Alfred Wainwright (1907 – 1991) was a walker and a prolific author, producing about 40 books. He wrote about the fells of the English Lake District, and is probably most famous for his book about the 293 km Coast-to-Coast Walk across northern England. It goes through the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and the Yorkshire Moors. I was lucky enough to once do a part of the walk, and I loved every minute of it.
That was not the case for two characters in a fabulous new book called You Are Here by David Nicholls (pictured above). Published this year, it has already become a bestseller, and it tells the story of two middle-aged people who are at low points in their lives.
They, along with some other friends, set off to just do a few days of walking, but the weather is dire and most of the group drops away. We are left with Michael, divorced, traumatised, lonely and depressed, and Marnie who has become far too solitary during the Covid lockdown. They are unlikely characters for a love story, but the book is written with huge charm, a quirky wit, and also compassion. I found it irresistible and, according to the reviewers, I was not alone. Thanks to my friend Helen for recommending it to me. You can’t help but cheer Michael and Marnie on for every step of their wet, sometimes muddy, and often hilarious way.
David Nicholls, born in 1966, screenwriter and novelist, has been described as “the man who made the nation cry”. That’s because of his 2009 novel One Day (translated into over 40 languages) which has been turned into a hugely successful Netflix series (which certainly made me cry). I plan to read many more of his books, as I just loved his style and characters. You Are Here even made me think (briefly, I’ll admit) of going back to do the whole of the Coast-to-Coast walk.
Have you read You Are Here, or One Day? Tell me your thoughts by leaving a comment.
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Kimberley
I loved this book! I’m definitely enamored if his writing style – deceptively simple and clever, with very relatable characters. I’ll be seeking out more of his work, I hadn’t heard of him before reading this post.
Susannah Fullerton
So glad you also enjoyed it. I thought it was quirky and moving. I’ll also be looking for more of his books.
Amanda
Hi Susannah. I really enjoyed it too. I thought Nicholls wrote well about how a lot of walking can make you feel tired and moody, even though you want to do it and I felt tired with Michael and Marnie at the end of their days! I thought he wrote about Michael well and the various difficulties he had had in his life and how they affected his behaviour and interactions with Marnie. And I liked that Marnie stood up for herself at the end of the story. The ending in itself was good too. I had read that the characters in this book were boring but I did not find them so.
Maria
Thank you for the recommendation, Susannah. I always appreciate hearing about lovely, new books and you are an invaluable source. Sadly, so many recent publications are neither delightful nor moving.
Toni Pollard
I was coincidentally reading it when you were in the Lakes District last month and felt I was going along the way with your group and with Marnie and Michael. Loved the book. Reminiscing too over Easter 1972 when I walked and climbed in the Lakes District on a camping trip in all extreme weathers with a partner who was determined to let nothing stand in his way
Susannah Fullerton
Wasn’t it a delightful and moving book. I loved it and of course thought of Michael and Marnie when I was in the Lake District.