A Short Walk Through a Wide World

Books | Fiction / Action & Adventure

4.5

Douglas Westerbeke

“Imagine The Life of Pi, The Alchemist, and The Midnight Library rolled into one fantastical fable.” —The New York Times Book Review * “An epic adventure…rich with all the possibilities the world can hold.” —People NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A dazzlingly epic debut that charts the incredible, adventurous life of one woman as she journeys the globe trying to outrun a mysterious curse that will destroy her if she stops moving.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 backpack that evening. Days later, at the family dinner table, she starts to bleed to death. When medical treatment only makes her worse, she flees to the outskirts of the city, where she realizes that it is this very act of movement that keeps her alive. So begins her lifelong journey on the run from her condition, which won’t allow her to stay anywhere for longer than a few days—nor return to a place where she’s already been. From the scorched dunes of the Calanshio Sand Sea to the snow-packed peaks of the Himalayas; 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 the longer Aubry wanders and the more desperate she is to share her life with others, the clearer it becomes that the world she travels through may not be quite the same as everyone else’s... Fiercely independent and hopeful, yet full of longing, Aubry Tourvel is an unforgettable character fighting her way through a world of wonders to find a place she can call home. A spellbinding and inspiring story about discovering meaning in a life that seems otherwise impossible, A Short Walk Through a Wide World reminds us that it’s not the destination, but rather the journey—no matter how long it lasts—that makes us who we are.

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More Details:

Author

Douglas Westerbeke

Pages

400

Publisher

Simon and Schuster

Published Date

2024-04-02

ISBN

1668026082 9781668026083

Community ReviewsSee all

" Not at all where I thought the story would go. Although there were many lessons learned, I would have liked more answers. 4 stars because this is one of those books that has stayed with me and the writing was beautiful."

The Lazy Reader

"Going to read this again immediately.❤️"

Danielle Henry

"I loved the way the author wrote this book and I know when I read it for the second time, I will see things that I missed just like Aubrey. It was very interesting in all of its ways and how it all came together in the end."

Sophie

"I loved the concept. Still puzzled by the ending though!"

Amanda

"Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an ARC of this book! This is such a beautifully written book and I read it in the span of a day simply because I couldn't put it down. The chapters are short which I loved. This book made me realize that no matter where you are or what you're doing life is amzing because you get to experience it. The only thing I would have changed about this book is the timeline, it got a bit confusing for me because it wasn't in chronological order."

M H

Morgan Hunt

"This is one of those fantasy books that transcends the genre classification. The book is a historical adventure tale that has a few fantasy elements but who are we, the reader, to say that magic doesn’t exist in the world? The story centers on Aubry Tourvel’s life. The story begins, well, not at the beginning but probably somewhere in the middle. Aubry has a mysterious illness of unknown origins that may or may not be tied to a puzzle ball she found on her way home from school one day. She is nine years old when she finds that staying in one place, and returning to places she has already been, causes her to fall gravely ill. Her sickness forces her to live her life alone and perpetually in motion. This book is the story of her journey and the people she meets along the way. I enjoyed following Aubry on her journey and was delighted by all the amazing humans she gets a chance to meet. You would think that having to travel the world alone would be an isolating experience, instead the story is laid out in the momentary connections she makes along the way. This book is a reminder that each person we meet is a chance at something amazing. That while a language barrier may seem like an impediment to forming a bond, connections can be made without communication. Human experience is not something that can be measured in how many places you’ve been or how big your house is. A human life boils down to the impact you have left in your wake and the people you have met along the way. While this book is beautiful it also has a bit of an underlying darkness or sadness that makes the whole experience of reading it stick with you. I love how the fantastical elements were handled in this book. It makes the reader believe that maybe there is magic in the world it just hasn’t happened to us. If you’re looking for a deep book that also gives you the “warm and fuzzies”, then this is the book for you."

Nicole Falche

"A very interesting concept and very understandable narrative! The ending felt a bit rushed and random but overall a fantastic story!!"

Stephanie Boza

"This was life changing, and I would recommend it to absolutely anyone. The writing, plot and lessons along the way really changed my perspective about life. Overall amazing book"