Thread 3: To feel disappointed after reading this in The Observer about the author and her husband from The Salt Path book and film?

[DisappointedReader]

The Observer The real Salt Path: how a blockbuster book and film were ...

Thread One ^www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5368194-to-feel-disappointed-after-reading-this-in-the-observer-about-the-author-and-her-husband-from-the-salt-path-book-and-film?^

Thread 2 Thread 2. To feel disappointed after reading this in The Observer about the author and her husband from The Salt Path book and film? | Mumsnet

It's not my cup of tea either, but that isn't a comment on what I think of the intelligence of people who read it, liked it, or believed it. It is a comment about what I like to read. Nothing more.

I find the comment on Instagram naive, and yes it smells to me of the Winns or their PR team trying out messages to see how they’ll go down.

Winn’s voice is lacking from the narrative of the Observer article because she declined to comment other than the wish-washy “this is the true story of our journey”. She was given the opportunity to refute the claims made in the article. But she didn’t - or couldn’t. That is why she isn’t in the article.

And it’s a push calling it a narrative, it’s a forensic and well-evidenced examination more like.

”For whatever reason they got into debt” is disingenuous to a staggering extent. She stole from her boss, a small business, that left th almost unable to pay wages. She stole! You can’t just wave that fact away with a “for whatever reason”.

Agree. I can imagine a defensive wail of "But so much gooooooood came out of it!"

Also, gotten into debt is different from "money embezzled from someone who trusted you over a period of years" in my world.

They weren't debts though. It was money that she stole that she had to pay back. That's not poor financial judgement, it's a deliberate and planned crime.

If any of my consultants attempted to peddle such unscientific drivel to me , I would be beyond furious and really doubt their understanding of the conditions they are there to help with . Worrying .

Well I’ve seen a comment that the powers that be are trying to discredit her because they are in hoc to the pharmaceutical companies when we all know natural remedies are the answer

I was thinking the same about all this book club stuff. It sounds like they are a breeding ground for purity spirals and attacking wrongthink, when it should (IMO) be just about having a nice bookish chat with different views aired.

I've never been in one but a relative is and encountered the admonishment and anger when she questioned whether certain views of prostitution were really feminist. Thinking prostitution is great and empowering is on the "good person" list it seems!

All the people who have been ostracised from book groups for having questions / cynical takes should start their own Cynics/Awkward Questions Allowed book group.

As someone with a rare condition I can sort of understand mixed feelings about someone who had managed to increase awareness of it.

However, the awareness raising in this instance has to be balanced against the harm of misleading people about what life with the condition is really like

He isn't saying that. I haven't read it either but not because I'm too intelligent it's just not the sort of book I would enjoy. I prefer fiction with food plots and interesting characters. Travel memoirs and overcoming adversity stories just don't interest me, nor to biographies or histories.

Interestingly my daughter did try to read it because someone recommended it to her but she gave up because she didn't like the way it was written and she found it boring.

I agree - the Observer does not publish without giving their key figure a right of reply. I suspect that the problem is that so many people felt inspired or loved the narrative that it is very hard for them to them let go of what they felt. Especially for those who have CBD. I am disabled (and a cynic) but with nothing as terrible as these people, but whilst I would be wildly sceptical of anyone advocating a "snake oil" cure or reversal, I can certainly understand how people can become invested in wanting to believe it. Changing that belief is like ripping away a support mechanism for themselves.

Blaming the article for the current situation is unreasonable - apart from anything else don't people with disabilities have enough to contend with without having frauds pretend to conditions they do not have? The fact he may have some other condition is irrelevant. Witness the threads just of this site alone about disabled people being frauds or exaggerating their illnesses to see the damage that publically lying about your disability / condition does to everyone.

I've been in a book club way back in the noughties and if a book was rubbish we all had now hesitation in saying so.

Then we got on with catching up with each other.

Yes I agree!

Marina Hyde suggested that a hospital somewhere will be getting a new neurological wing out of this when the publisher makes a hefty donation to charity and sues to get money back from the couple.

Has she really made that much money that they could fund a neuro wing?

Regarding the comment shared up thread from the Instagram page of the PSPA. I notice that the commenter has a very small number of followers and only one post (which is private) so I agree it could well be the Winns/Walkers or their people.

I agree, it’s the Lance Armstrong defence of ‘I did so much for charity you need to ignore the other stuff’. Also provided a shield for Savile.

At some point raising money and awareness isn’t enough to mitigate the damage of their actions.

She probably hasn't but I bet the publishers have.

So the publisher could sue the couple is that correct?

It’s not ‘measured’ to say they got into debt, it’s a white wash. They stole and lied about it.

And then hypocritically talked about writing with honesty.

I suppose they need to prove a loss.

as I understand it they have no legal obligation to refund people who bought the book so the only possible loss is on the book coming out in October?

and agree that raising money for charity is often used as a shield and is invariably not their money.

and actually this is a win win for the charity because it’s back in the news and I think a lot of people will find out about the condition and people may donate as well

I don’t think he’s much of an outdoor enthusiast though is he, he’s said that before he can’t really see which may make some stuff dangerous!

I didn’t think he was saying that to distance himself or look superior.

Erm...no "we" don't all know " natural remedies are the answer .". I for one would be dead without pharmaceutical intervention so I would ask this person making this ridiculous statement - please do not speak on my behalf.

Someone suggested last evening I should have my air quality checked at home as that may be the reason I have incurable life altering conditions . If only it were that simple ...

Honestly, guff like this is so insulting to unwell people. Gives me the rage .

I’m surprised a Mumsnetter found it, unless they were actively looking for it.

I think it’s still worth going to see the film, if you’re up for that. I haven’t read the film - although probably will now - but have seen the film. I really liked it - particularly GA and JI’s performances and the shots of the landscape in Devon and Cornwall.

In The Guardian an article from May 2025 about Audible version of TSP is layered as Fiction now.