The Salt Path

[Sadcafe]

Anyone read it and is it a good read

Yes and yes!

It’s coming out as a film soon with Gillian Anderson in it if you aren’t aware of that.. just thought I’d mention it.

Personally I couldn’t stand the book. I just felt it was insanely dull and I tried to persevere with it but gave up about 2/3rds of the way in. But I guess we’re all different!

There is at least one very long thread about it in the What We’re Reading board, with a lot of hostility about Raynor Winn’s bitterness towards other people, whether they are friends or other people met on the walk. I actually thought that was the most interesting thing about the book, which is otherwise a fairly standard account of walking the SW coastal path on no money — that it’s not manicured and smoothed out, but is spitting with undigested rage towards people for not being them, and not helping enough, or in the right way, or whatever, or being annoying fellow-walkers, or not letting them refill water bottles.

I like that RW didn’t tidy it up so that she sounded more likeable. I’d have been at war with the world too if my partner had made a stupid decision that made us lose our home and livelihood, and then got a terminal diagnosis pretty much the same day so you couldn’t even be properly angry with him.

The worst thing for me was the long running and unfunny Simon Armitage joke.

I didn’t dislike the book but I did have to skip past a lot of descriptions. There’s only so many different ways you can describe a coastal path. I also found quite a lot of their choices frustrating like just get some suncream ffs and I’d love to know the perspective of the business partner who was the cause of their downfall. It’s clear from the book that they’re not exactly logical thinkers or detail oriented so I am very curious to know if he’s the villain that he’s portrayed as.

Yes, the beginning always strikes me as an object lesson in not representing yourself in a serious legal situation.

Oh and I found it interesting how unfiltered she is as an author. Like the friends who reaches out fairly close to the end of the book, she’s a bit of a dick about her and I always think what if the friend read the book she’d be thinking well that’s nice after I did you a favour.

Yes, it’s much the most interesting thing about it! There’s the friend who lets them stay and leave their van at her house before they start the walk, and she’s very ungracious about her, and the friend who lets them stay in an unfinished renovation over winter between the two legs of their walk, and she presents her as a slave driver and exploiter!

Just finished it and I did enjoy it and am looking forward to seeing the film which comes out on May 30th.

Had seen the film was coming out, read a couple of introductory chapters on kindle and really wasn’t that sure about it, will have a look at the other thread about it, but might give it a miss and stick with Bill Bryson for travel type books

I didn’t love it, she seemed so bitter and angry, it was an interesting concept though.

I loved it and found it incredibly inspiring.

I listened to the audio version about 5 years ago and really enjoyed it despite wanting to reach in and give the author a good telling off in places. I think the lack of self-awareness and common sense makes it seem more engaging somehow, most memoirs are much more polished.

It's definitely compelling, and brave of her to publish something so raw that doesn't hide her flaws.

I found it hard going at times. I had the book and listened to her reading the audio at the same time. The monotony of the struggle, and the depressing tone made it a challenge to stick with. And I got frustrated with what sometimes felt like a deliberate choice to suffer. Even though they were homeless and experienced hardship, they did have middle class privileges they seemed unaware of.

I'm really looking forward to the film for a more uplifting take, as Moth's journey in particular is so inspiring. It definitely made me want to pack a bag and stomp off into the sunset for a few weeks!

I didn’t like it and didn’t finish it.
I found them to be feckless.

Yes - read it and yes, great read. Have lent it to others and they have enjoyed it as well. Strong sense of place and gets across their love for each other. She’s not perfect - just a flawed human being like the rest of us and she doesn’t try to hide that. Liked her resilience and hope. Recommended.

I've read the sequel and found the couple utterly infuriating. There is a bit where they don't have the right boots or socks and suffer with blisters, which is just so simple to get right, especially for experienced walkers. I normally love books about the restorative powers of the outdoors but didn't like this one at all

I haven't read the book but the film is getting good reviews here. I'm trying to decide if I should watch it at the weekend.

I saw the film last year and got a bit bored with watching them pack up and set off for a day's walking 75 times. The two main actors were good though.

same here, and boring too

Yes and yes.

I've read The Salt Path and Ray's other books. I couldn't put The Salt Path down. I found it to be real, raw and - in places - relatable and inspirational. I'm looking forward to seeing the film when it is released but I'm glad that I read the book first.

At first I found them relatable. Then they began to annoy me.
Deeply feckless.

Finished it
Hated it
Didn't like them

She’s not the most likeable but I did enjoy it and am looking forward to the film.

Really sounds as if it’s a marmite book, still debating whether to fork out and give it a go

I gave up a few chapters in. The couple were ridiculous and quite frankly, deserved everything they got through their sheer stupidity - to the extent I started to doubt it was a true story.