Laying aside the controversy surrounding Raynor Winn’s delightful and moving book, what effect did it have on my life, having read it?
a) It made me appreciate the coast far more, and be observant of the nuances of our surrounding area along The Fife Coastal Path
b) It made me think of the links between a sense of well being, lifestyle choices and health
c) It prompted a return to Cornwall this year after, at least 12 years absence. (It’s a long way from Scotland!) We spent our honeymoon there and it has been an important part of my life growing up, but especially meaningful in my husband’s childhood and early adulthood memories with his parents.
Now, does the recent controversy surrounding this book make a difference to me. Initially yes. My heart sank, since to me it is a very special book. With nearly 50000 reviews on Amazon, it has done extremely well, and deservedly, because it is well written and evocative. I will read it again, of that I’m sure, although this time with my eyes open.
It makes me think of my own memoir, “The Healing Paths of Fife” which has raised over £750 for local charities, including The Kirkcaldy Foodbank. It is an equally beautiful part of the world, with a lesser known coastal path, meandering along the Firth of Forth (and the Tay), with castles, quaint fishing villages, history, cliffs, machair, golf courses, rocks, beaches and, of course, The Forth Bridge. I describe it as a fantasy memoir, making clear that it veered from truth to history to fiction. It too has made an impact on people’s lives, selling mainly in gift shops, fairs and events.
Diana Jackson 