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Maureen
Maureen: A Harold Fry Novel | Rachel Joyce
11 posts | 8 read | 9 to read
From the bestselling author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry comes a moving novel told from the point of view of Harold's wife, Maureen, about finding love and wonder at the end of life's journey. Fifteen years after the unlikely six-hundred-mile pilgrimage he made for Queenie Hennessy, Harold Fry is back at home with his wife, Maureen, but the journey of life has finally taken its toll. As Harold ages, Maureen has noticed his hold on reality getting more tenuous, his pace and his mind slowing. More and more frequently he disappears, only to turn up in a neighbor's garden. He has started to say things that make no sense. But Maureen doesn't want things to change. She has an active life ahead of her, and after all, Harold has already had his adventure. Sometimes, all she feels is anger when she knows she must prepare for the solitude that lies ahead. As Harold becomes more idiosyncratic and more dependent on her, though, Maureen realizes he is entering a stage of life that promises hope and beauty, because it is no longer about ego, but accepting his place in the world around him. If this is Harold's last journey, then she wants to make it too. Revisiting the characters and setting of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, Maureen is an exploration of the mysteries of existence. It's a story about a man who asks his wife to sit and look at the world with him before it is too late. By turns gripping and heartwarming, it uncovers the layers of grief, remorse, and love that connect us, and shows that sometimes--even if we think it's the end--new life is possible.
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jlhammar
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#12Booksof2023 ⭐️ Favorite Audiobooks ⭐️

Andrew65 Love these books but yet to read this one, must be interesting to see things from Maureen‘s point of view. 11mo
Suet624 Had no idea she wrote another book as part of this series. 11mo
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megnews
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Pickpick

An excellent finish to the Harold Fry series.

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rmaclean4
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Pickpick

What a surprising delight. The third of the Harold Fry series. I have not read the second book in the trilogy but want to pick it up now. A hopeful book about forgiveness at any age. Just loved it. 4.5 🌟 #52bookclub23 #contemporary @LauraReads @KarenUK @britt_brooke @CarolynM @Smarkies @LeeRHarry @Clwojick @BookBelle84 @jennifer80 @Librarybelle @triplem80 @AshleyHoss820 @Read4life @Bluebird @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB @ravenlee

jlhammar Glad you enjoyed! I thought it was so well done. The second book is wonderful (I actually preferred it to the first). 2y
rmaclean4 @jlhammar I am excited to pick it up. I thought Maureen was stronger than the first book also. 2y
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jlhammar @rmaclean4 Agreed! Though I enjoyed the first, it‘s my least favorite of the three. Hope you love Queenie! The audiobook is excellent. 2y
rmaclean4 @jlhammar fantastic! 2y
Deblovestoread Thank you for tagging me! Can‘t wait to read. 💜 2y
BarbaraBB That is quite a recommendation! I only read the first book and loved that too 2y
squirrelbrain I only read the first book too - sounds like I should read two and three! 2y
Librarybelle I‘ve not read the second one either! 2y
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marleed
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Pickpick

I hadn‘t anticipated a 3rd (and final) installment in my 5* journey with the Harold Fry saga. Stalking my library for new Libby purchases I came across this a couple months ago and have been juggling holds ever since. I had not considered I was missing Maureen‘s (Harold‘s wife) voice in the quest to Queenie‘s garden, it‘s a nice ending to the trilogy and on interesting perspective on who gets to grieve for whom.

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jlhammar
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Pickpick

A wonderful and moving close to the Harold Fry trilogy. Audiobook is perfectly narrated by Penelope Wilton. She is also starring as Maureen in the upcoming film!

Just read a good article by Rachel Joyce on these books yesterday (LitHub). I‘ll include a link to that and the film trailer in the comments for those interested.

JamieArc Oh, I can‘t wait for this!!! 2y
Cathythoughts Sounds lovely ❤️ 2y
BkClubCare A favorite author - look forward to this 2y
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NovelNancyM
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Pickpick

I was happy to discover this novel as I truly enjoyed The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy. I found Harold purely delightful and sweet while Queenie's and Maureen's stories are heavier. Ultimately, though Rachel Joyce leaves us with hope.

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Reecaspieces
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Pickpick

Review is up! Check it out. This is sweet and emotional.

https://reecaspieces.com/2023/02/16/maureen-by-rachel-joyce-randomhouse-booktwit...

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Cinfhen
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Pickpick

The last installment of the Harold Fry trilogy - we are given Maureen‘s story as she undertakes her own pilgrimage 10 years later to see Queenie‘s Garden. This book, really a novella ( under 130 pages) helps the reader to connect better with Maureen, who can be cantankerous. The writing is really lovely, both humorous & heartfelt but the short book lacked the same impact the first two books made. This should NOT be read as a standalone.

Cinfhen Another #CoverCrush 2y
rmaclean4 I read Harold Fry but not the second book...would this still be an effectve read for me? 2y
Cinfhen I think book two is more of a companion piece to the original but it‘s also the BEST from the series @rmaclean4 having said that I think it‘s ok to read Maureen with an understanding from (edited) 2y
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Cinfhen Hope thats helpful @rmaclean4 ❤️ 2y
rmaclean4 @Cinfhen perfect, thanks! 2y
Suet624 Oh boy, I still thing of Harold. What a great story. 2y
Cinfhen Yes @Suet624 Harold Fry was such a lovely book 2y
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TorieStorieS
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Pickpick

Happy Publication Week to the third installment of the Harold Fry series! This novella reads fast as Maureen makes a journey of her own. But it‘s been ten years since the close of the first two books, so Maureen goes by car. It‘s not without its own dramas and this quick read as Maureen travels to Queenie‘s garden provides a satisfying update for the characters. I was just surprised by how soon it came to an end!

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robinb
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While I just finished reading this book (it was a short, quick one), I‘m not going to rate it yet. And here‘s why. This is a follow up to The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy, neither of which I‘ve read. While I was able to ferret out the gist of the story, I don‘t feel prepared to give a review before reading its predecessors. I don‘t think I can do it justice until then. I can say #coverlove though. 😊

CBee Just stacked all of these based on some reviews I saw on GR! I think they‘d be right up my alley! 2y
robinb @CBee I still haven‘t got to the previous two (and by the time I do, I‘ll have to go back and read this one again). 🤣🤦🏻‍♀️ 2y
robinb UPDATE: I began this not realizing that it was the final in a trilogy of which I had yet to read the previous books. While it can be read alone, I do recommend reading the previous ones as I felt a little adrift at times. I do plan to go back to the beginning. While short in length this packs a powerful punch. Maureen, wife of Harold Fry (which the two previous books focused on) receives a letter from a deceased woman that she has mixed feelings🔻 2y
robinb about…someone who had been close to her husband. She requests a pilgrimage north to her beach art gallery/memorial which features shrines made and left by everyday visitors to people they‘ve loved and lost. She has created a memorial to Maureen‘s son who committed suicide as a young adult. While Maureen initially balks at going, she eventually embarks on the trip alone, jealous and affronted that this woman felt she knew Maureen‘s son well 🔻 2y
robinb enough to do such a thing. She meets a myriad of interesting folks along the way, and by the time she arrives at the beach has realized that she hasn‘t been able to deal with and grieve her son‘s loss. This was not a happy book, but it was a cathartic one…for both Maureen and also the reader I think. While not previously having met Maureen, I nevertheless felt pulled in and invested in her emotional journey. 4.25/5⭐️ 2y
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jlhammar
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I was so excited to learn about this forthcoming release! I really enjoyed both The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy. This third one will feature Harold‘s wife, Maureen, and takes place ten years after Harold‘s walk. Pub date in the US set for early February. The UK title is Maureen Fry and the Angel of the North and is out earlier (October).

MaureenMc Stacking based solely on the title! 😆 2y
jlhammar @MaureenMc Love that! Great name! 2y
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