The Salt Path - what do you think?

Gillian Anderson was writing in the Times last weekend. She played Raynor in the film. She said she was disappointed and hurt that she had been duped.

I found the couple to be a couple of scroungers very soon on in the book, things just didn't add up. I do hope they repaid every penny back to the kind people that believed them but somehow I doubt it, their decisions adversely affected a lot of good, decent people, hope the publisher gets reinbursed.

Finished listening to it. It was really well balanced and interesting but, well balanced or not she did not come out of it well. To be honest all these later revelations make the book far more interesting. Reminds me a bit of Piltdown Man [sp]. The thing about lies is that most people can't live with them. That girl who said she would walk round the world for Live Aid actually missed a bit [only because she got pregnant and had an abortion] but she eventually admitted it, went back and did the bit she missed. Whereas Raynor Winn seemed quite happy to continue with the lie. I just hated her monotonous speaking voice, couldn't listen to the audio book or Gigspanner when she was with them.

…As a complete technophobe I’m quite chuffed that I can do links. It’s my one and only ( apart from procrastination) superpower !

I think a lot of us disliked her when we first read the book and are relieved that our instinct was justified. I know that I felt a bit bad about feeling that way with no, at the time, justification for it.

Thank You Maybee for doing the link!

Thanks Graceless. I didn’t know about this…going to listen to it now…

www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2026/new-bbc-sounds-secrets-of-the-salt-path-podcast

She really is the gift that keeps on giving isn’t she, and fooled so many people. Her collaboration with one of my favourite bands, Gigspanner, is what annoys me the most. You’d think that, with so much to hide she would have kept a lower profile, but I guess she’s one of those people that believe their own lies.

I listened to an excellent podcast on BBC sounds about this last night.
I'll try to post a link.
Sorry my shaky fat finger wasn't up to the job! But it's easy to find

Primrose53

Allira

Just don't mention the Observer article, singingnutty!

🤣🤣

Too late! 😂
The whole scenario about the book and the couple in general was ‘well iffy’.

The more we learn of her life the more it seems to be one of deception and taking advantage of other people.

The phrase “a couple of grifters” comes to mind.

More revelations about Raynor Winn. She claimed The Salt Path was her debut novel. She pocketed £10,000 for it being the best debut novel that year. It must have slipped her mind that this was, in fact, her second novel, having penned one previously.
Why does she need to keep on lying?

I sat down to watch but only caught the last five minutes, (asleep!) Is recorded, so will learn all. Last five minutes disturbing enough.

Thanks for the update. They barely mentioned their adult kids in the books either which I thought was odd.

The programme was on Sky Documentaries last night. Very illuminating and disturbing. They have two grownup children but they were barely mentioned.

Primrose53

Can you update us please Sarnia when you have watched it.

I won't go into details in case some have not yet had a chance to watch the documentary.
Suffice to say, Sally & Tim, their real names, have lied to and stolen from family, friends and employers. Not to mention those people who have paid good money to read her book and watch the film.
Both of them are bereft of any remorse or apology, they see themselves as victims. She is very fortunate not to have seen the inside of a cell. Two thoroughly unpleasant people who, unsurprisingly, refused to appear on the programme.
She has another book due out next year. I doubt the publishers will pull the plug as all the noise around The Salt Path may boost sales. I for one will not be buying it and I hope others boycott it too.

There was a mjor article in The Observer yesterday linked to a Panarama(?) programme.

The Observer article spilled over 2 broadsheet newspaper pages and more.

It was uite clear that the story in the book is fiction and that the author has at various times stolen significant amounts of money from an ex-employer and close family members.

I do hope, having made so much money from the book and film, she has reimbursed all those she cheated.

Can you update us please Sarnia when you have watched it.

Out in f curiosity I started to watch the film on Amazon. Fifteen minutes in I gave up. Very,very boring.

I was going to see the film with friends back in the summer but decided against it when the articles exposing their deception and fraud were all over the media.
You can now get the film on Amazon Prime so I watched it last night, deciding to treat it as fiction and not be drawn in by their claims.
As a story it’s slow and repetitive. They were just a self centred couple with no endearing qualities.
I’m glad I decided not to sit through it in the cinema.

Thanks for this. I will watch it. Like many people I was reeled in by the book and thoroughly enjoyed what was supposed to be a true story. I was intending to see the film but didn't as it was being reported that perhaps things did not happen in the way Raynor Winn would have us believe. Neither her or her husband come across a truthful people so I will watch tonight to learn more.

There is a documentary on Sky tonight with the latest discoveries on this pair of fakers. An investigative journalist has unearthed much more from relatives, family and friends. She even stole from her Mother according to a niece.

Unfortunately we don’t have Sky but the story is in today’s DM.

eddiecat78

2 more articles in the Observer today answering her response to the original article and with comments from the man who leased them the cider farm (and they aren't positive comments!)

Thanks. Just read these.
I’m not surprised the cider farm man is not happy. He let them live there for four years for a peppercorn rent and all they did in the book was moan about the state of the place! He was also shocked when Moth put his head in his hands and told him he hadn’t got long left! This was in 2021 after they had done the walk and the first book was published both of which claimed his health was restored.

2 more articles in the Observer today answering her response to the original article and with comments from the man who leased them the cider farm (and they aren't positive comments!)