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Pilgrim
After a major row with his wife, Sarah, Charlie Carthy storms out of the family home. Just hours later he finds out that Sarah has become the victim of a hit and run driver and is in critical condition in hospital. Sarah's death and Charlie's self-absorbing grief throws their daughter Jen's life into turmoil. Will an unwanted pilgrimage to Medjugorje heal Jen and Charlie's relationship, or, should Jen prepare to lose her remaining parent? Told with a deep humanity and grace, Pilgrim is a story about a man who feels he has nothing to live for, and a daughter who is determined to prove him wrong.
288 pages, Paperback
Published November 14, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 17, 2019
Pilgrim takes the reader on an emotional as well as an actual journey to a small village in Yugoslavia where six children have experienced a vision of the Virgin Mary. It comes at a time (the early 1980s) of turbulence in that country. Alternating between the points of view of a few key characters, including Iva, one of the six children, and the Franciscan priest who tries to protect them, the book explores the experiences of the pilgrims who flock to the village. The political upheaval in Yugoslavia and its impact on the inhabitants also features but very much as background. Pilgrim is more a book about people than events.
I liked the device the author often used of allowing the reader to experience the events of the same day but from different points of view – Iva and Jen, Jen and Charlie, and so on. I also enjoyed some of the characters created by the author who populate the background of Dublin. For example, the ‘smelly butcher’ (as remembered by Charlie) or Boris the travel agent (as encountered by Louis).
There’s some great close observation of even those with mere walk-on parts such as a newspaper vendor at the seaside recalled by Sarah’s sister, Suzanne. ‘Along this strip there was always a man with a white badger streak in the centre of his coal-black hair who sold newspapers. He placed stones on top of the newspapers to stop the pages fluttering in the light wind and he sat on a grey plastic crate with his nose stuck in a battered book.’ These reminiscences by the main characters, such as Jen’s adventures with her childhood friend Francis, provide interesting side roads for the reader to explore. Temporary detours, if you like, from the main storyline.
The author really captures an Irish lilt in the speech and thoughts of Charlie especially. Having said that, Charlie is the character I struggled most to empathize with. His predominant characteristics seemed to be self-pity and self-absorption. His lack of regard for his daughter, Jen – struggling with her own grief, after all – even for her basic safety and welfare was staggering at times. I often had to remind myself who was the adult and who the child! However, I guess the author was trying to show what grief and loss can do to a person. And I was forced to revise my view of him towards the end of the book. There’s often more to a story – and to a person – than you can know.
All the characters the reader encounters in the book have had tragedy in their lives, often the sudden and unexpected loss of a loved one. Although their response to these tragic events varies, for all of them it has been life-changing. One might expect a book in which the characters have experienced such sadness to be sad as well. Although it undoubtedly is in parts, the overwhelming message I took from the book is one of hope – for redemption, for forgiveness, for release from the burden of guilt and for the possibility of starting over again. Oh, and never take for granted those you love because everything can change in a heartbeat.
I liked the device the author often used of allowing the reader to experience the events of the same day but from different points of view – Iva and Jen, Jen and Charlie, and so on. I also enjoyed some of the characters created by the author who populate the background of Dublin. For example, the ‘smelly butcher’ (as remembered by Charlie) or Boris the travel agent (as encountered by Louis).
There’s some great close observation of even those with mere walk-on parts such as a newspaper vendor at the seaside recalled by Sarah’s sister, Suzanne. ‘Along this strip there was always a man with a white badger streak in the centre of his coal-black hair who sold newspapers. He placed stones on top of the newspapers to stop the pages fluttering in the light wind and he sat on a grey plastic crate with his nose stuck in a battered book.’ These reminiscences by the main characters, such as Jen’s adventures with her childhood friend Francis, provide interesting side roads for the reader to explore. Temporary detours, if you like, from the main storyline.
The author really captures an Irish lilt in the speech and thoughts of Charlie especially. Having said that, Charlie is the character I struggled most to empathize with. His predominant characteristics seemed to be self-pity and self-absorption. His lack of regard for his daughter, Jen – struggling with her own grief, after all – even for her basic safety and welfare was staggering at times. I often had to remind myself who was the adult and who the child! However, I guess the author was trying to show what grief and loss can do to a person. And I was forced to revise my view of him towards the end of the book. There’s often more to a story – and to a person – than you can know.
All the characters the reader encounters in the book have had tragedy in their lives, often the sudden and unexpected loss of a loved one. Although their response to these tragic events varies, for all of them it has been life-changing. One might expect a book in which the characters have experienced such sadness to be sad as well. Although it undoubtedly is in parts, the overwhelming message I took from the book is one of hope – for redemption, for forgiveness, for release from the burden of guilt and for the possibility of starting over again. Oh, and never take for granted those you love because everything can change in a heartbeat.
March 13, 2019
My copy has so many turned down corners; marking passages and phrases that lifted my heart and made me stop and read them over again.
I was brought up in England by an Irish Catholic mother and spend every summer of my childhood in Donegal, Ireland. Donegal is a hugely Catholic county and I remember clearly my grandmother and her friends discussing the miracles of Medjugorje, and Lourdes. There were regular pilgramages to Lough Derg and to Knock and the apparitions were believed and accepted, without a doubt. We even had our own local shrine, just outside Dungloe, at Kerrytown.
Readers who are not familiar with shrines and apparitions would benefit from reading the Author Notes at the back of the book; to get a little insight into just how massively important these were to the Catholic people of Ireland.
Now, to the book. Pilgrim is exquisitely written. Louise Hall has the ability to totally transfix her readers; reaching out and grabbing them and thrusting them deep into the lives of her characters.
Oh what wonderfully created characters these are. A mixed and diverse selection of men, women and children who are all bearing their own burdens; be that grief, or guilt or just fear. Each and every one of them are carefully constructed, flawed yet incredibly human and so very believable.
This author has incorporated very modern-day issues and problems into her story. Some of these are so dark; death, recession, alcoholism, gambling and drug addiction are just a few, yet she writes with the humour and wit that the Irish are so well known for, and these flashes of brightness really lift the story.
As Suzanne notices a new second-hand shop that has just opened nearby, her reporting of the window display is just magical:
" Louis was standing inside the front window, trying to arrange some sort of attractive display that consisted of a Child of Prague statue with a missing arm and a bottle of 4711 perfume that looked the colour of a urine sample."
A very mixed bunch of people make a pilgrimage to Medjurgorje in communist Yugoslavia where six young children regularly see Mary, the mother of God appear to them. People are flocking from all over the world to this small, poverty stricken village in the middle of a war zone in the hope that they too will see her, and their worries will be banished and their sins and guilt absolved.
The story is narrated through different points of view; there's the Francisan priest and Jen; who is travelling with her father after the tragic death of her mother. We hear from Jen's aunt Suzanne, we also hear from Jen's father. Each and every one of these voices is clear and crisp.
Ultimately this is a story of faith. The words are tender and gentle, despite some of the bleak and shocking events covered. We, as readers, take that journey alongside the characters. discovering more about them, and their life. Changing our judgements as we go and most of all, desperately hoping that they find their peace.
Pilgrim is at times wickedly funny and constantly deeply moving. It really is extraordinarily moving and elegantly written. Highly recommended.
I was brought up in England by an Irish Catholic mother and spend every summer of my childhood in Donegal, Ireland. Donegal is a hugely Catholic county and I remember clearly my grandmother and her friends discussing the miracles of Medjugorje, and Lourdes. There were regular pilgramages to Lough Derg and to Knock and the apparitions were believed and accepted, without a doubt. We even had our own local shrine, just outside Dungloe, at Kerrytown.
Readers who are not familiar with shrines and apparitions would benefit from reading the Author Notes at the back of the book; to get a little insight into just how massively important these were to the Catholic people of Ireland.
Now, to the book. Pilgrim is exquisitely written. Louise Hall has the ability to totally transfix her readers; reaching out and grabbing them and thrusting them deep into the lives of her characters.
Oh what wonderfully created characters these are. A mixed and diverse selection of men, women and children who are all bearing their own burdens; be that grief, or guilt or just fear. Each and every one of them are carefully constructed, flawed yet incredibly human and so very believable.
This author has incorporated very modern-day issues and problems into her story. Some of these are so dark; death, recession, alcoholism, gambling and drug addiction are just a few, yet she writes with the humour and wit that the Irish are so well known for, and these flashes of brightness really lift the story.
As Suzanne notices a new second-hand shop that has just opened nearby, her reporting of the window display is just magical:
" Louis was standing inside the front window, trying to arrange some sort of attractive display that consisted of a Child of Prague statue with a missing arm and a bottle of 4711 perfume that looked the colour of a urine sample."
A very mixed bunch of people make a pilgrimage to Medjurgorje in communist Yugoslavia where six young children regularly see Mary, the mother of God appear to them. People are flocking from all over the world to this small, poverty stricken village in the middle of a war zone in the hope that they too will see her, and their worries will be banished and their sins and guilt absolved.
The story is narrated through different points of view; there's the Francisan priest and Jen; who is travelling with her father after the tragic death of her mother. We hear from Jen's aunt Suzanne, we also hear from Jen's father. Each and every one of these voices is clear and crisp.
Ultimately this is a story of faith. The words are tender and gentle, despite some of the bleak and shocking events covered. We, as readers, take that journey alongside the characters. discovering more about them, and their life. Changing our judgements as we go and most of all, desperately hoping that they find their peace.
Pilgrim is at times wickedly funny and constantly deeply moving. It really is extraordinarily moving and elegantly written. Highly recommended.
September 27, 2018
Pilgrim is lingering in my head. I almost finished it in one sitting, responsibilities being ignored apart from the absolute necessities. Now, I find myself thinking about it while I am supposed to be doing other things. The story draws the reader in, the characters become people one cares about. This is a tale of loss, pain, courage and survival. Of how kind gestures can make life better and how the hurt can be lifted in the simplest surroundings.
And yet it's about more than the actual story. Pilgrim also touches delicately upon the profound, inviting the reader to imagine, to explore but never forcing the reader to follow. It reminds me of a quote from Philip Pullman about the democracy of reading, the role of the author is not to tell the reader what the book is about, the meaning is discerned separately for every individual between the words on the page and the thoughts in the reader's mind.
An additional pleasure, having grown up in Dublin in the 80's I loved the little reminders of what the city was like back then. Hector Grey's makes an appearance! I loved that treasure trove of a shop, we always bought our party favours there.
Final analysis, I loved this book and I'll read it again.
And yet it's about more than the actual story. Pilgrim also touches delicately upon the profound, inviting the reader to imagine, to explore but never forcing the reader to follow. It reminds me of a quote from Philip Pullman about the democracy of reading, the role of the author is not to tell the reader what the book is about, the meaning is discerned separately for every individual between the words on the page and the thoughts in the reader's mind.
An additional pleasure, having grown up in Dublin in the 80's I loved the little reminders of what the city was like back then. Hector Grey's makes an appearance! I loved that treasure trove of a shop, we always bought our party favours there.
Final analysis, I loved this book and I'll read it again.
January 18, 2019
I loved this book and devoured it over a couple of rainy days. In the early 80s, a group of broken souls is connected through personal tragedies and a pilgrimage to Medjugorje in war-torn Yugoslavia offers them a lifeline. The final stretch sees all the stories come together in clever and surprising ways.
Hall's beautiful writing is at once strong yet gentle; detailed yet economic; unsentimental yet hopeful. Complete with layered characters, Hall never shies away from hard-hitting themes and subjects making this a vital read for everyone, particularly those grappling with grief.
Highly recommended.
Hall's beautiful writing is at once strong yet gentle; detailed yet economic; unsentimental yet hopeful. Complete with layered characters, Hall never shies away from hard-hitting themes and subjects making this a vital read for everyone, particularly those grappling with grief.
Highly recommended.
April 12, 2019
Pilgrim by Louise Hall is a tale about hope, faith and love.
It’s tells of Medjugorje, Yugoslavia, where some young children saw a woman carrying the baby Jesus, she had a message…She came to tell the world God exists.
As a result many many travellers visited the small village on a pilgrimage…
The story is of a few of these, Charlie and Jen from Dublin, struggling to come to terms with the sudden death of wife and mother, Sarah. The Franciscan and Iva, the young girl who sees the Gospa….it also touches on the military and political situation in the former Yugoslavia, but the ultimate message is one of love and family…
This is a very moving and emotional read, it will touch your soul a little and leave some of itself with you for a long time. Wonderfully emotive writing by Louise Hall.
Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.
It’s tells of Medjugorje, Yugoslavia, where some young children saw a woman carrying the baby Jesus, she had a message…She came to tell the world God exists.
As a result many many travellers visited the small village on a pilgrimage…
The story is of a few of these, Charlie and Jen from Dublin, struggling to come to terms with the sudden death of wife and mother, Sarah. The Franciscan and Iva, the young girl who sees the Gospa….it also touches on the military and political situation in the former Yugoslavia, but the ultimate message is one of love and family…
This is a very moving and emotional read, it will touch your soul a little and leave some of itself with you for a long time. Wonderfully emotive writing by Louise Hall.
Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.
April 13, 2019
Based on actual events that happened in the early 80’s when the Virgin Mary appeared to six children in the town of Medjugorje in war-torn Yugoslavia, Pilgrim is one of those books that after its beautiful cover has grabbed your eye, immediately aims itself directly at the centre of your heart!
When Charlie Carthy storms out of his house after yet another argument with his wife Sarah, he doesn’t realise it will be the last time he sees her. He turns inwards, forgetting about their daughter Jen, leaving her to fend for herself. How will she remind her father that he himself is still in the land of the living and that he still has her, and so much more to live for?
Sometimes it takes being in the most unexpected places, being surrounded with complete strangers to bring you back to yourself. Everyone deals with grief in different ways. Nobody can tell you what’s right or wrong and you can’t measure how long you need to take to get over your loss.
Charlie and Jen are together on the same journey, in entirely different ways – but somehow, this is what brings them back together. Louise Hall’s writing relays their experiences gently and sensitively in a way that all readers will be able to relate to in their own very meaningful, individual ways.
Drawing from the actual sightings and experiences of the time, regardless of what your beliefs are, in a war-torn, desolate landscape where hope was so desperately needed by so many people, this monumental incident was one that brought them together, no matter where they were from or what it was that brought them there.
This is one of those books that stays with you long after you’ve finished it. You may question certain things; you may feel the need to discuss it with others; you may want to take the time to digest whether this is something you need to explore further. Whatever your feelings or opinions, it’s definitely a book that has a powerful impact.
4 beautiful stars for this one!
When Charlie Carthy storms out of his house after yet another argument with his wife Sarah, he doesn’t realise it will be the last time he sees her. He turns inwards, forgetting about their daughter Jen, leaving her to fend for herself. How will she remind her father that he himself is still in the land of the living and that he still has her, and so much more to live for?
Sometimes it takes being in the most unexpected places, being surrounded with complete strangers to bring you back to yourself. Everyone deals with grief in different ways. Nobody can tell you what’s right or wrong and you can’t measure how long you need to take to get over your loss.
Charlie and Jen are together on the same journey, in entirely different ways – but somehow, this is what brings them back together. Louise Hall’s writing relays their experiences gently and sensitively in a way that all readers will be able to relate to in their own very meaningful, individual ways.
Drawing from the actual sightings and experiences of the time, regardless of what your beliefs are, in a war-torn, desolate landscape where hope was so desperately needed by so many people, this monumental incident was one that brought them together, no matter where they were from or what it was that brought them there.
This is one of those books that stays with you long after you’ve finished it. You may question certain things; you may feel the need to discuss it with others; you may want to take the time to digest whether this is something you need to explore further. Whatever your feelings or opinions, it’s definitely a book that has a powerful impact.
4 beautiful stars for this one!
May 20, 2019
Charlie and Sarah have argued, over unpaid bills. When she goes for a walk shortly after, she is knocked over by a hit-and-run driver and is killed. Charlie predictably hits the drink and his book binding business begins to deteriorate.
Told in chapters from the viewpoint of each character, we hear each person's individual story and thought in this deeply thought-provoking novel from Louise. Following the death of Sarah, Charlie and Jen head on pilgrimage to Yugoslavia, in an effect to find solace and healing. It's really clear this is a family in turmoil, as Charlie requests, and is refused, a room separate from his daughter - so she can't see his drinking habit. Charlie seems to have just given up, eaten up by regret, and guilt.
The pilgrimage opens their hearts and minds to their past and their future - Charlie takes his first walk up the hill, and contemplates all the money he has spent drinking and gambling. Also on the pilgrimage is Louis, who has been sent to to watch Charlie by Suzanne. But Louis has his own story and involvement in this family, and a sad past which has affected his own behaviour.
There's nods to the political situation in the former Yugoslavia, with the militia taking over the local church and the Father being imprisoned. This is a village going through a period of transition, turmoil and uproot of long-held values.
I think it does help to have basic knowledge of Catholicism when reading this story, and Louise provides background notes in the back of the book to assist with the history of Medjugorje (present-day Bosnia).
It's a book full of wonderful description and an expression of faith and what can come when you believe in yourself. This is a touching, gentle story of grief, and finding a purpose again. Jen believes in her father, and Louise immerses us in this journey whilst she convinces him to believe in himself too.
Told in chapters from the viewpoint of each character, we hear each person's individual story and thought in this deeply thought-provoking novel from Louise. Following the death of Sarah, Charlie and Jen head on pilgrimage to Yugoslavia, in an effect to find solace and healing. It's really clear this is a family in turmoil, as Charlie requests, and is refused, a room separate from his daughter - so she can't see his drinking habit. Charlie seems to have just given up, eaten up by regret, and guilt.
The pilgrimage opens their hearts and minds to their past and their future - Charlie takes his first walk up the hill, and contemplates all the money he has spent drinking and gambling. Also on the pilgrimage is Louis, who has been sent to to watch Charlie by Suzanne. But Louis has his own story and involvement in this family, and a sad past which has affected his own behaviour.
There's nods to the political situation in the former Yugoslavia, with the militia taking over the local church and the Father being imprisoned. This is a village going through a period of transition, turmoil and uproot of long-held values.
I think it does help to have basic knowledge of Catholicism when reading this story, and Louise provides background notes in the back of the book to assist with the history of Medjugorje (present-day Bosnia).
It's a book full of wonderful description and an expression of faith and what can come when you believe in yourself. This is a touching, gentle story of grief, and finding a purpose again. Jen believes in her father, and Louise immerses us in this journey whilst she convinces him to believe in himself too.
April 10, 2019
I found this to be a very subtle but totally engaging story that took you along on the pilgrimage with the characters and allowed you to experience your own changing thoughts and moods as you follow these people who are dealing with such sadness in their lives that they're struggling to see a way forward.
Set in the early 80's we follow a family who have been broken by the death of Sarah, who had just argued with her husband and his grief threatens the wellbeing of their daughter, Jen, who has to witness her father almost give up on life. When the chance to go on pilgrimage through war-torn Yugoslavia comes up, Jen is eager for her and her dad to go along and repair their broken hearts and try to find meaning to it all.
What I loved about this book was that both characters were dealing with grief in completely different ways. While they're away they get the time to process their thoughts - and actions - and it was fascinating to see how being somewhere different changed their outlook and thought processes by meeting others along the way who showed them different paths.
Just that little bit of hope gave them new perspective and taking them out of their comfort zone was much needed and just showed the power of time helps with the healing process. I think it's one of those books that will speak to each reader in a different way and I loved how gentle the pace was but always thought provoking and a pleasure to read.
Set in the early 80's we follow a family who have been broken by the death of Sarah, who had just argued with her husband and his grief threatens the wellbeing of their daughter, Jen, who has to witness her father almost give up on life. When the chance to go on pilgrimage through war-torn Yugoslavia comes up, Jen is eager for her and her dad to go along and repair their broken hearts and try to find meaning to it all.
What I loved about this book was that both characters were dealing with grief in completely different ways. While they're away they get the time to process their thoughts - and actions - and it was fascinating to see how being somewhere different changed their outlook and thought processes by meeting others along the way who showed them different paths.
Just that little bit of hope gave them new perspective and taking them out of their comfort zone was much needed and just showed the power of time helps with the healing process. I think it's one of those books that will speak to each reader in a different way and I loved how gentle the pace was but always thought provoking and a pleasure to read.
August 4, 2019
I was initially concerned that Pilgrim would be a little too heavy on the religious side for me, but at it’s heart, the novel is about faith and whilst that word is most often associated with religion, really it is about placing your trust in something bigger than just you, something that this novel explores.
Set predominantly in the early eighties, Charlie Carthy, reeling after the tragic death of his wife, succumbs to a downward spiral which threatens his relationship with their daughter, Jen. In an attempt to bring them closer together, he reluctantly goes on a pilgrimage to Medjugorje, a small village where a group of children see a vision of the Virgin Mary. Loosely based on real events in Medjugorje (which remains a site for unofficial Catholic pilgrimages today), I really enjoyed the scenes in the village and the contrast was stark in comparison to life in Dublin. It is a collision of two very different worlds, and yet through the friendship of Jen and Iva, the two connect and what is fundamentally important to us all, shines through.
Grief and loss are major themes throughout; they are explored with sensitivity in their many guises and with great compassion. Each character has suffered a loss in some way, but I really felt for Suzanne the most. Her efforts to reconcile father and daughter for the sake of her dead sister really touched me. For me, she is the unsung hero of the book and the orchestrator of an ending which really moved me.
Pilgrim is a beautifully subtle read. It does not shout and scream, but instead lulls and encourages. It’s sincerity is its greatest strength and I found it to be a really thought-provoking, emotive read.
Set predominantly in the early eighties, Charlie Carthy, reeling after the tragic death of his wife, succumbs to a downward spiral which threatens his relationship with their daughter, Jen. In an attempt to bring them closer together, he reluctantly goes on a pilgrimage to Medjugorje, a small village where a group of children see a vision of the Virgin Mary. Loosely based on real events in Medjugorje (which remains a site for unofficial Catholic pilgrimages today), I really enjoyed the scenes in the village and the contrast was stark in comparison to life in Dublin. It is a collision of two very different worlds, and yet through the friendship of Jen and Iva, the two connect and what is fundamentally important to us all, shines through.
Grief and loss are major themes throughout; they are explored with sensitivity in their many guises and with great compassion. Each character has suffered a loss in some way, but I really felt for Suzanne the most. Her efforts to reconcile father and daughter for the sake of her dead sister really touched me. For me, she is the unsung hero of the book and the orchestrator of an ending which really moved me.
Pilgrim is a beautifully subtle read. It does not shout and scream, but instead lulls and encourages. It’s sincerity is its greatest strength and I found it to be a really thought-provoking, emotive read.
April 17, 2019
A very gentle and rewarding story set in Dublin and Medugorje during the height of the apparition phenomenon. It helps that I am a practicing catholic (although a very a la carte one) but I don’t think you would need a religious faith to enjoy the novel. A very unusual topic and approach for a contemporary Irish writer (irish writing is very anti-faith at the moment) so it's refreshing to see this spiritual and non-cynical book do so well
April 17, 2019
Pilgrim is a wonderful story of faith, told with warmth and humanity: it is not simply a story of religious faith, it is ultimately about the faith we place in those we love and care about.
Set in the 1980s, the novel takes the reader on a journey between recession hit Dublin, and Medjugorje - a small village in the former Yugoslavia, now Bosnia and Hertzegovina. It is a work of fiction, which uses the backdrop of the story of Medjugorje, now a well-known Catholic pilgrimage destination. In the 1980s, it is reported that Our Lady - mother of Jesus - started to appear regularly to a small group of children in the village. Following this news, pilgrims flocked there, and continue to do so, from all over the world. At the back of the novel, there's an Author's Note which offers a fascinating explanation about the apparitions, the village and its importance for Catholics. I grew up in Ireland in the eighties, and while I remember the excitement surrounding Medjugorje, I was really only aware of the bones of the story, and never the details.
In Dublin, we first meet our main characters as they react to the tragic death of Sarah, wife to Charlie and mother to Jen. Sarah's death consumes Charlie, and sends him on a self-destructive spiral, where he seeks to numb his pain with booze. Fourteen year old Jen is struggling too, and needs her dad more than ever. Neighbours and family try to intervene, to remind Charlie of Jen's need for her father, but he is too lost in his pain.
In an attempt to help and heal this heart-breaking situation, Jen's Aunt Suzanne (Sarah's sister) organises for Charlie and Jen to join a pilgrimage from Dublin to Medjugorje. Reluctantly, Charlie agrees to go with Jen, but has no intention of engaging with anything there, apart from the local beer. In Medjugorje, Jen finds herself in the same situation, merely in a different location - left to fend for herself. Luckily for her, the pilgrimage group is made up of a real mixture of characters and ages - the only commonality they share is their search for hope and some inner peace. They quickly welcome Jen into their midst.Woven in with the narratives of the Irish voices (Charlie, Jen and Aunt Suzanne), are Iva (a fourteen year old girl from Medrogorje) and 'The Franciscan' (a priest from the village).
Louise Hall has created a real mix of characters, who I loved immensely. The novel explores a plethora of themes: love and hope; addiction and self-destruction; faith and redemption. Ultimately, it's about belief; whether it's in God, or in the people you love, belief gives the characters the strength they need to continue on their often difficult paths.
Whether you are of a religious disposition or not, I can say that this novel never felt preachy or overtly religious : it portrayed the good and bad in organised religion, and I loved how it showed that spiritual awakening can be realized in different ways, whether it is through prayer, or on the side of a mountain.
You'll no doubt have worked out that I really loved Pilgrim, and I know lots of others who will too. Donal Ryan really hit the nail on the head when he said, "In this cynical age it's a joy to encounter such sincerity, and wonderfully unexpected to see contemporary fiction as a profession of fervent yet gentle faith. Louise is a brave and humane writer, a breath of the freshest air."
Set in the 1980s, the novel takes the reader on a journey between recession hit Dublin, and Medjugorje - a small village in the former Yugoslavia, now Bosnia and Hertzegovina. It is a work of fiction, which uses the backdrop of the story of Medjugorje, now a well-known Catholic pilgrimage destination. In the 1980s, it is reported that Our Lady - mother of Jesus - started to appear regularly to a small group of children in the village. Following this news, pilgrims flocked there, and continue to do so, from all over the world. At the back of the novel, there's an Author's Note which offers a fascinating explanation about the apparitions, the village and its importance for Catholics. I grew up in Ireland in the eighties, and while I remember the excitement surrounding Medjugorje, I was really only aware of the bones of the story, and never the details.
In Dublin, we first meet our main characters as they react to the tragic death of Sarah, wife to Charlie and mother to Jen. Sarah's death consumes Charlie, and sends him on a self-destructive spiral, where he seeks to numb his pain with booze. Fourteen year old Jen is struggling too, and needs her dad more than ever. Neighbours and family try to intervene, to remind Charlie of Jen's need for her father, but he is too lost in his pain.
In an attempt to help and heal this heart-breaking situation, Jen's Aunt Suzanne (Sarah's sister) organises for Charlie and Jen to join a pilgrimage from Dublin to Medjugorje. Reluctantly, Charlie agrees to go with Jen, but has no intention of engaging with anything there, apart from the local beer. In Medjugorje, Jen finds herself in the same situation, merely in a different location - left to fend for herself. Luckily for her, the pilgrimage group is made up of a real mixture of characters and ages - the only commonality they share is their search for hope and some inner peace. They quickly welcome Jen into their midst.Woven in with the narratives of the Irish voices (Charlie, Jen and Aunt Suzanne), are Iva (a fourteen year old girl from Medrogorje) and 'The Franciscan' (a priest from the village).
Louise Hall has created a real mix of characters, who I loved immensely. The novel explores a plethora of themes: love and hope; addiction and self-destruction; faith and redemption. Ultimately, it's about belief; whether it's in God, or in the people you love, belief gives the characters the strength they need to continue on their often difficult paths.
Whether you are of a religious disposition or not, I can say that this novel never felt preachy or overtly religious : it portrayed the good and bad in organised religion, and I loved how it showed that spiritual awakening can be realized in different ways, whether it is through prayer, or on the side of a mountain.
You'll no doubt have worked out that I really loved Pilgrim, and I know lots of others who will too. Donal Ryan really hit the nail on the head when he said, "In this cynical age it's a joy to encounter such sincerity, and wonderfully unexpected to see contemporary fiction as a profession of fervent yet gentle faith. Louise is a brave and humane writer, a breath of the freshest air."
July 8, 2019
A gorgeous book and a story that lingers long after the last page.
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