A recent memoir, THE
SALT PATH by debut author Raynor Winn, is one of my favorite books of the year so
far. Set along the Southwest
coast of England, THE SALT PATH chronicles the experiences of Winn and her
husband, Moth, who were dealt nearly simultaneous blows of losing their home
due to a poor investment and a serious health diagnosis. I honestly think that most people would have
retrenched in those circumstances, but the Winns decided to beginning walking
the 630 mile South West Coast Path; they “chose to walk and seized the freedom
that came with that choice.” Due to their dire financial circumstances, they
camped out nearly every night, making finding a suitable piece of ground an
almost daily adventure. Food, too, was often scarce and regularly featured
inexpensive options like noodles.
As a reader, part of me wanted to cheer them
on and part wanted to scream at these 50-somethings to stop, get some needed health care and conform
to expectations. Yet, that sense of rebellion against an unfair fate is what
makes this duo’s story so appealing – Winn includes numerous perceptive
comments about ageism, the passage of time, homelessness and life choices: “that
step, and the next and the next and the next, was the reason and the
future. Each combe climbed out of was a
victory, each day survived a reason to live through the next. Each lungful of
salt scouring our memories, smoothing their edges, wearing them down. … something
in me was changing season, too. I was no longer striving, fighting to change
the unchangeable, not clenching in anxiety at the life we’d been unable to hold
onto …. A new season had crept into me, a softer season of acceptance.”
An excerpt of this well-done memoir is available from the publisher and The Guardian has run feature articles, also. THE SALT PATH was published earlier in the UK and shortlisted
for the Costa Book Award, which recognizes writing by British and Irish
authors. Past winners have included Mark
Haddon, Iris Murdoch, and Paul Theroux to name just a few.
No comments:
Post a Comment