Ms. Hoch's Blog

Pop Quiz... about who else? ..... me!

Which of these do you think is true of me as a reader?

1.  I didn't reach my goal of reading 52 books last year (only 42).

2.  I love reading books where a young adult has a life-changing event.

3.  I can't stand horror or scary fiction.

4.  I read most titles out of suggestions from friends.

5. I chose to read The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry because I'm participating in my first Battle of the Books.

That's right... all of them are true!

So.... I just started reading The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry: Awkward.  Just awkward. The whole premise of the book seems so unlikely.... weird word choice.   Anyway, Harold Fry is  a timid, middle-aged married man in England goes on a walking journey to deliver a letter to a long-lost friend he recently discovered is dying... wait for it...  he says:

"as long as I walk, she'll stay alive." 

He seems to think she'll wait for him; the cancer won't kill her, but she'll wait.  So, yes. This book is a little odd.  But, I can't help but feel compelled by this character.  He is so real. Even when he has an awkward conversation from a payphone to his wife, you can't help but feel intrigued and happy for him; he has an enlightened joy and newly found happiness in his purpose... silly as it may be.

 I can't help but wonder, as Harold stays in a hotel for an unexpected two-day stay, whether he'll have the stamina to continue... also, he doesn't have the appropriate great... I mean, won't his shoes fall apart?