Maureen Fry and the Angel of the North: From the bestselling author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

Rachel Joyce does it again; a throughly moving and beautifully written follow up to The Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. This time Harold’s wife Maureen has some loose ends that need tying up which lead to her own pilgrimage of sorts. I adored this book, its ability to provoke emotion is pure genius. It isn’t a long book, but you’ll want to re-read it just to experience it again. I haven’t enjoyed all of Ms Joyce’s books, The Music Shop did nothing for me, but the Harold Fry trilogy and Perfect are amongst my favourite books.I look forward to more!

I enjoyed this as a follow up to the two previous Harold Fry novels. Not particularly special but filled in a few blanks from Maureen's point of view and good to read when away for a couple of days.

I have read the first two novels in this trilogy and seen the film about the Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. This is a very moving completion of the impact of the three main characters. I was able to feel and visualise everybody much better having seen the film too.This is both a moving and funny account of one woman's search for the meaning of her life and how to cope with life's many difficulties. Most enjoyable and thought provoking .

After having read The unlikely pilgrimage of Harold Fry and The love song of Miss Queenie Hennessy I couldn't wait for this book to come out. I have to say I found it extremely emotional and moving. I do agree with other reviews that it is a very short book and I would have liked it to have been longer. Having said that I did absolutely love it and could not put it down until I had finished it. Rachel Joyce is one of my favourite authors, she writes with such empathy and sincerity. I eagerly look forward to whatever she writes next.

I was really looking forward to reading this after having read the predecessors and her others, because I liked the engaging writing. Unfortunately this book doesn’t have the same feel and seems like a self indulgent ramble.I gave up on it after a few chapters I’m afraid. Sorry if it got better, but scanning the later content I couldn’t see that it would.

This has echoes of the original book of the long walk ( I saw the film without reading the book) but different facets. I like the style of writing which makes for easy reading. The end is a bit weak but reaches a good conclusion after some wriggles which suggest something different. Over all a commendable read

A story weaving a tapestry of emotions in what is a superb series of books or perhaps best described as parallel stories.All the books from Harold Fry to Queenie Hennessy to Maureen Fry add a different perspective on the same history. These are all books I wish I could experience again for the first time.Through her writing Rachel Joyce demonstrates that sadness in the world takes many forms. We see many aspects of this in the book, from the well dressed man who appears to be living in his car to the ugliness of the many examples of unkindness in the world. This is interspersed with moments of kindness and good deeds provides a juxtaposition of light and dark; the young man who comes to Maureen’s aid when she crashes her car.We see how our behaviour towards others is not fixed, as Maureen attempts to learn and change and adapt her interactions with others after experiencing unpleasantness from others.There are two common themes running through all three stories. One of assumptions. Maureen makes assumptions about others which ultimately leads her into challenging situations. Queenie, in book 2 assumed that her first letter to Harold would be the end of the story, when in fact it was the beginning. Harold assumed that by undertaking his pilgrimage in book 1 he could save Queenie, preventing the inevitable.The second theme is one of atonement. Harold by undertaking his pilgrimage to see Queenie after disappearing from his life. Queenie writing her long letter of explanation to Harold around her secret relationship with their son. Maureen as she makes her own pilgrimage north to view Queenie’s seafront garden and it’s sculptures which tell their own story.Three wonderful books based upon the power of love and loss on the human disposition and the lengths we will go to in order to find inner peace and atonement.

I read every word of this beautiful book. It isn't sugar sweet but addresses difficult issues in an entertaining and realistic way. Lovely characters who behaved in believable, rounded ways so that you wanted to keep reading. How does she get through this? How does he resolve this dilemma. So much wisdom. So much folly. So much love.

Love this author-very quick delivery

Das ist ja auch schwierig, vor allem für eine Kurzgeschichte, wie sie hier vorliegt. Auch sind die anderen beiden Bücher schon so lange her, und die Hintergründe nicht mehr vollständig präsent, das hat das Ganze nicht vereinfacht. Dennoch eine schöne, traurige, vielleicht etwas zu süsse Geschichte, zumindest die Auflösung am Ende. Hat mich nicht vollständig überzeugt, dennoch 4.2 Sterne.

This book gets right into your soul . We are all a little bit like Maureen,or Kate and a little bit more besides

Loved reading the trilogy, very moving and inspiring. Rachel describes her characters so beautifully and completely with feelings of empathy and compassion. Descriptions of countryside, flora, fauna - beautiful. Brilliant.

An excellent finale to the trilogy of Harold Fry's walk.