Scan barcode
besidemyshelf's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Death
sandysmith's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
It was a short novella, but one I devoured readily. I had read the unlikely pilgrimage of Harold Fry and absolutely loved it. This book was written some 10 years plus after the first book, is post pandemic and gives Maureen, Harold's wife a voice. I'm my opinion, you do need to read Harold's story prior to reading this one, although Queenies book, the second one written in the trilogy has now has jumped up my TBR list. Previously, I had not particularly liked Maureen, but gradually, I began to understand her and warmed to her. It's about her journey to see Queenies garden that has memorials to both Harold and her beloved son David. She was unprepared for her journey with its challenges, and her gradual acceptance of loss is so beautifully written. Rachel Joyce has done it again, a thought-provoking wonderful read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Child death, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Car accident and Mental illness
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic
fictionalsarah's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Suicide, and Child death
reading_ladies_blog's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
what_heather_loves's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"She knew something had happened that made the world different...she had driven to Embleton Bay to find David in Queenie's Garden and ease something inside her, like taking out a splinter, yet what she had found had only filled her with hundreds more spikes."
Ten years after Harold's Pilgrimage and his wife Maureen, still grieving the tragic death of their son, David who took his own life,is struggling. Maureen has always begrudged Queenie, who worked with Harold and loved him and also spent time with David. After David's death Queenie moved to Northumberland and created a unique and beautiful garden she allowed public access to, near Embleton Bay. From her hospice bed, Maureen write to Harold, which promoted his pilgrimage, which Maureen never understood. Now, one winter, Maureen is to go on her own journey to visit Queenie's garden and see her tribute to David and to Harold.
Having read the first two books in this trilogy, I was keen to read Maureen's side of the story and was not disappointed. Critical and rather negative, Maureen has had a tough time of it, struggling to get on with people and losing David made her isolate herself further, not understanding the world. She hopes visiting Queenie's garden will. Help her make sense of the world and it does, because through her pain she finds and see others', forgiveness. You may well shed a tear for Maureen, David, Queenie and Harold, reading this affectionate tale of loss, kindness, hope and forgiveness.
"It was about forgiveness, the whole story. Harold's pilgrimage and Queenie's letter, and now Maureen's winter journey too. The chimes and necklaces of stones moved in the wind and so did the seed heads. Yes, they said. Yes, Maureen!"
Ten years after Harold's Pilgrimage and his wife Maureen, still grieving the tragic death of their son, David who took his own life,is struggling. Maureen has always begrudged Queenie, who worked with Harold and loved him and also spent time with David. After David's death Queenie moved to Northumberland and created a unique and beautiful garden she allowed public access to, near Embleton Bay. From her hospice bed, Maureen write to Harold, which promoted his pilgrimage, which Maureen never understood. Now, one winter, Maureen is to go on her own journey to visit Queenie's garden and see her tribute to David and to Harold.
Having read the first two books in this trilogy, I was keen to read Maureen's side of the story and was not disappointed. Critical and rather negative, Maureen has had a tough time of it, struggling to get on with people and losing David made her isolate herself further, not understanding the world. She hopes visiting Queenie's garden will. Help her make sense of the world and it does, because through her pain she finds and see others', forgiveness. You may well shed a tear for Maureen, David, Queenie and Harold, reading this affectionate tale of loss, kindness, hope and forgiveness.
"It was about forgiveness, the whole story. Harold's pilgrimage and Queenie's letter, and now Maureen's winter journey too. The chimes and necklaces of stones moved in the wind and so did the seed heads. Yes, they said. Yes, Maureen!"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
More...