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A Solitary Walk on the Moon
'Evelyn went to the third drawer down in her dresser. It was her drawer of things past . . . she had an item from each of her previous lives. Evelyn was good at reinventing herself, becoming who she was going to be next, but she still kept one thing from each life. Never two.'For Evelyn, mornings pass as mornings always do. She ticks off the jobs at the laundromat and gives welcoming smiles to those who come in. If they've earned one.Evelyn knows what is going on in her community because she pays attention. She sees the weariness of the frazzled shop owners, the woman with the nasty boyfriend, the nice man with the curly-topped dog, the car parking war and the forgetful man. The community might not notice Evelyn, because it is easy to overlook the seemingly ordinary. But Evelyn is far from ordinary. She isn't afraid to put things right, and is always ready to find lost property or lost people - even if that means breaking the rules.For a boy with a struggling mum, and a lonely man with a smile in his eyes, Evelyn is going to make a difference, whether they like it or not. She will teach them that you don't have to be blood to be family. And they will remind her of what comes from loving someone. It is up to Evelyn if she can pay the price.With a joyous and unique touch, Hilde Hinton's extraordinary novel A Solitary Walk on the Moon gives us an insight into the people we pass on the street. In detailing their rich lives, she breaks then mends our hearts with her wisdom, her insight and her unforgettable characters who remind us what can happen if we stop and say hello. Praise for A Solitary Walk on the Moon'Hinton has gifted us a tale of community, wisdom and beautiful heart' - Courier Mail'One of those rare and lovely books that instantly transports you into its pages, where what seems a deceptively simple premise for a story unfurls into a rich and complex tapestry filled with life and emotion' - Readings 'For fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and Olive Kitteridge, Hilde Hinton's A Solitary Walk on the Moon brings rich insight into the everyday' - Harper's Bazaar 'A beautiful treatise on loneliness in big cities where people are everywhere but fail to connect' - The AU Review 'Skilfully wrought and delivered both with sparkling, wry humour and utter pathos' - Living Arts Canberra Praise for Hilde Hinton'Hinton has an ear for dialogue and an eye for detail, but her work's greatest asset is its heart. Her moving, well-realised debut [The Loudness of Unsaid Things] introduces a promising Australian writer.' - Australian Book Review
225 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 30, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
March 25, 2022
I’m not terribly sure what to make of this one. Hilde‘s last book I really enjoyed, until the last quarter where it skipped several decades out of nowhere, leaving me wondering what had actually happened. This one.. I didn’t understand where it was heading. For the longest time, nothing really happened. So many references to a mysterious drawer of things past, but no real explanation. A small community formed, and then broken by the main character leaving for no reason. Several decades skipped again, to form some sort of ending that gave no closure. It was all a bit confusing. I think this story had potential, but it didn’t quite get there.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 11, 2022
I absolutely adored this book. It meandered, it intrigued, it made me smile and wonder. Such flawed characters and so real. Despite the underlying sadness it left me with hope and a positive outlook on human connection
April 25, 2022
This book. Oh my goodness. It is beautiful beyond measure. Within every page there is a phrase, a thought or an action that is profoundly moving. Hilde Hinton, thank-you.
This one I will never forget, it is sublime.
This one I will never forget, it is sublime.
May 18, 2022
The quirky character of Evelyn has to carry this novel and she’s no Olive Kitteridge. Maybe I’ve been watching too much TV lately but I kept hearing the voice of Julia Child (as presented by Sarah Lancashire) or the demeanour of Vera (TV show). Something in the eccentricity, the desire to make things right, siting outside of regular society.
Evelyn runs a laundrymat. She likes making things right – whether it’s getting shirts ironed or sorting out an old man who seems to have lost his way home. Or feeding a young boy whose mum seems strangely distracted. There are clues that her own life has been difficult. She has an overactive imagination. “Although real expeditions never lived up to her imagined ones, she charged at each new adventure with a clean slate and an oversupply of hope.” She definitely lacks boundaries – there must be a reason why she keeps a lock-picking tool in her “drawer of things past” but this plotline is not resolved.
And occasionally she likes to mess with people as well – though this part of her personality is not fully explored. She throws a spanner in the works when she tags along to a swap meet for model train buffs. She is a bit like a weird Fairy Godmother.
The title – which I liked – relates to that sense of melancholy that an astronaut might feel on being by him/herself walking on the moon – apart and away from the group. Evelyn muses on this late in the book when she is walking away from something that she has created.
I kept feeling like there was something that I wasn’t quite getting or that things would be clearer later on. I liked that the writer did not attempt to explain everything away but overall I found it a frustrating read.
Evelyn runs a laundrymat. She likes making things right – whether it’s getting shirts ironed or sorting out an old man who seems to have lost his way home. Or feeding a young boy whose mum seems strangely distracted. There are clues that her own life has been difficult. She has an overactive imagination. “Although real expeditions never lived up to her imagined ones, she charged at each new adventure with a clean slate and an oversupply of hope.” She definitely lacks boundaries – there must be a reason why she keeps a lock-picking tool in her “drawer of things past” but this plotline is not resolved.
And occasionally she likes to mess with people as well – though this part of her personality is not fully explored. She throws a spanner in the works when she tags along to a swap meet for model train buffs. She is a bit like a weird Fairy Godmother.
The title – which I liked – relates to that sense of melancholy that an astronaut might feel on being by him/herself walking on the moon – apart and away from the group. Evelyn muses on this late in the book when she is walking away from something that she has created.
I kept feeling like there was something that I wasn’t quite getting or that things would be clearer later on. I liked that the writer did not attempt to explain everything away but overall I found it a frustrating read.
April 16, 2022
The ending surprised me but overall I did love reading about Evelyn and her mismatched family.
March 30, 2022
3.5*
‘Things aren’t always as they seem, Evelyn,’ Phillip said kindly. She rankled when he suggested she listen rather than act; to let things take their own course because answers only bob up when there is space. 'Be open minded and try not to
jump to conclusions.’
I was drawn to this book as the blurb just seemed so relatable - that smile when passing a stranger could truly make a difference. This book proves it - particularly if you happen to be Evelyn!
A Solitary Walk on the Moon is a unique and lovely book where some things, many of them so seemingly simple, can be the instigator for something much greater. Hilde cleverly captures and presents an unfolding tale of life’s complex emotions and interactions with one another.
That being said, it took quite a bit of reading between the lines. Few things are made explicit, especially when it comes to Evelyn; her history shrouded in innuendo. There are also questions left unanswered by the end, that I found a little frustrating given the inferential nature of much of the story. Just a few more understandings would have fulfilled the potential and made this tale a true revelation.
‘Evelyn had always prided herself on doing just that when she went from one life to the next. Although, she suddenly realised, perhaps she carried everything forward. Perhaps she ran and ran with an ever-growing weight, becoming less and less able to love the further she went.’
The writing is lyrical, the sentiment filled with compassion. Perhaps it is life’s secrets - things best left unanswered - that demonstrate how sometimes in life, people come into your life for an untold reason or a season. Bottom line, being kind, lending a helping hand and that random smile can make a world of difference.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
‘Things aren’t always as they seem, Evelyn,’ Phillip said kindly. She rankled when he suggested she listen rather than act; to let things take their own course because answers only bob up when there is space. 'Be open minded and try not to
jump to conclusions.’
I was drawn to this book as the blurb just seemed so relatable - that smile when passing a stranger could truly make a difference. This book proves it - particularly if you happen to be Evelyn!
A Solitary Walk on the Moon is a unique and lovely book where some things, many of them so seemingly simple, can be the instigator for something much greater. Hilde cleverly captures and presents an unfolding tale of life’s complex emotions and interactions with one another.
That being said, it took quite a bit of reading between the lines. Few things are made explicit, especially when it comes to Evelyn; her history shrouded in innuendo. There are also questions left unanswered by the end, that I found a little frustrating given the inferential nature of much of the story. Just a few more understandings would have fulfilled the potential and made this tale a true revelation.
‘Evelyn had always prided herself on doing just that when she went from one life to the next. Although, she suddenly realised, perhaps she carried everything forward. Perhaps she ran and ran with an ever-growing weight, becoming less and less able to love the further she went.’
The writing is lyrical, the sentiment filled with compassion. Perhaps it is life’s secrets - things best left unanswered - that demonstrate how sometimes in life, people come into your life for an untold reason or a season. Bottom line, being kind, lending a helping hand and that random smile can make a world of difference.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
May 25, 2022
I was drawn to Hilton’s novel after I’d seen the author interviewed with her brother, actor Samuel Johnson, discussing kindness and how it enhances our experiences and our world. Remarkably, they have raised over $15m for cancer research to honour the life of their sister, Connie, who died 10 years ago.
Hilton’s novel is a heartfelt portrait of how kindness can change lives, focusing on an idiosyncratic laundromat owner, Evelyn, whose life as an outsider gives her a mission: to touch the lives of those who are marginalised, alone, lost, and in need of love and care. Whether it is checking to see that the old man with dementia can remember where his house is and return to it safely, or helping two young women find their missing friend, or taking into her life and her home a drug-addicted young mother and her son – Evelyn’s own lonely life is made bearable because of her willingness (and need) to take a part in the lives of those she observes. The poignant relationship between Evelyn and the young boy, Ben, is the highlight of the narrative. Sharing the care offered to Ben and his troubled mother is Don, a new friend, who becomes a stable force in all of their lives, becoming an integral part of the ”family” they create.
Unabashedly sentimental, the novel is never maudlin. Rather, Hilton is a keen observer of human behaviour, particularly with regard to Evelyn herself. We get hints through Evelyn’s memories of a scarred childhood marked by a lack of love from her parents as the pain of the past sometimes breaks through to the present. The psychological make-up of this intriguing woman is fascinating as Hilton allows the reader to share her delusions, her dreams, her unusual behaviour (to say the least!) and her life-long fears of rejection. A heart-warming read!
Hilton’s novel is a heartfelt portrait of how kindness can change lives, focusing on an idiosyncratic laundromat owner, Evelyn, whose life as an outsider gives her a mission: to touch the lives of those who are marginalised, alone, lost, and in need of love and care. Whether it is checking to see that the old man with dementia can remember where his house is and return to it safely, or helping two young women find their missing friend, or taking into her life and her home a drug-addicted young mother and her son – Evelyn’s own lonely life is made bearable because of her willingness (and need) to take a part in the lives of those she observes. The poignant relationship between Evelyn and the young boy, Ben, is the highlight of the narrative. Sharing the care offered to Ben and his troubled mother is Don, a new friend, who becomes a stable force in all of their lives, becoming an integral part of the ”family” they create.
Unabashedly sentimental, the novel is never maudlin. Rather, Hilton is a keen observer of human behaviour, particularly with regard to Evelyn herself. We get hints through Evelyn’s memories of a scarred childhood marked by a lack of love from her parents as the pain of the past sometimes breaks through to the present. The psychological make-up of this intriguing woman is fascinating as Hilton allows the reader to share her delusions, her dreams, her unusual behaviour (to say the least!) and her life-long fears of rejection. A heart-warming read!
July 11, 2022
2.5 rounded down
Evelyn runs the local laundromat. She also intervenes in the lives of her customers. Or is it more than intervenes? I really don't know what to make of this book! There are hints that Evelyn has an interesting and relevant backstory but this is never expanded upon. We watch as she "helps" people, ultimately creating a family among a disparate and struggling group of people, and then she disappears and the book jumps ahead some decades, still without Evelyn. For some reason as I read I was reminded of the character of Mary Poppins but with a slightly more mischievous, manipulative nature, and I asked myself about Evelyn's motives and that fine line between helping and interfering in the lives of others.
Evelyn runs the local laundromat. She also intervenes in the lives of her customers. Or is it more than intervenes? I really don't know what to make of this book! There are hints that Evelyn has an interesting and relevant backstory but this is never expanded upon. We watch as she "helps" people, ultimately creating a family among a disparate and struggling group of people, and then she disappears and the book jumps ahead some decades, still without Evelyn. For some reason as I read I was reminded of the character of Mary Poppins but with a slightly more mischievous, manipulative nature, and I asked myself about Evelyn's motives and that fine line between helping and interfering in the lives of others.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2022
I am not sure how I feel about this yet. Maybe it is higher than a 3, maybe not.
It was beautifully written and packed an emotional punch, but other than Evelyn the characters were familiar and not well developed. I had a sense of tension as I read, which I didn't like (that's my problem - giggles), but maybe that is what Hinton was going for. I would definitely recommend the book to others and it'd be a great book club book, I think it would generate lively discussion. I'll have to think about it more before I have more fully formed thoughts.
It was beautifully written and packed an emotional punch, but other than Evelyn the characters were familiar and not well developed. I had a sense of tension as I read, which I didn't like (that's my problem - giggles), but maybe that is what Hinton was going for. I would definitely recommend the book to others and it'd be a great book club book, I think it would generate lively discussion. I'll have to think about it more before I have more fully formed thoughts.
April 3, 2022
This book is beautiful. It is written with so much love and compassion for the characters, whatever their flaws. It is so happy and sad and heartbreaking and inspiring all at the same time.
March 14, 2022
Thank you Hachette for sending us a copy to read and review.
Life goes by quick and is often chaotic as pressures from home and work take hold. Often it precludes the opportunity to observe and take an interest in what’s going on around you or the people you see.
Evelyn herself is probably overlooked as she goes about her daily routine but she is an avid social spectator.
Noticing everything and everyone.
Her observation and kindness leaving an impact.
A young boy who with his mum are regulars at her dry cleaning store.
She notices the struggle the mum endures and the impact this has on her son.
Evelyn over steps boundaries to ensure the boy feels safe and loved.
Likewise a lonely old man with a sparkle in his eyes is taken under her wing.
Proving that family can be a collection of people not tied by blood.
I was particularly drawn to this story and the leading character as I am a keen observer.
The story moves along in parts and concludes when the young boy becomes a father himself.
At times it was a chaotic read, charged with emotion while kindness radiated.
A read that provokes self reflection and wider awareness.
A little kindness goes a long way.
Life goes by quick and is often chaotic as pressures from home and work take hold. Often it precludes the opportunity to observe and take an interest in what’s going on around you or the people you see.
Evelyn herself is probably overlooked as she goes about her daily routine but she is an avid social spectator.
Noticing everything and everyone.
Her observation and kindness leaving an impact.
A young boy who with his mum are regulars at her dry cleaning store.
She notices the struggle the mum endures and the impact this has on her son.
Evelyn over steps boundaries to ensure the boy feels safe and loved.
Likewise a lonely old man with a sparkle in his eyes is taken under her wing.
Proving that family can be a collection of people not tied by blood.
I was particularly drawn to this story and the leading character as I am a keen observer.
The story moves along in parts and concludes when the young boy becomes a father himself.
At times it was a chaotic read, charged with emotion while kindness radiated.
A read that provokes self reflection and wider awareness.
A little kindness goes a long way.
August 1, 2022
A lovely story where not much happens, but if I could use one word to describe this book, it would be "endearing". Reminded me of Fredrik Backman's "A Man Called Ove" and "Anxious People". Lovable and unusual characters, a heartbreaking and heartwarming story. Don is definitely up there with my favourite fictional heroes of this year.
January 31, 2023
I truly don't know how I feel about this book, the writing is beautiful and Evelyn living in her imagination is very relatable and also kind of heart wrenching.
Although, there's so many parts of the story I just don't get? I enjoyed it but at the same time I feel like I need to do a proper 'Year 11 English course' analysis because I'm confused
Although, there's so many parts of the story I just don't get? I enjoyed it but at the same time I feel like I need to do a proper 'Year 11 English course' analysis because I'm confused
May 23, 2022
I'm not sure I liked this book.... An odd one that didn't give me a lot of purpose or reasoning behind it
June 20, 2023
*Spoiler-ish*
I loved this book. Everyone needs an Evelyn in their lives.
With hints of Eleanor Oliphant and Amelie, the title speaks volumes – have you ever felt like you’re on your own moon away from the rest of the world, watching, wanting to be part of the group, but always feeling like you don’t quite fit in? The cast of flawed, but very real, characters in A Solitary Walk on the Moon orbit the neighbourhood in their own worlds before Evelyn (dry, stubborn, no-nonsense, but very caring) bring them together in this heartwarming story of human connection and kindnesss.
This book is also a practice in mindfulness and an appreciation for the mundane. It’s not a rollercoaster in plot, but a meditation on taking pleasure in the smaller (ordinary) things in your everyday.
And while you need to prepare to not have all the answers by the end of it (oh man, that ending!), I think it’s a bittersweet revelation that some people come in and out of our lives having an impact on us (however big or small), of which we may not even realise until after they’re gone.
Evelyn stuck with me long after the final page. I wonder where she ended up? Did she find the family she was looking for? I hope this book makes you think of your own little orbit and those who look in from afar hoping to be part of it.
I loved this book. Everyone needs an Evelyn in their lives.
With hints of Eleanor Oliphant and Amelie, the title speaks volumes – have you ever felt like you’re on your own moon away from the rest of the world, watching, wanting to be part of the group, but always feeling like you don’t quite fit in? The cast of flawed, but very real, characters in A Solitary Walk on the Moon orbit the neighbourhood in their own worlds before Evelyn (dry, stubborn, no-nonsense, but very caring) bring them together in this heartwarming story of human connection and kindnesss.
This book is also a practice in mindfulness and an appreciation for the mundane. It’s not a rollercoaster in plot, but a meditation on taking pleasure in the smaller (ordinary) things in your everyday.
And while you need to prepare to not have all the answers by the end of it (oh man, that ending!), I think it’s a bittersweet revelation that some people come in and out of our lives having an impact on us (however big or small), of which we may not even realise until after they’re gone.
Evelyn stuck with me long after the final page. I wonder where she ended up? Did she find the family she was looking for? I hope this book makes you think of your own little orbit and those who look in from afar hoping to be part of it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 20, 2025
The worst thing I've read in the last year. Really disappointing. The writing style is ok but the main character is just unbelievable and constantly making the strangest choices I've ever seen. The addict character felt like the authors was biased against addicts. And the main character never faced any repercussions for her inappropriate and often illegal actions. I really wanted to like this I liked the premise and I love slice of life stories but it felt completely unreal and I could barely believe any of it. I got halfway through before I realised I hated it and then i just stuck it out god knows why. The ending was a real bummer and it didn't make sense.
July 31, 2022
A Solitary Walk on The Moon by Hilde Hinton was this months book club pick. It's left me feeling a little unsure of how to review it and I'm still not sure what to make of it.
Evelyn runs the local laundromat and watches her community closely. She's a hard character to really like (or at least she was for me). She stalks those that have crossed her path and inserts herself into their lives. She may be well intentioned but she's also a little creepy. Evelyn forms a relationship with a small child whose mother is a regular in her laundromat. What follows is the building of a new family, and maybe some healing of those that are lost. This is a well written book full of compassion, but it also leaves a lot to the imagination.
I felt like there was just something missing from it, an unfinished understanding. It will be a good book to discuss. For me ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5).
Evelyn runs the local laundromat and watches her community closely. She's a hard character to really like (or at least she was for me). She stalks those that have crossed her path and inserts herself into their lives. She may be well intentioned but she's also a little creepy. Evelyn forms a relationship with a small child whose mother is a regular in her laundromat. What follows is the building of a new family, and maybe some healing of those that are lost. This is a well written book full of compassion, but it also leaves a lot to the imagination.
I felt like there was just something missing from it, an unfinished understanding. It will be a good book to discuss. For me ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5).
November 26, 2022
Warm, tender, elusive, and painful.
I loved and felt deeply for the characters tenderly constructed by Hilton. I felt a soft ache for Ben and a fondness for Don and Phillip. Of Evelyn, I was sorely curious. I was confused and hungry to know more about her.
While the novel was gorgeously written, I continually found myself wanting more, and couldn't shake the feeling of something being missing. Although that may just be my own frustration with loose ends, even when they are necessary to the essence of the story.
But all in all, that didn't stop me from sobbing at the end. Overall a beautiful and hopeful story, laced with heartache.
I loved and felt deeply for the characters tenderly constructed by Hilton. I felt a soft ache for Ben and a fondness for Don and Phillip. Of Evelyn, I was sorely curious. I was confused and hungry to know more about her.
While the novel was gorgeously written, I continually found myself wanting more, and couldn't shake the feeling of something being missing. Although that may just be my own frustration with loose ends, even when they are necessary to the essence of the story.
But all in all, that didn't stop me from sobbing at the end. Overall a beautiful and hopeful story, laced with heartache.
May 4, 2022
Hilde Hinton has an extraordinary ability to inhabit the inner world of people. In this novel, she builds the world of characters whose lives are small and ordinary, who would be considered by most to be insignificant. She imbues all of her characters with humanity, and does an especially accomplished job of balancing Evelyn’s empathy, generosity and solitariness. In particular, Hinton’s evocation of our relationship with our emotions and thoughts is remarkable.
September 15, 2022
Hilde Hinton has a lovely talent for writing characters for whom I cannot help but care very deeply. The particular characters in ‘A Solitary Walk on the Moon’ are not ones I would typically expect myself to warm to. Hilde said challenge accepted. I loved this story with my whole heart and just like with her first novel, Hilde also has a lovely talent for making me ugly cry right at the very beautiful end.
May 5, 2022
I didn’t enjoy this at all. Was going to abandon it but pushed on. I didn’t feel any empathy for the main character & thought the writing was quite poor.
August 30, 2022
Why did you have to break my heart like that.
July 15, 2022
Hilde Hinton is an Australian treasure and one of my favourite authors. After reading The Loudness of Unsaid Things, a book which fundamentally changed me, I couldn’t wait to read her newest novel. A Solitary Walk on The Moon is equally full of tenderness and warmth, and is ripe with feeling.
I would recommend this book for an introspective and reflective read, or if you liked reading Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason.
Our protagonist, Evelyn, is a mysterious community stalwart who manages the local laundromat. She is clearly visible in my mind’s eye as one of the many people who serve as the chorus members of your every day.
Evelyn takes her job seriously, values her customers, and isn’t afraid to go the extra mile. Whether it's buying a coffee for the Smelly Man at the train swap meet, helping two girls find their missing friend, or taking a young boy and his struggling mum under her wing, Evelyn is prepared to show people kindness no matter the means required.
Hinton shows us well-meaning but misunderstood characters bumbling through life, and how Evelyn builds a patchwork family by trying her best. Hinton highlights the beauty in failure and shows the reader the value of trying to build connection. Hinton sells compassion and kindness, an important reminder in today’s world.
This book covers loneliness, drug addiction and friendship. It is a masterful observation of everyday people living everyday life, and the challenges that can arise.
Hinton is not afraid to take on characters with difference and shows the humanity of those who don’t quite ‘fit’ into normal society. Her writing is poignant and sensitive and perfectly captures big feelings and overwhelming emotion, including the euphoria of joy and the deep pools of loneliness.
Hinton is a master of the written word. My favourite quotes include:
1) "Sadness rained from her brain to her toes and tears sat in her eyelids when she saw his happy sooty face."
2) "She flitted between thinking Don must be such a sad little man if she made him feel like he mattered, and feeling like she had a fever coming on - because it she made him feel like he mattered, then maybe, just maybe, she mattered."
3) "It was probably how the astronauts felt when they walked on the moon, she surmised, as she slowed her steps to let the isolation seep into her skin."
I would recommend this book for an introspective and reflective read, or if you liked reading Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason.
Our protagonist, Evelyn, is a mysterious community stalwart who manages the local laundromat. She is clearly visible in my mind’s eye as one of the many people who serve as the chorus members of your every day.
Evelyn takes her job seriously, values her customers, and isn’t afraid to go the extra mile. Whether it's buying a coffee for the Smelly Man at the train swap meet, helping two girls find their missing friend, or taking a young boy and his struggling mum under her wing, Evelyn is prepared to show people kindness no matter the means required.
Hinton shows us well-meaning but misunderstood characters bumbling through life, and how Evelyn builds a patchwork family by trying her best. Hinton highlights the beauty in failure and shows the reader the value of trying to build connection. Hinton sells compassion and kindness, an important reminder in today’s world.
This book covers loneliness, drug addiction and friendship. It is a masterful observation of everyday people living everyday life, and the challenges that can arise.
Hinton is not afraid to take on characters with difference and shows the humanity of those who don’t quite ‘fit’ into normal society. Her writing is poignant and sensitive and perfectly captures big feelings and overwhelming emotion, including the euphoria of joy and the deep pools of loneliness.
Hinton is a master of the written word. My favourite quotes include:
1) "Sadness rained from her brain to her toes and tears sat in her eyelids when she saw his happy sooty face."
2) "She flitted between thinking Don must be such a sad little man if she made him feel like he mattered, and feeling like she had a fever coming on - because it she made him feel like he mattered, then maybe, just maybe, she mattered."
3) "It was probably how the astronauts felt when they walked on the moon, she surmised, as she slowed her steps to let the isolation seep into her skin."
March 27, 2022
"There's fragile and there's brittle. For that moment, Evelyn wasn't made from blood and guts and bones. She was a pile of paper-thin autumn leaves waiting to be kicked about, rustling at each feeling. This hug had kicked her precarious pile of leaves and she tried to pull away before she shattered into a million pieces."
This is the story of Evelyn.
Evelyn runs a laundromat and she pays attention to what is happening in her community. When she sees a problem, she likes to fit it.
Whether it is the missing friend, the forgetful pensioner who has become lost in the park, and most particularly, the young mother with a young son who comes in to do their laundry every Tuesday after school.
This novel is so beautifully written - lyrical and compassionate.
Eveylyn had me intrigued. Everytime she went into her drawer of things past for something, I was obsessed with knowing more about the past experiences that had brought her to this place and time.
But like life - there were no easy answers for me and sometimes the past remains a secret and we can never truly know what events have shaped someone's life and why they make the decisions they do.
I highly recommend this wonderful book. One of my best of the year so far.
Thank you to Hachette Australia for the advance copy of this book to read and review
This is the story of Evelyn.
Evelyn runs a laundromat and she pays attention to what is happening in her community. When she sees a problem, she likes to fit it.
Whether it is the missing friend, the forgetful pensioner who has become lost in the park, and most particularly, the young mother with a young son who comes in to do their laundry every Tuesday after school.
This novel is so beautifully written - lyrical and compassionate.
Eveylyn had me intrigued. Everytime she went into her drawer of things past for something, I was obsessed with knowing more about the past experiences that had brought her to this place and time.
But like life - there were no easy answers for me and sometimes the past remains a secret and we can never truly know what events have shaped someone's life and why they make the decisions they do.
I highly recommend this wonderful book. One of my best of the year so far.
Thank you to Hachette Australia for the advance copy of this book to read and review
July 10, 2022
3.5 ⭐️
Hilde Hinton’s second novel A Solitary Walk on the Moon, follows the eccentric and kind self-service laundromat owner Evelyn. She is a very intriguing character, often alluding to previous lives she has lived. She had many little quirks that made her stand out as a central character & were often amusing. Like following people home “just in case” the information comes in handy later or mischievously switching goods between bags at a train part meet up.
The novel has a distinct, matter-of-fact writing style and the characters & story line are deceptively simple. Community is an essential thread of the story. Evelyn has a huge heart, making the problems of those in her community, problems she feels a responsibility to fix. She’s honestly like an everyday superhero.
I adored the relationship between Evelyn and little Ben. The way that she cared for him and gave him the best friend she needed as a child was so heartwarming.
I’ve seen the book recommended for lovers of Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine and agree that it is similar & you would enjoy this if you liked Eleanor ❤️
Thank you to @hachette for the advanced copy of this book to read and review!
Trigger Warnings ⚠️: drug use, drug addiction, neglect
Hilde Hinton’s second novel A Solitary Walk on the Moon, follows the eccentric and kind self-service laundromat owner Evelyn. She is a very intriguing character, often alluding to previous lives she has lived. She had many little quirks that made her stand out as a central character & were often amusing. Like following people home “just in case” the information comes in handy later or mischievously switching goods between bags at a train part meet up.
The novel has a distinct, matter-of-fact writing style and the characters & story line are deceptively simple. Community is an essential thread of the story. Evelyn has a huge heart, making the problems of those in her community, problems she feels a responsibility to fix. She’s honestly like an everyday superhero.
I adored the relationship between Evelyn and little Ben. The way that she cared for him and gave him the best friend she needed as a child was so heartwarming.
I’ve seen the book recommended for lovers of Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine and agree that it is similar & you would enjoy this if you liked Eleanor ❤️
Thank you to @hachette for the advanced copy of this book to read and review!
Trigger Warnings ⚠️: drug use, drug addiction, neglect
July 8, 2022
I enjoyed reading “A Solitary Walk On The Moon” and found it easy to read and quite compelling. I felt attached to the characters, all of whom were expertly developed - so much so, they felt like friends.
I was perplexed by Evelyn’s decision to leave and thought it was selfish of her not to have discussed it first with those she loved and who, more importantly, loved her, dismissing the gaping hole her absence would leave in their lives. I noticed mentioned in the ‘Acknowledgements’ and also in the author’s bio, that she refers to her own house as a place for “the temporarily defeated”, hoping they “leave slightly better than when they arrived”. I wondered whether Evelyn may have held this philosophy, temporarily injecting herself into the lives of Ben, June, the pool-playing girls and Philip - even the “smelly” man at the model train meeting - until they were back on their feet.
I still held out hope that Evelyn might show up to Ben’s 9th birthday, realise her mistake and giving up her solitary walking on the moon, live happily ever after with Don, but alas, she stayed away.
Overall, a great light read!
I was perplexed by Evelyn’s decision to leave and thought it was selfish of her not to have discussed it first with those she loved and who, more importantly, loved her, dismissing the gaping hole her absence would leave in their lives. I noticed mentioned in the ‘Acknowledgements’ and also in the author’s bio, that she refers to her own house as a place for “the temporarily defeated”, hoping they “leave slightly better than when they arrived”. I wondered whether Evelyn may have held this philosophy, temporarily injecting herself into the lives of Ben, June, the pool-playing girls and Philip - even the “smelly” man at the model train meeting - until they were back on their feet.
I still held out hope that Evelyn might show up to Ben’s 9th birthday, realise her mistake and giving up her solitary walking on the moon, live happily ever after with Don, but alas, she stayed away.
Overall, a great light read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2023
I loved the characters in this book and the idea of kindness towards strangers and reaching out to people in your community. With her troubled past our main character Evelyn tried to connect with and help the people who came into her laundromat and she did make a difference in their lives. At times she was interfering though, and I sometimes found her behaviour baffling, like when she swapped the items in the bags at the model train event. She was supposed to be minding their things and it seemed to be a meddling thing to do with no purpose. It was lucky that it actually led to a good effect, and her exaggerated response to her guilt at doing it made me confused.
I loved how Evelyn brought a little group of lonely people together, Don from the paint shop, June and Ben, an addicted single mother and her son, and Phillip the model train enthusiast. However I don't think she realised that she was an integral member of this little group.
I finished the book with very sad and disappointed feelings and it coloured my view of the whole book.
I do think Hilde is a gifted writer and I look forward to reading her first book.
I loved how Evelyn brought a little group of lonely people together, Don from the paint shop, June and Ben, an addicted single mother and her son, and Phillip the model train enthusiast. However I don't think she realised that she was an integral member of this little group.
I finished the book with very sad and disappointed feelings and it coloured my view of the whole book.
I do think Hilde is a gifted writer and I look forward to reading her first book.
November 6, 2025
I'll be straightforward; I was reading this during an emotional downturn ~1.5 years ago. I felt so lonely and unseen and this book was there for me. With that being said, I now realise that I didn't like this book because it was a fun read on a bad day; I liked this book because I related (and still relate) to the main character more than I'd like to admit.
I cried at the end when, after 'helping' everybody, she ditches them all, because as much as she genuinely loved bringing joy to other people, she hated herself too much to accept happiness on a silver platter. There is something inherently, severely tragic about that. She shouldn't have done that.
I want everyone reading this review to know that they have value. I don't know who you are, and to be frank, I don't want to. But in theory, literally everybody has the potential to be outright good, happy people. And guess what? The deep-seated optimist in me knows in my heart that this review's antepenultimate sentence is true in practice too.
I cried at the end when, after 'helping' everybody, she ditches them all, because as much as she genuinely loved bringing joy to other people, she hated herself too much to accept happiness on a silver platter. There is something inherently, severely tragic about that. She shouldn't have done that.
I want everyone reading this review to know that they have value. I don't know who you are, and to be frank, I don't want to. But in theory, literally everybody has the potential to be outright good, happy people. And guess what? The deep-seated optimist in me knows in my heart that this review's antepenultimate sentence is true in practice too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 20, 2022
3.5*
A very simple, easy read, but with such complexities between the lines. This book would have to be different for everyone because of the life experiences we each bring to it.
Evelyn remains an enigma but has brought her own experience to bear on her friends & acquaintances: making a solid base for a young boy to cling to, a family for the man that provides that rock, friendly stability to a wandering mind, fleeting moments to brighten a day. Evie's observation of her own & others' lives seems to have made her almost prescient in her ability to see consequences ahead for other people, if not necessarily for herself. Despite being a catalyst she is unable, or unwilling, to make permanent connections for herself.
There were some irritating moments, amusing & happy moments, but mostly I'm left with a lingering sadness for Evelyn. Perhaps she is happy to have made a positive difference but how will we know?
A very simple, easy read, but with such complexities between the lines. This book would have to be different for everyone because of the life experiences we each bring to it.
Evelyn remains an enigma but has brought her own experience to bear on her friends & acquaintances: making a solid base for a young boy to cling to, a family for the man that provides that rock, friendly stability to a wandering mind, fleeting moments to brighten a day. Evie's observation of her own & others' lives seems to have made her almost prescient in her ability to see consequences ahead for other people, if not necessarily for herself. Despite being a catalyst she is unable, or unwilling, to make permanent connections for herself.
There were some irritating moments, amusing & happy moments, but mostly I'm left with a lingering sadness for Evelyn. Perhaps she is happy to have made a positive difference but how will we know?
November 22, 2025
A Solitary Walk on the Moon is a story about human connection in its different forms and the joys and pains that may arise from becoming close. The main character, Evelyn, develops and observes various connections in her community. Some grow and become deeper whereas others stay shallow or whither.
The highlight of the story is its beautiful descriptions of feelings, such as “Ben felt a new stab through his chest. Like a javelin sailing through the air in the Olympics, but instead of landing in the grass and quivering proudly in the air, it went straight through the middle of his chest to somewhere else."
Evelyn’s actions seem to happen to suit the plot rather than to portray her character. She is presented as a very organised and orderly person in the way she runs her laundromat business. However, there is a moment when she inexplicably decides to create disorder at a social gathering for no reason other than wondering how severe the consequences would be for her. This behaviour feels very jarring, even if Evelyn is hinted to have a mysterious past.
The highlight of the story is its beautiful descriptions of feelings, such as “Ben felt a new stab through his chest. Like a javelin sailing through the air in the Olympics, but instead of landing in the grass and quivering proudly in the air, it went straight through the middle of his chest to somewhere else."
Evelyn’s actions seem to happen to suit the plot rather than to portray her character. She is presented as a very organised and orderly person in the way she runs her laundromat business. However, there is a moment when she inexplicably decides to create disorder at a social gathering for no reason other than wondering how severe the consequences would be for her. This behaviour feels very jarring, even if Evelyn is hinted to have a mysterious past.
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