Cleo Fraser knows what people need, particularly those friends whose lives fall short of her own standards of happiness. Like Michael, her colleague at a north country school who teaches geography and who, since splitting up from his wife, has retreated into a solitary life. And like Marnie, a friend from her youth, several years divorced, who as a home-working self-employed proofreader in London, also spends too much time alone.
Cleo decides to take them out of their humdrum existence for a few days hiking on the Coast to Coast path. She also invites fellow northerner Tessa, who she thinks may click with Michael, and Londoner Conrad, who she hopes may take an interest in Marnie.
They gather in St Bees, already a couple down as Cleo’s husband has baled, and Tessa is a no-show. They set off regardless. Cleo, energetic and mothering; Michael, grizzled and experienced walker who intends to carry on solo when the others depart; Marnie; a novice newly kitted out and resigned to her two-day ordeal; and Conrad, ill-prepared for the walk but ready to hit on Marnie.
How far will Conrad last? Will Michael go on to the bitter end? Will Marnie find any conversational common ground between Conrad’s metropolitan chatlines and Michael’s field trip nuggets?
Few authors do fluent internal monologues and socially awkward interactions as well as David Nicholls. The walk gives an unusual but authentic context within which the walkers get to know each other and their back stories. There are comic moments, tragi-comedic misunderstandings, and an endearing plot line that does not quite end as expected.
Great fun but more
besides – depth of character, empathy, and scenery!
