I am still trying to read 52 books, or one book a week, this year and I am catching up! Have quite a few to still write about here, but I shall take it easy. I want to tell you about book number 17 this year: Landlines by Raynor Winn, a book I absolutely loved!
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Now this book is the third book written by this author and I have read the previous two as well, so I am quite familiar with Raynor Winn. She became known to the public when her first book was published: Salt Path. It documents the incredible journey she and her husband Moth made. After hearing her husband has a progressive disease that will dibilitate him they are left shocked, but in the same week they also lose their house! Their answer? Don't dwell on it but hike! They make an epic hike along the Coastal Path in the UK and not only find their zest for life but also improve the health of husband Moth despite all doctors information.
In the second book, Wild Silence, you read how they have fared since. They have found a house to live and work on a new project to hike a path in Iceland. Though this book was also interesting it was simply not the page turner that the Salt Path was and it left me a bit disappointed.
Then came Landlines, the third book and I doubted if I should read it, would it meet my expectations? I decided to go for it anyways and man was I glad that I did!
In this book we start in their home again where it becomes clear that Moth has been in decline. He sleeps a lot, loses his balance and is trying to come to terms with the fact that his disease will mean he can do less and less. But Raynor is determined to inspire him once more to an epic hike: The Cape Wrath Trail in Scotland. A largely wild walk that is not signposted through the most natural parts of Scotland.
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She manages to convince Moth and they set off on this epic adventure and the book reads like a train. They meet many problems, Moth's health of course, but also the fact that Raynor is hiking on the wrong sized shoes, the Scottish weather and the fact that there is still a global pandemic going on. But despite all that they find themselves and each other again on the trail. However, when they reach the end they wonder: is this it? Do we just go home now?
Well, hold on to your hats because they do go home but they decide to walk it! A walk that will take more than a 1000 miles.
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I was left breathless when finishing this book. You know when you just cannot put a book down and then when you reach the end of your read you wish it was still twice as long? Well that is what Landlines did for me, the same as her first book Salt Path. I would truly recommend this read to everyone!