The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy: A Novel

An interesting examination of a love that cannot be and a reassuring picture of life in a well-run hospice. The narrative was so compelling that the ending caught me by surprise, something that happens rarely these days, and I love to be surprised. Thoroughly enjoyable.

I enjoyed this bookind after reading the "Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harrold Fry". It really filled in some blanks. Highly recommend reading Harrold Fry first, but the Queenie book was my favorite. Lots of funny parts.

After loving the Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, I was expecting a lot more. I loved Harold's character and how he affected me. I did not feel the same about Queenie and often found her unlikable.

Queenie shares her love of Harold and her life while she is dying in a hospice. The descriptive language of this story; the physical setting, and the flashbacks give an amazing picture of Queenie. The ending is powerful and different than what I would have thought.

Even though I knew the characters from Incredible Journey of Harold Fry, I found this book hard to get into - BUT after awhile it captured me and I couldn't put it down. Beautiful tale, crying at the end. Will be recommending to my book club for next season.

Joyce has written a thoughtful follow-up to Harold Fry book. So many people thought that Harold Fry was an actual person that she clarified this book claiming it 'a novel.' Nevertheless, the story of unrequited love is sorrowful. That theme, plus her community of hospice companions, made the overall tone quite dark. Yet Joyce provides some wonderful character portrayals as well, particularly Sister Lucy.

A very interesting story that reveals the thoughts held by the main character and describes hit thoughts and actions in terms that challenge the reader.
Many of his thoughts and actions are unpleasant, especially those that are critical of people he encounters.
The interesting (and challenging point for me) is that I recognized inappropriate behavior on my part.
Very powerful, in an unsettling way !

A very interesting story that reveals the thoughts held by the main character and describes hit thoughts and actions in terms that challenge the reader.
Many of his thoughts and actions are unpleasant, especially those that are critical of people he encounters.
The interesting (and challenging point for me) is that I recognized inappropriate behavior on my part.
Very powerful, in an unsettling way !

This was a wonderful follow to Harold Fry's story which I also enjoyed. There were many places that moved my spirit in understanding of the end of life journey. It was well written and became a "page turner."

A refreshing narrative on life, heartache, loss and the incredible & diverse way in which we can love another person. Joyce’s depth and clarity are a welcome change of pace, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the world through Queenie’s eyes. She’s a gem!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book ... some life lessons, and some good fun, some surprises, and a great deal of sadness, but over all a book of hope for a future, and the lesson that happiness is up to us, not our circumstances!

What a beautiful companion for The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. I loved discovering Queenie's voice and listening to her song. And in the process I also had the chance of learning more about Harold. Very good read indeed.

I loved that book! Its delicate prose was a delight to read. Its a book that I didn't want to read too much at once as I savoured it so much. I allowed myself only a small amount each day. There were lessons I learnt just by reading about a life so different from my own, the patience and self control of a woman living alone and creating a life filled with natural beauty and dealing with tragedy that was to come.

I enjoyed this companion book to The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. Joyce did a tremendous job of showing how love, even when it is not returned, can have great value. The humor she was able to inject into hospice scenes was remarkable. Very good read.

Normally I am cautious when reading a follow-up book; however, in this case I loved the book! Learning about Queenie Hennessy's life definitely completed the story begun in The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.
The really crazy thing is - I can suggest this book to anyone that has not read the first book! The Love Song can serve the same role of completing the history behind Harold Fry for those that read the Love Song first!
I look forward to Rachel Joyce's next book!

I loved this book. Funny, sad, heart warming and just pure wonderful. It was a great follow up from The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. What a fantastic idea to write the same story from another character''s view.

Not nearly as compelling as The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, maybe because I want Queenie to DO something or SAY something to Harold or his son. Her passivity, no matter how well intended, made me want to scream at her. Harold finally took action, but Queenie's sad acquiescence of her lot in life made me crazy. Well written and sweet, but disappointing nonetheless.

Very well written accompaniment to "The Strange Pilgrimage of Harold Frye." That it is epistolary is appropriate and allows the novel's story threads to develop while maintaining tension. I highly recommend, but I do think reading the other novel first is essential.

Very well written accompaniment to "The Strange Pilgrimage of Harold Frye." That it is epistolary is appropriate and allows the novel's story threads to develop while maintaining tension. I highly recommend, but I do think reading the other novel first is essential.

Complex, moving, gripping. This book really generates such ranges of emotion. One minute sad, then laughing out loud at some silly thing David did! This book will be with me forever! As will Harold Fry.

I read 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry' and thought it was one of the most wonderful books I had ever read. I was really excited when I saw that 'The Love Song of Queenie Hennessy' was a companion book. I was a little nervous that it wouldn't measure up to Harold Fry but I was not disappointed. I would give it 10 stars if I could.

I read the book on Harold Frye several months ago and was pleased to know Queenie·S book existed. Most gentle and touching. I have worked in hospice and felt familiar with the setting and it was accurate. Loved Queenie!

I finished my paperback version of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry this week and immediately turned to my Kindle copy of Queenie's story. What a treat to be able to read these back-to-back (okay 2 days in between). But while all the details of Harold's journey were still fresh in my mind, and his view of his son were clear, I could fold Queenie's memoir and perspective into the outline. The same events told from her view gave the story the depth I felt had been lacking from the pilgrimage. Intentionally I believe the author gave us Harold's stunted view so we could see life through the prism of his experience and upbringing. ( what an odd word that is, when really no parent lifted him up, he had more of a "downbringing"). But Queenie, this loved child, tells us a much richer, but still damaged story.

So why not a full five stars? There is a little bit that is formulaic here, and by reading them back-to-back it is laid quite bare. While it took me awhile to figure out that Maureen was talking to someone who was no longer there, I cottoned onto Sister Innconnu immediately (how could you not with THAT name). Don't we all hope to have a Sister I. at the end of our journeys? But despite that, I liked the writing and when I swiped the last page, the story felt complete.

This lovely novella reveals the simple life of a woman's last few weeks of life in an English hospice. Her thoughts about love, duty, guilt, and atonement--as well as her beautiful descriptions of landscape and people--make this book so memorable.

Absolutely beautiful from beginning to end. I read the Harold Fry book first and even though it is written as Queenie's sequel, I recommend reading Pilgrimage first. I didn't want this love song to end!

Having read the Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry I was intrigued to read this book written from the viewpoint of Queenie Hennessy. Not scintillating by any means but a solid telling of a tale of sadness and unrequited love.