Self-Discovery Journey

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

By: Rachel Joyce

Genre: fiction

Pages: 320

Published: 2012

Read: June

2 out of 5 stars

A reader's perception of a novel is heavily weighed on their own mood at the time of the reading.  I may have enjoyed Harold Fry's journey more if I wasn't engrossed in other's self discovery quests so recently - Cheryl Strayed (Wild), Alan Christoffersen (The Walk Series by Richard Paul Evans), and Tom (The Way, 2010 movie).  All three of these stories touched me in ways that Harold's didn't even come close to obtaining.  They gave me the desire to leave my life and trek off on my very own journey. Harold's quest may provoke that desire in some, but it just wasn't me or at least not at this time.  I also felt that Joyce's voice switched point-of-view with no indication to the reader, therefore making it a harder story to follow.  I was able to "feel" the story about 3/4th of the way in, but I would highly recommend other self-discovering routes first.

This is Rachel Joyce's only novel and you can read more reviews at www.racheljoycebooks.com

Amish...A Simplier Life?

Almost Amish: One Woman’s Quest for a Slower, Simpler, More Sustainable Life  

By: Nancy Sleeth

Genre: Nonfiction

Pages: 272

Published: 2012

Read: June

3 out of 5 stars

I felt this book has a lot of great ideas; however I strongly dislike the author. First, how can she be "almost Amish" and state that she doesn't care about appearance, but the cover features a woman wearing nail polish, jewelry, and a very colorful skirt?  Several times she mentions ideas and methods to become "almost Amish" and then continues that she chooses not to follow them because the modern method is more convenient. I understand the novel is about becoming "almost Amish" and not "Amish", but I would expect her to follow the ideas she recommends. I know she may have been providing the readers thoughts to ponder, so the reader can decide what works for his/her lifestyle. However, the way she achieves it aggravated me.  I still gave the book a 3 star rating because she does suggest many easy and cheap changes a person/family can adopt to simplify their lives AND there is nothing wrong with that.


Nancy Sleeth is a Christian environmentalist, author, and Managing Director of the non-profit Blessed Earth. Her website is www.nancysleeth.com

A disappointing classic

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

By: Ken Kesey

Genre: Classic

Pages: 272

Published: 1962

Read: June

1 out of 5 stars

Although I know several people who love this book, I could not get into it and my mind wondered elsewhere constantly.  There were a few parts - McMurphy breaking the nurse's window and planning the fishing trip - that keep me interested. At those times, I would think "I am into it. It will be good." No such luck, I should have given up reading it. I did read in it's entirety and don't know if I would be able to tell you much of what happened throughout the story.  This is definitely one of the few books that I have to say I enjoyed the movie much better.

 

Kesey has written several other books and died in 2001. He doesn't have a website.

A great audiobook

The Walk

 By: Richard Paul Evans

Genre: fiction

Pages: 289

Published: 2010

Audiobook: 4 Cd’s (4 hours and 30 mins)

Read: June

5 out of 5 stars 

Read by the author, this audiobook is fantastic. The story of a man who lost everything – his wife, his house, his cars, and his business – he decides to walk from Seattle to Florida Keys. It is moving, happy and sad as he meets many people and learns about himself through his journey. If you have read and enjoyed the memoir by Cheryl Strayed, Wild, this is a must read. I listened to both novels on audiobook and was not disappointed. I am very excited about listening to Miles to Go, the sequel in the series. As with Wild and the movie, The Way, this novel inspires me to leave my life and have my own self-discovery journey.

Evans wrote several novels. Visit them all at www.richardpaulevans.com.