Walk

by James Rice

Stephen had seemed enthusiastic about the walk, when Benny first invited him. He kept going on about how amazing it'd be, the two of them out in the wilderness - the landscape shots, the pubs, etc., etc.

Benny didn't interrupt this stream of enthusiasm. They were in the car park of the Miners, and Benny was too busy concentrating on his own stream of piss. He didn't think about it at all until the next morning.

When he remembered inviting Stephen, Benny laughed out loud - a single ha - then spent three minutes silent-screaming into his pillow.

****

Benny thought that it would be him and his dad doing the walk. Just him and his father, hiking through the Welsh countryside, like they used to.

Only, when his dad got ill, it became obvious that this would never happen. So Benny was forced to consider other options.

If Benny is honest, him and Stephen haven't been close since school, but once Benny had drunkenly blurted out the invitation, he couldn't take it back.

Now Benny and Stephen are on the walk. A walk Benny has vowed to finish, no matter how hard it is. But as food runs low and money runs out, Stephen and Benny find themselves stranded on the edge of the world, far from home, where the possibility of return is becoming increasingly distant...

Genres: Horror, Fiction

384 pages, Paperback

Published September 26, 2023

Reviews

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5 stars*

Benny and Stephen are two completely diverse characters. Their conversations are mundane. Here are two guys who knew each other years ago at school, then saw very little of one another until Stephen returned from Uni in London.
They now meet for a Friday night pint, but there’s an awkwardness between them, the same conversations over and over again, difficulty in articulating their thoughts to each other, and they seem to have opposing views on everything. But it’s what these two don’t say that’s important to this storyline, the thoughts that are never transferred into words.

Benny had invited Stephen to join him on his upcoming walking trip after a boozy drinking session at the Miners Arms - big mistake! Benny had intended doing this walk with his dad just like they did years ago - unfortunately his dad became ill and passed away, so it was going to be a solo walk in honour of his dad, a kind of pilgrimage. And then he went and opened his big mouth (the beer talking obviously) and suddenly Stephen became a part of it all! The realisation had Benny silent screaming into his pillow!

Offa’s Dyke in Wales is the chosen route for this walking trip, and Benny decides there are to be no distractions from the outside world, no checking social media accounts - that’s the point of this walking trip, to get away from it all, get back to nature.

However, these two really do irritate each other, and as the walk progresses, they run out of money, have barely any food, and as other calamities befall them, let’s just say that it becomes the walking trip from hell!

The amount of things that go wrong for Benny and Stephen pushes them both to their limits, and although it produces some amusing as well as distressing moments, I found the human element to be really quite moving at times.

*I was invited to read ‘Walk’ by the publisher and have given an honest unbiased review in exchange*

[Zuky the BookBum · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a mess. There was something so intrinsically human about this book, I couldn’t look away. Who knew a book about two unlikeable characters going on a long walk would end up being so profound?

This is a really slow moving book where so much and yet so little happens. Something I really loved is how there in an inevitable outcome to the book that you know about reasonably early on, but the book still keeps you guessing as to how this comes about. I thought the impending sense of doom throughout was perfectly written.

It has an interesting structure where one character is telling their story and the other is adding their own voice via footnotes - I love any book that plays with structure so this really added to my overall enjoyment.

None of the other reviews seem to reflect that they felt any sort of sadness at the end of this book but I was literally sat sobbing afterwards.

[Bryndís · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Also considered giving it 1⭐ (I was mad at it), Also considered giving it 3⭐ (when I was bored for a couple of pages, a few times). But I guess I appreciate uniqueness. I don't know this was a weird one.

[Helen Paterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a journey.
I had the privilege of meeting James Rice at an audience with Douglas Stuart, that’s where I bought this book. He was very unassuming and little did I know of the powerful journey this novel would take me on.

The structure of the narrative gives this book a unique rhythm and keeps you hooked from start to end.

Highly recommend

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The synopsis for this book intrigued me it was a book that sounded quiet, I do like a quiet book it can be one that makes you think.

The book is essentially two guys walking along Offas Dyke, a route through the Welsh countryside that takes the walkers through the forest, mountain, marshy, and at times very stormy. On the whole, it is told by one of the men, with the other putting in his opinions when needed. One is an artist and the other works as a call center worker for the benefits agency.

The two men are very different and as the story meanders through the countryside so the story of the men meanders with it. I discovered that they used to be friends, they used to be close but have drifted. With them, their sense of what they feel is important in life has also moved in different directions.

They both have demons and they still need to deal with them. Hopefully talking and walking will help them clear the air and their pasts.

This is a slower-paced story and one that I wasn't sure about initially, it felt a little disjointed and I didn't really feel I could gel with the two men. Gradually, however, they grew on me and I got to see how they thought, what they thought, and their opinions and views on many things in life. As I mentioned at the beginning of this review, this is a quiet story, but that doesn't mean it is without its louder moments.

This went from a book I wasn't sure about to one that I really knew I had to finish to understand the whole story and of course to see how things ended. This is one for those who like a story about life and discovering what is important. It is one that I really enjoyed after a shaky start and I would happily recommend it.

[Amelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

(more like 3.5/5)
Such an interesting read. the format is so unusual, the separation of dialogue from thoughts and motion, the footnotes, the fascinating and distinct vocabularies of the characters, THE FOOTNOTES. Its so tense, you can really feel a sword (sometimes more like a wrecking ball) hanging deadly over everything. Both characters are unlikable, but so opposite that whoever is worse depends on the current perspective.
Unfortunately, I feel like some of its positive gimmicks run out of steam later, the walk itself is so integral to the story and character, but it definitely feels like it falls to the wayside in exchange for more character drama that isn't upped enough to take over. And whats with the little implied supernatural elements that don't last or really turn into anything? really took me out of those chapters.
Otherwise great tense character driven book with a writing style ive genuinely never seen before.

[Steve T]

As someone who enjoys walking in the countryside; a novel with two friends walking Offa’s Dyke would, in my mind, be idyllic. However, this is not the case for Benny and Stephen whose strength and endurance are pushed to their limits.
After his father dies Benny decides to go on the walk that they had planned to do together. Following drinks down the pub with Stephen he ends up inviting Stephen on the walk. He regrets this as it was supposed to be just him walking Offa’s Dyke in honour of his dad.
We soon learn that, although they’ve been friends much of their lives,the bond between Benny and Stephen is not strong and tested to the limits when things start going wrong on their walk.
Their are moments of humour when Stephen adds footnote comments to Benny’s narration of events. Although neither Benny or Stephen are likeable characters the book is a great read with warmth and humour.

[Donald Bain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy a book about a walk but I was intrigued by a story about the relationship between two friends temporarily isolated from the World by the walk. It’s cleverly written because as we go along it fleshes out the charters by comparing them to each other, and by regularly comparing them to a third friend who isn’t on the walk, and it’s this third friend who appears to go through life unthinking who highlights that our main two characters are self aware and self reviewing, one obsessively so. We get to know the characters well as we go through the book and who is more/less likeable shifts as we learn their motivations. I think it’s a great character study, well written, and as an earlier contributor says a slow thorough book that you really want to finish, but then you keep thinking about afterwards.

[Georgie Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the blurb, like many, I thought this was a thriller-like story. However the vibe is more outdoor adventure introspective. It’s told from the perspective of Benny (the prepared childhood hiker who organised the trip and memorised the guidebook) with footnotes added from Stephen, the tag along who off the bat leaves his raincoat in the car (foreshadowing his wall experience as a whole). The two characters set out to hike across Wales, and their situation rapidly deteriorates. There is a bit of tension building as it’s referenced that a life ending event happens and this tension is compounded by the two main characters arguing about their lives, beliefs and general preparedness or lack thereof for the walk. You get presented with two sides to many different topics through their thoughts and dialogue with each other. Slow in some parts but held my interest the whole way through.

[Ruth Matheson · Rating 4 out of 5]

There seems to be a current trend for writing books with unlikable characters - sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Fortunately in this instance it works. Both Benny and Stephen have different traits and so there is always going to be some antagonism between them but somehow this only adds to the story, probably because we all know a Benny and/or a Stephen. I liked that Stephen's photography was done on film rather than digital as this added to the walk which was meant to be an escape from the 21st century way of life for a short time. Stephen moans from the offset and you know this is only going to get worse as they progress on their way. Certainly a different kind of read for me though still enjoyable.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review.

[M3lissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really did not like this book when I started reading it. I found that the writing style was something I was not familiar with as well as the pairing with two frankly very unlikable characters Benny and Stephan.

Especially the characterisation of Stephan with his blase attitude, lack of preparation, and frankly just a lack of respect and care for how important this journey was for Benny, and his healing after the loss of his father. Benny's character was unlikeable due to his pushy nature but also his lack of consideration for core aspects (using his father's old poor quality tent) of safety because he was seemingly so desperate to honour his late father who took this same journey.

However, after persisting with this book the writing style became an asset, it was almost like you got these blips of the in the moment conversations with the later review and commentary from the characters. Which was a really nice back and fourth. The footnotes also added this other dimension to the story which again acted like a very strong asset.

The focus on the walk was later missing as the events unfolded, the strong writing made you really appreciate the tense and frigninghening aspects, as well as a really good and connective exploration of different emotions, which made you feel connected to the characters. The ending was such a shock but really well written and explored.

Upon later evaluation and writing this review my previous 3 stars are somewhat a bit harsh so on reflection would actually give this a 4 stars.

(4 stars)

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I read the blurb I thought it was a sort of thriller and I was wrong. It's a sort of travelogue, the story of two fairly unlikeable character that face a quite unfortunate hike.
The author did a good job in keeping my attention alive and I liked how he deals with topics like grief, resilience, and communication.
Ben and Stephen are fleshed out and quite unlikeable but they grew on me.
There's humour and there's life.
An interesting read.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Allison Valentine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now this book was not what I was expecting to read from the blurb.
But enjoyable nonetheless.
Benny and Stephen used to be good mates at school but drifted apart.
When Stephen returns home from university,Benny asks Stephen to basically go on a pub crawl that he intended to do with his Dad before he passed away.
It starts at The Miners Arms pub but along the way Benny and Stephen find out more about each other than they were expecting!

[Sue Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Walk by James Rice.
Bunny and Stephen go on a walk to different pubs Starting at the miners arm pub. Slow but OK read. Wasn't what I thought it would be. 3*.

[Rob Hewlett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tragic and rather hope-less but superbly written and gripping

[Pam Blower · Rating 1 out of 5]

A singularly depressing view of post Brexit Britain.
Unlikeable characters do not do justice to the Welsh countryside. Geesch!