The Wild Silence by Raynor Winn is the follow up to The Sunday Times bestseller The Salt Path. I must admit I did put off reading it due to mixed reviews. However, as I lay in bed recovering from a nasty lurgy it was the perfect opportunity.
This is not The Salt Path
The Wild Silence is very different from its predecessor and maybe that’s why some people weren’t as keen. So with my lower expectations I set out to discover what happened to Raynor and Moth after they survived the South West Coast Path. Could they survive a more everyday existence? Could they trust a stranger’s act of kindness that promises a new start, a new home and a new adventure?
Discover Raynor’s past
In the sequel we step into Raynor’s past. Through the author’s frank and brave honesty, we discover a bumpy relationship with her parents, their disapproval of Moth, self-doubt, crippling guilt and loss. But at the centre of the book is the incredible bond between Raynor and Moth, overshadowed by the relentless progress of a terminal diagnosis and the frailties of life.
Be brave. Be fearless
The Wild Silence ultimately chronicles resilience, courage and the goodness of people. It highlights the need to never give up because you don’t know what wonderful things lie over the horizon. And for lovers of The Salt Path and of long-distance walking, you’ll be happy to know there’s a section given over to a trekking adventure through Icelandic lava fields.
Should you read The Wild Silence?
I would recommend The Wild Silence by Raynor Winn with its richly descriptive writing. Raynor clearly loves nature, she needs that connection with the land to feel truly alive and I look forward to reading her third book Landlines. But if I ever fancy a hiking holiday in Iceland, I’ll be sure to go before the end of August!