Description

IF YOU COULD NEVER STAY, WHERE WOULD YOU GO?

Escape into this spellbinding novel of adventure, wonder and self-discovery, for fans of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, The Midnight Library and Life of Pi.

Paris, 1885: Aubry Tourvel, a spoiled and stubborn nine-year-old girl, comes across a wooden puzzle ball on her walk home from school. She tosses it over the fence, only to find it in her satchel that evening. Days later, at the family dinner table, she starts to succumb to a mysterious illness.

When a visit to a doctor only makes her worse, she flees to the outskirts of the city, where she realises that it is this very act of movement that keeps her alive. So begins her incredible lifelong journey around the world . . .

From scorched sand dunes to snow-packed mountain peaks, from a bottomless well in a Parisian courtyard to the shelves of an infinite underground library, we follow Aubry as she learns what it takes to survive and, ultimately, to truly live. But it soon becomes clear that the world she travels through is not quite the same as everyone else’s.

* As seen on Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show Book Club *

‘Adventure, beauty, danger . . . a fantastical fable’
NEW YORK TIMES

‘Extraordinary . . . Welcome to [Aubry’s] exciting, dangerous and romantic life’
OPRAH DAILY

READERS LOVE A SHORT WALK:
‘This book is incredible’
‘I loved every page of it . . . you just cannot put the book down’
‘A perfect read . . . Aubry is a marvellous character’
‘A true love letter to travel, adventure and discovery . . . fantastic’
‘Wow, what a stunning book!’
‘Beautifully written . . . I loved following her journey’
‘A unique blend of adventure and fantasy . . . the world-building is nothing short of amazing’
‘I just couldn’t stop reading . . . inspiring’

Publisher Review

A gorgeous ode to wanderlust… Douglas Westerbeke’s dazzling debut takes readers on a thought-provoking journey through cultures and timelines…and also, through a mysterious cave-bound library. I savored every page of this book! — SHELBY VAN PELT, bestselling author of Remarkably Bright Creatures This whirlwind fever dream of a novel races around the globe, through markets, deserts and cities, across oceans, over mountains, into the caverns of a vast underground library, chasing its extraordinary protagonist, Aubry Tourvel… Welcome to her exciting, dangerous and romantic life * Oprah Daily * Westerbeke’s extraordinary debut spans decades, unfolding via stories told by Aubry to those she meets while circumnavigating the globe… Striking set pieces, stunning character work and evocative, insightful prose make every page worth savouring. A hopeful tale of improbable friendships, whirlwind romances and unexpected joy * Kirkus Reviews * A shining story…with exciting twists and prose that feels like legend, this is an essential read for anyone looking to renew their lust for life. Perfect for fans of Matt Haig and V.E. Schwab — Most Anticipated Debut Novels of 2024 * Barnes & Noble * An epic adventure… rich with all the possibilities the world can hold * People * A one-of-a-kind love letter to nature, humanity, and the stories we all carry within ourselves. Westerbeke’s engrossing, assured debut will enchant fans of Erin Morgenstern and Alix Harrow * Booklist (starred review) * A wild romping adventure, a poignant tale of relationships and interconnectedness, and a compelling journey of self-discovery. A Short Walk Through a Wide World is utterly engrossing, a world – worlds – to get lost in… every reader will find something to love * Shelf Awareness * That rare book that immediately becomes a dear friend… beautiful… This is a novel that asks what it is to love the world, and what it is for the world to love us. A grand adventure that begs to be revisited again and again — ERIKA SWYLER, author of The Book of Speculation and Light From Other Stars Enthralling… Capturing each moment of Aubry’s sweeping odyssey with extraordinary vividness, Westerbeke’s poignant epic speaks to the challenges of knowing oneself and others in a world of endless change. This is unforgettable * Publishers Weekly (starred review) * Readers of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab and Life of Pi by Yann Martel will fall in love with Aubry. Librarian Westerbeke’s debut is highly recommended for anyone who enjoys armchair travel and stories that open wide to embrace every experience * Library Journal (starred review) *