Thank you for that link, I appreciated hearing from the author.
Your statement resonates with me - "whilst some aspects of the book may turn out not to be legitimate, the sentiment of hope and connection remains truer than ever". It's so easy to blame someone else for their failings, hard to keep on our own path toward reality. Reality is complex, not two-sided, either/or. Tensions arise when people see the same events in different ways. I'm trying to hold this controversy in a space of wondering, without the vitriol ...
This movie was such a spiritual experience for me personally. It dives deep in to slowing down, and really appreciating our surroundings. What were your thoughts on the movie? 🥰
I think the betrayal of trust between reader and writer is what makes this story so sad, really. Raynor Winns statements since the article published on her website doesn’t address the question of embezzlement - she says vaguely that mistakes were made and she is sorry. If she did knowingly steal 9k or 64k from an innocent man, would any of us want to hwve read her story, however heart warming? I think not. Thank you for writing this piece.
Hmm...The Salt Path scandal exposes our cultural tendency to reward and fetishise struggle. If the book had been written as a work of fiction, it would have made a great yarn. But we live in a survivors world. This an adversity-economy where we're encouraged to have a "personal brand" underpinned by a story of overcoming something big and scary. Our relationship with truth and fiction has been skewed by the desire to win at adversity economics.
Interesting read Molly, thank you! I think the thing I find concerning is that the bar for memoir writing (that it should be true) has been lowered. And, as we know, because it plays out in the same way in politics, this compromises what we think of as The Truth…which is worrying!
That’s a really interesting way of putting it Esther. Combined with AI imagery and videos we’re simply not going to know what to believe before too long
I think that sounds like the right way! Which is why I guess I had an element of surprise that there’s been such a backlash at potential exaggeration / untruths… it’s the marketing about it being TRUE, plus the health side of it that I think causes the real issue. The story has really exploded!
Trust is hard to earn, easy to lose, almost impossible to recover. It’s an inspiring story - but I never thought it was a great literary work - and I found it difficult to understand how it would continue into 3 further books (one due to be published), so I never went further than the Salt Path itself. I would have liked to have seen the film but the trailers really put me off, along with a nagging thought that it might be difficult to dramatise as a movie. The book ends in walking off the path into a kind of normalness, which is perfect for the book but not a dramatic ending for a film.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I agree that there are ways we can live more hopefully, and engaging with nature is so important. The Salt Path feels like a betrayal because it takes advantage of those of us who try to live with hopefulness, by presenting a false story and a false hope. I look forward to reading more from you.
Thank you for writing this, I read the salt path and landlines and recommended them to others, I am very conflicted by what's been said, as I do feel that the book as a memoir should have been more accurate, their journey yes on survival, but was also began with not the whole truth of what happened..
It is that sentiment of hope that is so resonant and important—I do find that in fiction, but when I found it in this memoir, it was because I believed it. It’s still beautifully written and a book I loved at the time. I wish it had been packaged differently, is all.
That makes complete sense Alice. The hope and the way it made you feel is still completely legitimate. That’s almost why the memoir / truth tagline was possibly unnecessary… because the story and the sentiment and the way it was written was enough
Author Raynor Winn has posted a statement and it's absolutely worth reading: https://www.raynorwinn.co.uk
Thank you for that link, I appreciated hearing from the author.
Your statement resonates with me - "whilst some aspects of the book may turn out not to be legitimate, the sentiment of hope and connection remains truer than ever". It's so easy to blame someone else for their failings, hard to keep on our own path toward reality. Reality is complex, not two-sided, either/or. Tensions arise when people see the same events in different ways. I'm trying to hold this controversy in a space of wondering, without the vitriol ...
This movie was such a spiritual experience for me personally. It dives deep in to slowing down, and really appreciating our surroundings. What were your thoughts on the movie? 🥰
I haven’t seen the movie yet—but I’d like to, even with all this!
I think the betrayal of trust between reader and writer is what makes this story so sad, really. Raynor Winns statements since the article published on her website doesn’t address the question of embezzlement - she says vaguely that mistakes were made and she is sorry. If she did knowingly steal 9k or 64k from an innocent man, would any of us want to hwve read her story, however heart warming? I think not. Thank you for writing this piece.
Thank you for reading!
Hmm...The Salt Path scandal exposes our cultural tendency to reward and fetishise struggle. If the book had been written as a work of fiction, it would have made a great yarn. But we live in a survivors world. This an adversity-economy where we're encouraged to have a "personal brand" underpinned by a story of overcoming something big and scary. Our relationship with truth and fiction has been skewed by the desire to win at adversity economics.
Really great point well made Ali. Thanks so much for reading
Interesting read Molly, thank you! I think the thing I find concerning is that the bar for memoir writing (that it should be true) has been lowered. And, as we know, because it plays out in the same way in politics, this compromises what we think of as The Truth…which is worrying!
That’s a really interesting way of putting it Esther. Combined with AI imagery and videos we’re simply not going to know what to believe before too long
Worryingly (and no irony intended) I think that’s true!
Well nonetheless it was a good story. To be honest I always read any memoir with a healthy dose of scepticism. But maybe I’m just a cynic…
I think that sounds like the right way! Which is why I guess I had an element of surprise that there’s been such a backlash at potential exaggeration / untruths… it’s the marketing about it being TRUE, plus the health side of it that I think causes the real issue. The story has really exploded!
That’s interesting—I feel a little naive that I don’t do this!!!
Trust is hard to earn, easy to lose, almost impossible to recover. It’s an inspiring story - but I never thought it was a great literary work - and I found it difficult to understand how it would continue into 3 further books (one due to be published), so I never went further than the Salt Path itself. I would have liked to have seen the film but the trailers really put me off, along with a nagging thought that it might be difficult to dramatise as a movie. The book ends in walking off the path into a kind of normalness, which is perfect for the book but not a dramatic ending for a film.
Great perspective, all makes sense. I wonder what's going to happen with that third book now... maybe publish it as a fiction? (🙊)
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I agree that there are ways we can live more hopefully, and engaging with nature is so important. The Salt Path feels like a betrayal because it takes advantage of those of us who try to live with hopefulness, by presenting a false story and a false hope. I look forward to reading more from you.
Thanks so much Danielle. Appreciate you reading!
Okay, so now I understand what's going on.
It's frustrating that I am still seeing this book prominently on display at UK bookshops. There ought to be a disclaimer.
I find this troubling. Who can we trust these days?
I know, it's jarring isn't it. I'll be interested to follow the story, and what happens next. Apparently there's another book in the series due out...
Thank you for writing this, I read the salt path and landlines and recommended them to others, I am very conflicted by what's been said, as I do feel that the book as a memoir should have been more accurate, their journey yes on survival, but was also began with not the whole truth of what happened..
It is that sentiment of hope that is so resonant and important—I do find that in fiction, but when I found it in this memoir, it was because I believed it. It’s still beautifully written and a book I loved at the time. I wish it had been packaged differently, is all.
That makes complete sense Alice. The hope and the way it made you feel is still completely legitimate. That’s almost why the memoir / truth tagline was possibly unnecessary… because the story and the sentiment and the way it was written was enough