music all rise together into a triumphant crescendo. . . . This lovely novel is as satisfying and enlightening as the music that suffuses its every page.”—The Boston Globe “Magnificent . . . If you love words, if you love music, if you love love, this [novel] will be without question one of the year’s best.”—BookPage (Top Pick in Fiction) “Joyce has a knack for quickly sketching characters in a way that makes them stick. [The Music Shop] will surprise you.”—Minneapolis Star Tribune “Rachel Joyce has established a reputation for novels that celebrate the dignity and courage of ordinary people and the resilience of the human spirit. . . . But what really elevates The Music Shop is Joyce’s detailed knowledge of—and passion for—music.”—The Guardian

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “A beautifully written, extraordinary quest in which two ordinary, overlooked women embark on an unlikely scientific expedition to the South Seas.”—Helen Simonson, author of Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand WINNER OF THE WILBUR SMITH ADVENTURE WRITING PRIZE • From the bestselling author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry comes an uplifting, irresistible novel about two women on a life-changing adventure, where they must risk everything, break all the rules, and discover their best selves—together. She’s going too far to go it alone. It is 1950. London is still reeling from World War II, and Margery Benson, a schoolteacher and spinster, is trying to get through life, surviving on scraps. One day, she reaches her breaking point, abandoning her job and small existence to set out on an expedition to the other side of the world in search of her childhood obsession: an insect that may or may not exist—the golden beetle of New Caledonia. When she advertises for an assistant to accompany her, the woman she ends up with is the last person she had in mind. Fun-loving Enid Pretty in her tight-fitting pink suit and pom-pom sandals seems to attract trouble wherever she goes. But together these two British women find themselves drawn into a cross-ocean adventure that exceeds all expectations and delivers something neither of them expected to find: the transformative power of friendship. Praise for Miss Benson’s Beetle “A hilarious jaunt into the wilderness of women’s friendship and the triumph of outrageous dreams.”—Kirkus Reviews

Meet a pair of beloved characters—Harold Fry and Queenie Hennessy—in an eBook bundle that collects two linked novels from a wise and utterly irresistible storyteller. “[Rachel Joyce] has a lovely sense of the possibilities of redemption. . . . She’s cleared space where miracles are still possible.”—Ron Charles, The Washington Post Rachel Joyce’s unforgettable debut, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, became a runaway international bestseller as readers fell in love with her unassuming hero as he embarked on an incredible adventure spurred by a letter from his old friend Queenie. In The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy, Joyce reveals the other side of the story in a journey just as remarkable as Harold’s. Together these exquisite parallel novels illuminate the feelings we all bury deep within our hearts, and the small yet pivotal moments that can change a person’s life. Praise for The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry “[A] gorgeously poignant novel of hope and transformation.”—O: The Oprah Magazine “Joyce’s beguiling debut is [a] modest-seeming story of ‘ordinary’ English lives that enthralls and moves you as it unfolds.”—People (four stars) “The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is not just a book about lost love. It is about all the wonderful everyday things Harold discovers through the mere process of putting one foot in front of the other.”—Janet Maslin, The New York Times “A moving story about an ordinary man on an extraordinary journey.”—Nancy Horan, author of Loving Frank “A gentle adventure with an emotional wallop . . . a smart, feel-good story.”—Bob Minzesheimer, USA Today “I found myself laughing through tears, rooting for Harold at every step of his journey. I’m still rooting for him.”—Paula McLain, author of The Paris Wife Praise for The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy “This lovely book is full of joy. . . . [Queenie’s] love song is for us. Thank you, Rachel Joyce.”—The Washington Post “Joyce’s writing at moments has a simplicity that sings. She captures hope best of all.”—The Guardian “[A] deeply affecting novel . . . Culminating in a shattering revelation, [Queenie’s] tale is funny, sad, hopeful: She’s bound for death, but full of life.”—People “Like Harold Fry, Queenie is delightful and dark. . . . But Joyce is so deft that when the book is over and you close the cover, the darkness fades. What sticks with you is the light of Queenie’s unwavering love.”—Minneapolis Star Tribune “Wonderful . . . It is not necessary to read Harold’s story before reading Queenie’s to enjoy this bittersweet novel, which is a pleasure in its own right. However, reading both will only serve to double that pleasure.”—The Independent “After two such involving novels, readers are bound to wish for a third.”—The Telegraph

Rachel Joyce, internationally bestselling author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and Perfect, delivers an unforgettable Christmas story of moving on from lost love, now available exclusively as an e-short. It’s Christmas Eve, and Binny has only five hours to decorate her house and fix a proper dinner. Dropping her children off at school, she runs into town to do some last-minute shopping, yet her mind and heart are wholly elsewhere. Fighting off the sting of recent heartbreak, Binny stumbles into a small store, and in striking up conversation with the saleswoman she is suddenly overcome with memories of old friends, family, loves that have come and gone. And in this tiny shop, in the unlikely company of a complete stranger, Binny discovers a surprising sense of peace. Includes an enthralling preview of Rachel Joyce’s forthcoming novel Perfect. Praise for Rachel Joyce “Perfect is a poignant and powerful book, rich with empathy and charged with beautiful, atmospheric writing.”—Tana French, author of In the Woods, on Perfect “[Perfect’s] unputdownable factor . . . lies in its exploration of so many multilayered emotions. There is the unbreakable bond between mother and son, the fear of not belonging . . . and how love can offer redemption.”—London Evening Standard, on Perfect “Beguiling . . . enthralls and moves you as it unfolds.”—People (four stars), on The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry “[A] gorgeously poignant novel of hope and transformation.”—O: The Oprah Magazine, on The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

With sparkling wit and insight, this powerful novel from the bestselling author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry reminds us that family is everything, even when it falls apart. “The beautiful writing, unforgettable characters, and stunning setting make this a must-read.” —Bonnie Garmus, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Lessons in Chemistry “It’s all here, dear readers. Art. Beauty. Pain. Redemption. Rachel Joyce’s masterful skill and emotional breadth are dazzling.” —Adriana Trigiani, author of The Good Left Undone There is a heatwave across Europe, and four siblings have gathered at their family’s lake house to seek answers about their father, a famous artist, who recently remarried a much younger woman and decamped to Italy to finish his long-awaited masterpiece. Now he is dead. And there is no sign of his final painting. As the siblings try to piece together what happened, they spend the summer in a state of lawlessness: living under the same roof for the first time in decades, forced to confront the buried wounds they incurred as his children, and waiting for answers. Though they have always been close, the things they learn that summer—about themselves—and their father—will drive them apart before they can truly understand his legacy. Meanwhile, their stepmother’s enigmatic presence looms over the house. Is she the force that will finally destroy the family for good? Wonderfully atmospheric, at heart this is a novel about the bonds of siblinghood—what happens when they splinter, and what it might take to reconnect them.

Ten years ago, Harold Fry set off on his epic journey on foot to save a friend. But the story doesn''t end there. Now his wife, Maureen, has her own pilgrimage to make. Maureen Fry has settled into the quiet life she now shares with her husband Harold after his iconic walk across England. Now, ten years later, an unexpected message from the North disturbs her equilibrium again, and this time it is Maureen''s turn to make her own journey. But Maureen is not like Harold. She struggles to bond with strangers, and the landscape she crosses has changed radically. She has little sense of what she''ll find at the end of the road. All she knows is that she must get there. Maureen Fry and the Angel of the North is a deeply felt, lyrical novel, full of warmth and kindness. Short, exquisite, powerful- it is about love, loss, and how we come to terms with the past in order to understand ourselves and our lives a little better.

As read on Radio 4, seven linked stories set in the Christmas holidays - all as funny, joyous, poignant and memorable as Christmas should be: A Faraway Smell of Lemon: The School Term has ended. It is almost Christmas but Binny, out last-minute shopping couldn''t feel less like wishing glad tidings to all men. Ducking out of the rain she finds herself in the sort of shop she would never normally visit. The Marriage Manual: Christmas Eve. Two parents endeavour to construct their son’s Christmas present from a DIY kit and in the process find themselves deconstructing their marriage. Christmas at the Airport: A glitch in the system, travellers stranded and all sorts of lives colliding in the face of a sudden birth... The Boxing Day Ball: Maureen has never been out with the local girls before. Who knew that a disco in the Village Hall could be life-changing? A Snow Garden: Two little boys, dumped with their divorced father for his share of the Christmas holidays and none of them with a clue how to enjoy it. I''ll Be Home for Christmas The most famous boy in the world comes home hoping to escape the madness with a normal family Christmas. Trees: As if Christmas wasn''t wearing enough, now his elderly parent is asking for a hole in the ground ... Father and son break old habits and plant a tree to mark the start of the new year.

Penguin Readers is an ELT graded reader series for learners of English as a foreign language. With carefully adapted text, new illustrations and language learning exercises, the print edition also includes instructions to access supporting material online. Titles include popular classics, exciting contemporary fiction, and thought-provoking non-fiction, introducing language learners to bestselling authors and compelling content. The eight levels of Penguin Readers follow the Common European Framework of Reference for language learning (CEFR). Exercises at the back of each Reader help language learners to practise grammar, vocabulary, and key exam skills. Before, during and after-reading questions test readers'' story comprehension and develop vocabulary. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, a Level 5 Reader, is B1 in the CEFR framework. The text is made up of sentences with up to four clauses, introducing present perfect continuous, past perfect, reported speech and second conditional. It is well supported by illustrations, which appear regularly. Harold Fry lives a quiet, ordinary life in England. But when he gets a phone call and learns that his old friend Queenie Hennessey is dying, he decides to post her a letter to her home 500 miles away. As he walks to the post box, Harold begins to think about his past and his family. He decides on walking until he reaches Queenie. Visit the Penguin Readers website Exclusively with the print edition, readers can unlock online resources including a digital book, audio edition, lesson plans and answer keys.

År 1972 läggs två sekunder till tiden, för att balansera klocktiden med jordens rörelse. Byron Hemmings visste detta eftersom James Lowe hade sagt det till honom. James Lowe var den smartaste pojken i skolan. Men hur kan tiden ändras? När tiden flyttas fram sker det ofattbara. När Byrons mor kör honom till skolan den morgonen är hon stressad. Hon gör ett oförlåtligt misstag och deras perfekta värld krossas för alltid. Går det att skylla på de två sekunderna? Kan det som hände någonsin rättas till? Författaren till Harold Fry och hans osannolika pilgrimsfärd är tillbaka med en roman fylld av humor och vemod.

Da Harold Fry, pensionist og gift med Maureen, modtager et brev fra en tidligere og nu døende kollega Queenie, ved han ikke, at han har taget hul på sit livs rejse: En 800 km lang vandring til fods fra Devon i Sydengland til det sydlige til Berwick-upon-Tweed i nord. Harold modtager Queenies brev ved morgenbordet. Hans hustru gennem 40 år, Maureen, kan godt huske Queenie, der var bogholder i det lille firma, hvor Harold var sælger. Hun har aldrig haft de to mistænkt for at have haft et forhold, så det er med sindsro, at hun modtager Harolds første opkald om, at han besluttet sig for at aflevere sit brev til hende personligt. Hun venter ham dog hjem til tetid og bliver derfor både vred og urolig, da han ikke dukker op - og timer bliver til dage, der bliver til uger. Hans fravær får Maureen til at tænke over deres samliv, glæder og sorger, og gamle følelser vækkes til live igen. På sin vej op gennem England har Harold også tid til at reflektere over sit liv med Maureen. Harold deler sin historie om brevet til Queenie med de mennesker, han møder undervejs. Rygterne om hans færd spreder sig og antager hysteriske dimensioner, bl.a. bliver han en overgang fulgt på landsdækkende tv. Inden han ved af det, har Harold en stor skare af følgesvende på sin rejse til Queenie. Rachel Joyce (f. 1962) er en engelsk forfatter, der blandt andet har skrevet hørespil til radioen. Hun slog for alvor igennem som forfatter, da hun udgav sin debutroman "Harold Frys usandsynlige pilgrimsfærd" i 2012. Romanen blev oversat til en lang række forskellige sprog og skaffede hende en National Book Award for årets debutroman.

Il était juste parti poster une lettre. Mais c’est mille kilomètres qu’il va parcourir à pied. Un roman inoubliable qui a conquis le monde entier. « Je suis en chemin. Attends-moi. Je vais te sauver, tu verras. Je vais marcher, et tu vivras. » Harold Fry est bouleversé par la lettre qu’il reçoit de Queenie Hennessy, une ancienne amie qui lui annonce qu’elle va mourir. Alors que sa femme, Maureen, s’affaire à l’étage, indifférente à ce qui peut bien arriver à son mari, Harold quitte la maison pour poster sa réponse. Mais il passe devant la boîte aux lettres sans s’arrêter, continue jusqu’au bureau de poste, sort de la ville et part durant quatre-vingt-sept jours, parcourant plus de mille kilomètres à pied, du sud de l’Angleterre à la frontière écossaise. Car tout ce qu’Harold sait, c’est qu’il doit continuer à marcher. Pour Queenie. Pour son épouse Maureen. Pour son fils David. Pour nous tous. « Dans une langue précise et aérienne, Rachel Joyce conduit Harold des déserts amers du regret vers les

Traditional Chinese edition of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. We have all heard it before. A retired man with nothing to do all day, every day, after a while irritates his wife to no end. Harold and Maureen fit the bill. But one day, Harold received a letter from a woman in a hospice to say goodbye. The novel is a journey of Harold, and in ways of Maureen, to find themselves again. The book is Amazon Best Books of the Month, July 2012. In Traditional Chinese. Annotation copyright Tsai Fong Books, Inc. Distributed by Tsai Fong Books, Inc.

Una historia tan original como disparatada, un largo peregrinaje para exorcizar el recuerdo que marcó una vida. Una mañana cualquiera, mientras su mujer pasa el aspirador en el piso de arriba, Harold Fry sale de casa para echar una carta al buzón. Recién jubilado, Harold está lejos de imaginar que acaba de iniciar un viaje a pie de un extremo a otro del país. No lleva calzado ni ropa adecuada, ni siquiera un teléfono móvil, y mucho menos un mapa o una brújula. ¿Para qué iba a llevarlos? Tan sólo va al buzón de la esquina para responder a la misiva de Queenie Hennessy, una vieja amiga y compañera de trabajo quien, tras un silencio de casi veinte años, acaba de comunicarle que está ingresada en un hospital del norte a punto de morir de cáncer. Sin embargo, cuando Harold se dispone a enviar la carta, un impulso repentino lo conmina a llevar él mismo el mensaje a su destinataria. Por una vez en su vida, Harold toma una decisión sin pensar, pero su intuición le dice que su amiga Queenie hará algo igualmente impensable y se curará. Así comienza un largo peregrinaje que dará un vuelco total a su existencia. Mediante el sencillo acto de caminar, Harold emprende un viaje al encuentro de sí mismo, un largo recorrido, duro y placentero a la vez, que lo conducirá a descubrir sus verdaderos sentimientos y deseos que yacían adormecidos en su interior y, por encima de todo, a exorcizar el terrible recuerdo que marcó su vida. La crítica ha dicho... «Un libro divertido, sabio, conmovedor, aunque en ningún caso empalagoso. Una novela con un giro inesperado, pero que no resulta manipuladora. Tal vez porque el propio Harold es simplemente maravilloso. Es imposible cerrar la novela.» The Times «La novela de Joyce contiene más que una simpática colección de excéntricos británicos. Pese a estar descrito en un tono engañosamente ligero, el viaje de Harold en pos de una mejor versión de sí mismo tiene la fuerza de un tótem. Leer acerca de Harold equivale a ser conmovido y desear seguirlo.» The Telegraph «Una primera novela tierna y divertida sobre segundas oportunidades y el amor recuperado, protagonizada por un hombre que emprende un viaje con una misión extraordinaria.» Marie Claire

Rachel Joyce (Londen, 1962) begon haar carrière als actrice en speelde bij de Royal Shakespeare Company en het Royal National Theatre. Daarna werkte ze twintig jaar bij de radio, waarvoor ze hoorspelen en documentaires schreef. Ze woont in Gloucestershire met haar man en vier kinderen. De onwaarschijnlijke reis van Harold Fry is haar eerste roman, waarvan de rechten al voor verschijnen aan dertig landen werden verkocht.

Una storia che commuove e tocca nel profondo. Un romanzo sulle seconde possibilità che vi lascerà senza fiato. Divertente, tenero, indimenticabile.

"Koskettava hiljainen, hellä, liikuttava romaani. Joycen tapa kirjoittaa on yksinkertaisuuden ylistyslaulua, ja mikä parasta, tarina on toivoa täynnä." – The Observer Kun Queenie Hennessy lähettää saattokodista jäähyväiskirjeen Harold Frylle, täyttymättömän rakkautensa kohteelle, hän uskoo että se on kaiken loppu. Mutta kirje onkin uuden tarinan alku: Harold aikoo kävellä hänen luokseen halki Englannin. Queenien täytyy vain odottaa. Surumielisyys ja huumori sekoittuvat kun pian koko riemunkirjava saattokodin väki odottaa Haroldia. – Kukaan ei saa kuolla, ennen kuin Harold tulee, julistaa Finty, saattokodin teräväkielinen pikku myy.Odottaessaan Queenie kirjoittaa Haroldille, ja pian näennäisen värittömän naisen tarinassa roihuaa koko elämän kirjo. Queenie ei aio mennä minnekään ennen kuin on tunnustanut kaiken. "Kuinka sinua rakastan? Luettelenko kaikki tavat?" Mutta kaikkein tuskallisin tunnustus jää viimeiseksi. Maailmanlaajuisen menestyksen saanut Harold Fryn odottamaton toivioretki ilmestyi suomeksi 2014. Miss Queenie Hennessyn rakkauslaulu jatkaa tarinaa harvinaisen lujasta rakkaudesta, Queenien näkökulmasta. Englantilainen Rachel Joyce on The Sunday Timesin toimittaja ja palkittu kuunnelmien käsikirjoittaja, joka on kirjoittanut yli 30 radiodraamaa BBC:lle. Kirjoittamisen hän aloitti näyteltyään yli 20 vuoden ajan päärooleja the Royal Shakespeare Companyssa. Harold Fryn odottamaton toivioretki, Joycen esikoisromaani, on käännetty jo 34 kielelle ja suomeksi se ilmestyi vuonna 2014. Harold Fryn rinnakkaisromaani, Miss Queenie Hennessyn rakkauslaulu, on nyt ilmestynyt Hilkka Pekkasen suomentamana.

Eigentlich wollte er nur zum Briefkasten. Dann geht Harold Fry 1000 Kilometer zu Fuss. Rachel Joyce'' unvergesslicher Selbstfindungs-Roman über eine ungewöhnliche Pilgerreise hat die ganze Welt erobert. »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. Der preisgekrönte Roman von Rachel Joyce über Geheimnisse und lebensverändernde Momente, Tapferkeit und Betrug, Liebe und Loyalität und ein ganz unscheinbares Paar Segelschuhe. Die Reihenfolge der Trilogie: Die unwahrscheinliche Pilgerreise des Harold Fry (Band 1) Das Geheimnis der Queenie Hennessy (Band 2) Die erstaunliche Entdeckungsreise der Maureen Fry (Band 3)

I 1972 blev der lagt to sekunder til tiden for at skabe balance mellem faktisk tid og jordens bevægelse, men hvad har det af konsekvenser for vores liv? Byron Hemming er et følsomt, fantasifuldt barn, som bliver oprigtigt bekymret, da hans bedste ven fortæller ham, at der skal lægges to sekunder oveni tiden, og det er med god grund, for da Byrons mor er ved at komme for sent til at aflevere børnene i skole, træffer hun et skæbnesvangert valg, som får katastrofale konsekvenser for Byron. Hans perfekte liv er ødelagt. Var det de to ekstra sekunders skyld? Parallelt med Byrons historie hører vi om Jim, som har OCD, bor i sin bil og er afrydder i cafeen i det lokale supermarked. Sådan har han levet siden lukningen af det psykiatriske opholdsted, han ellers boede på, men hans liv er ved at ændre sig til det bedre, for han har mødt en kvinde, som ser ud til at forstå og holde af ham. De to skæbner fortælles langsomt ind i hinanden, og bogen handler om at være alt andet end perfekt. Rachel Joyce beskriver sine personer med alle deres fejl og mangler med stor ømhed og empati.

Een hartverwarmende en ontroerende roman over de vriendschap tussen twee oude mensen. Wanneer Queenie Hennessy te horen krijgt dat Harold Fry dwars door Engeland loopt en op weg is naar háár, is ze verbijsterd. Ze had in haar brief uitgelegd dat ze ging sterven, en tijd om op hem te wachten heeft ze niet meer. Een vrijwilliger bij het hospice stelt voor dat ze Harold nog een brief schrijft, waarin ze alles aan hem vertelt. Waarom ze twintig jaar geleden verdween zonder vaarwel te zeggen. Hoe Harold haar leven heeft veranderd, en zij zonder dat hij het doorhad het zijne.

Il y a dix ans, Harold Fry entreprenait un pèlerinage pour sauver une amie malade. Aujourd’hui, c’est Maureen, sa femme, qui entame son propre voyage. Une carte postale venue du Nord a fait ressurgir les ombres d’un passé douloureux. Mais Maureen n’est pas Harold. Elle ne traversera pas l’Angleterre à pied. Tour à tour franche et vulnérable, elle peine à tisser des liens avec les gens qu’elle croise. Elle n’a aucune idée de ce qu’elle trouvera au bout du chemin. Et, pourtant, elle le sait : elle doit y arriver. L’histoire étonnante d’une femme qui, sur la voie de la consolation, explore l’amour, la perte, le chagrin, et découvre enfin la force du pardon. Le nouveau roman, puissant et bouleversant, de Rachel Joyce

全球熱銷千萬本 本書改編電影為6/25台北電影節參展影片 8月4日全台感動上映!! 一個人活著可以背負多少苦痛， 一段不平凡的旅程能夠記錄怎樣的信念 一場與生命正面對話，重拾人生第二次機會與摯愛的旅程！ 意外的一封信，讓哈洛決定開始一次荒謬的旅程， 從妻兒的不諒解，到陌生人的協助，讓他堅信── 只要繼續走下去， 或許有人會因此而活，有人因此得到救贖。 唯有坦然面對自己的過去，才能重啟一段新的人生。 這是一次意料之外的旅程，因為一封在某個星期二早晨寄達的信件而出發…… 是昆妮，這位二十年沒見的老同事寄信來向哈洛道別，說她患了癌症住在安寧療養院。信的內容讓哈洛既震驚又難過，他開始從記憶中搜尋昆妮的樣子，是啊！二十年了，他已經有這麼長時間沒想到她了，當年，那個唯一把自己當作是朋友、後來不告而別的老同事…… 哈洛懷著一份愧疚寫了封回信，在寄信途中，他心裡想著除了寄信，他應該可以為昆妮做點什麼事？因緣際會下，一個女孩給了他一個希望與信念：他可以走路去探望昆妮，而且，只要他繼續走，他的老朋友昆妮就會繼續活下去！ 這單純的信念讓哈洛開啟了一段看似荒謬卻不平凡的旅程。他，一個六十幾歲的老人，沒帶手機、沒有地圖、沒有計畫，決定從英國最西南的康瓦耳一直走到最東北的蘇格蘭，超過五百公里的路程。途中遇到形形色色的人，有人為他歡呼打氣，也有人對他的行徑嗤之以鼻。 一路上，哈洛開始回想自己的一生，終於有了勇氣去釋放二十年來深埋內心不願去面對的過去。他想到生命中已錯過的太多東西：他一輩子都低下頭避免跟人衝突，然而，他自己的兒子卻是打定了主意將目光直直盯視他，跟他爭個水落石出；和妻子莫琳當年相識相戀時的激情和浪漫，曾幾何時，已經疏離形同陌路…… 哈洛承受著生命中最深沉的悲傷之際，當一切都已太遲時，他勇敢地敞開自己傷痕累累的心，讓世界走進來。這趟旅程改變了路上所遇到的每個人，也讓哈洛有機會回過頭重新面對自己的人生和摯愛的人。 我現在就要出發。 只要我還在走，她就必須活下去。 這次，我不會讓她失望。 【作家、媒體感動熱推】 ¶準確地將深沉的情緒以簡單而不做作的語言傳達出來……毫無疑問地，這個故事證明了平凡人付出的超人努力，深具原創性、在安靜中展現了無比勇氣。——《衛報》 ¶喬伊斯的劇作家經驗展現在她對對話與角色的精細掌握，即使是跑龍套的小角色也像是活生生的人。她的筆調看似輕盈，但哈洛這段自我超越的旅程卻具有深沉的象徵性。——《每日電訊報》 ¶這部首作小說擁有無比豐沛的感情，喬伊斯問著簡單又深邃的問題：即使人到中年，即使一切似乎都已毀壞，我們還能夠再一次開始去活，真正地活，並且作自己嗎？我們仍能相信希望，即使希望似乎已經拋棄我們？我笑中帶淚，為哈洛在旅途中走的每一步打氣，我依然為他加油著。——寶拉．麥克蓮，《我是海明威的巴黎妻子》作者 ¶哈洛的旅途既是平凡的也是不可思議的，這趟旅程穿過自我、走過現代社會百態、跨越時間和地理風景。這是一本有趣、睿智、迷人不已的書……雖有著殘忍的轉折但不顯得過分刻意……也許這是因為哈洛實在太令人喜愛了。——愛瑞卡．華格納，《泰晤士報》文學編輯 ¶當一切似乎都已太遲的時候，哈洛敞開自己傷痕累累的心，讓世界走進來。這個故事關於一個平凡男人踏上一段不凡的旅程，風趣而深刻，感動且啟發了我。——南西．霍蘭，《愛上萊特》作者 ¶哈洛令人生氣，教人捧腹，完全在做力不可及的蠢事！但每次他起水泡或抽筋，我都跟著屏息擔憂，甚至覺得好像只要我一頁頁翻下去，就能幫助他完成這項不可能的旅程。太精彩了！——海倫．西蒙森，《裴少校的最後一戰》作者 ¶溫柔優雅的迷人作品，充滿英式的獨特趣味，深刻而睿智地檢視了愛與奉獻的主題，安靜的力量盤據心頭。肯定會成為讀書俱樂部的最愛選書。 ——《書單》雜誌 ¶道出了人世深邃的美與智慧。——《圖書館雜誌》Library Journal ¶出乎意料而激勵人的故事，讀後在心中縈繞不去，讓你也想要離開家、啟程探尋。 ——梅麗莎．卡楚里Melissa Katsouli，《泰晤士報》 ¶深深觸動人心，同時又帶著有如保羅．托迪或瑪琳娜．路維卡作品般的幽默輕盈。 ——愛莉絲．歐姬芙Alice O’Keefe，《書商》雜誌 ¶出眾的自信……完美的洗鍊文字……閱讀本書必定會為哈洛感動並跟隨他的步伐。 ——《電訊報》 ¶令人笑淚交織的迷人小說……讀完好幾天，我近幾哀悼般懷念著哈洛安靜而勇敢的陪伴。 ——珍．柯林頓Jane Clinton，《每日快報》 ¶令人佩服的聰明寫作，不落入過度傷感或異想天開的窠臼，而帶來一個教人幾乎難以承受的動人結局。 ——《每日郵報》 ¶一個簡單的男人的漫長旅程，寫來匠心獨具、細膩幽微，令人感動。——克萊兒．湯馬林Claire Tomalin，知名傳記作家，最新權威狄更斯傳作者 ¶溫柔風趣的首作，關於一個男人為了不尋常的理由踏上漫長路途，關於人生的第二次機會與重獲的愛。——《美麗佳人》四月讀書會選書 ¶絕妙的閱讀樂趣。 ——德國《柯夢波丹》 ¶哈洛的朝聖帶領他跨過整個國家，也進入他內心的最深處。這個寫作優美的故事時而風趣時而感人，既滑稽好笑，又如史詩般勇敢壯闊。 ——伊莎貝爾．渥芙Isabel Wolff，暢銷作家，《古董衣情緣》作者 ¶一個男人橫跨英國、同時探入自己內心的旅程，令人動容、振奮不已。 ——黛博拉．莫高琪Deborah Moggach，英國知名小說家、編劇，《傲慢與偏見》電影編劇 ¶太棒了……滿溢著哀傷、希望與愛。 ——艾莎．佛洛伊德Esther Freud，知名英國小說家 ¶溫柔、風趣的作品，《一個人的朝聖》讓我們看見，即使是性格上的弱點也能帶來振奮和救贖。 ——愛德華．史鐸頓Edward Stourton，作家、BBC知名主持人 ¶令人愉快、具獨創性且緊抓人心的首作小說。 ——芮貝卡．弗雷恩Rebecca Frayn，英國知名電影編劇、小說家，《以愛之名：翁山蘇姬》編劇