Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Thread 27 : To feel disappointed - and disgusted and vindicated now too - after reading this in The Observer about the author and her husband from The Salt Path book and film?

608 replies

DisappointedReader · 25/06/2026 20:01

NO POSTS PLEASE UNTIL THREAD 26 IS FULL

Please see the OP of Thread 25 for all the links to The Observer's reporting and podcast series, our threads one to 24 and so on:
Thread 25 : To feel disappointed - and disgusted and vindicated now too - after reading this in The Observer about the author and her husband from The Salt Path book and film? | Mumsnet

New posters joining us in the genuine spirit of our civil discourse are always welcome. It would be helpful to get the background from some of Investigative Journalist Chloe Hadjimatheou's excellent exposé items before posting. Chloe's podcast series for The Observer 'The Walkers' covers most things:
The Walkers: The real Salt Path | The Observer
Another suggestion:
BBC Sounds - Secrets of the Salt Path - Available Episodes
To all - Please be extremely cautious when it comes to naming or implicating people and addresses not in the public eye or with no direct connection to the story, especially where details are unclear or still emerging. Remember, even Hollywood rabbits attract the odd flea: please do not engage with drive-by scolders who seem to have their own agenda and seek to derail. Avoid @'ing and quoting them as - from experience - this will only encourage them back to the threads. For nearly a year we have done amazingly well together for 26 very interesting, very serious and very silly, threads so far. I can't be here as much as I'd like so all help with keeping our discussion walking along in our usual reasonable and respectful fashion is very welcome.

We are still here after 26,000 posts and fast approaching our one year anniversary together on 6th July 2026, 12 months on from the start of our first thread in response to Our Chloe's somewhat stunning initial exposé. Little did we know what else would come out. Our longevity comes as both a total surprise and a pleasure (mostly!). We've seen charabancers come and go, come back again, delurk and join us for the first time. All are welcome. Threads have both filled up in a day and moved at a more stately pace. Thank you everyone for sharing your time, thoughts, opinions, experience, questions, sleuthing (there's that word!), kindness (there's that other word!) and great humour with me and with each other. As ever, as we embark on our 27th thread riding the community charabanc - this time all holding our brollies and fans aloft for much-needed shade and breeze - keep to the path, no saltiness, eat fudge and drink cider, (but not too much in the current heatwave).

NO POSTS PLEASE UNTIL THREAD 26 IS FULL:
www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5506717-thread-26-to-feel-disappointed-and-disgusted-and-vindicated-now-too-after-reading-this-in-the-observer-about-the-author-and-her-husband-from-the-salt-path-book-and-film?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
80
HatStickBoots · 09/09/2026 17:40

Thank you so much @MrKippling thats really good to know. So The Works publish their own copies (thank you @Vroomfondleswaistcoat for that information!) and could’ve therefore rewritten the summary to reflect the current news. They could also have scrapped the original book reviews and tried to find some new ones. I’m disappointed with this. They’ve had to find a new illustrator for the cover, so why not? Also I’m begging the question, why bother in the first place?

BrandiedAromatics · 10/09/2026 17:01

ThompsonTwin · 10/09/2026 08:13

Amazing that the article below makes no reference to the fact that there has been a bit of "controversy" over TSP in the UK over the past year or so! However, it doesn't claim that the film/book is based on a 'true' story.

Jason Isaacs on ‘The Salt Path’: Love, loss and finding healing in nature - Metro Philadelphia

Edited

It is a pity to read JI using his talent for communication to skate over the hollowness of this tale.

DierdreDaphne · 11/09/2026 22:58

BrandiedAromatics · 07/09/2026 13:13

Thanks. Well I think they've 'got' it, it has taken us 27 threads:

The effectiveness of any con rests on its ability to hijack the audience’s emotions, pushing logic and skepticism out the window. And Winn’s tale captures middle-aged hopes and fears around health, finances, love and success.

Agree, that's an excellent little (as in, readably short) article!

MrKippling · Yesterday 13:21

I certainly hope that is complete conjecture regarding GA being a possible Oscar nominee. I always thought the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences were 'rather sniffy' about biographical films being worthy Oscar winners (I know there have been exceptions)

I am not criticising GA as an actor, but considering the course material and the script that she had to work with, it is very much a 'by rote' performance, which reminds me of Dorothy Parker's criticism of Katharine Hepburn that her performance "ran the whole gamut of emotions from A to B" and that is also applicable to TSP film.

HatStickBoots · Yesterday 16:35

Of course Sal was disappointed when she looked in the mirror and didn’t see Gillian. She’d fallen in love with the actress’ portrayal of her fictional self. If Gillian could play the real Sal, she would get an Oscar! 😀

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · Yesterday 16:40

@MrKippling - I agree. It's purely conjectural and likely more of a piece of advertising for the film than a genuine article wondering about the possibility. I honestly don't think there's a cat's chance in hell of any Oscars for that rather banal and quotidian film. Or maybe cinematography, if there has to be a nomination, because the setting is pretty.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread