The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy

Finding purpose in your life after retiring may include checking items off your bucket list, starting a new hobby, or following the dreams of Peter Gibbons (office space) and doing absolutely nothing all day. Harold Fry, however, takes on a quest of great importance. He sets off on a pilgrimage to speak to a very old friend who has cancer before it is too late.

One day, Harold receives a note in the mail from an old colleague who informs him that she has entered hospice, has cancer, and has been told by the Doctors that she does not have long to live. Distressed, Harold writes a reply, but he feels like the note he wrote was too impersonal. So, as Harold makes his way to the post to drop off the note, he has an enlightening conversation about fate with a clerk at a convenience store about the situation. Inspired, Harold decides to travel a few hundred miles on foot to speak face-to-face with his friend. As the chapters go by, we learn more about Harold's upbringing, family, and why he started this grand journey without informing anyone, including his wife.

Have you seen the great show “The Trip” with Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon? This book has many similarities. The only big difference is that Harold is not outgoing; he seems to be an introvert, which offers up an interesting dynamic with the people he meets along his quest.

The book really takes off as you learn more about Harold's past with both his wife Maureen, his friend he is traveling to see, Queenie, and his son David. It has more than enough charm and heartfelt moments to make up for its light plot, and the final conclusion was unique and satisfying. Well, satisfying is the wrong word. It's sort of like a recapitulation of the journey. Let's just leave it at that. It's hard to tiptoe around the end without some sort of spoiler.