A Short Walk Through a Wide World

I love being pulled into a story. Where I feel that I'm also there and apart of the journey.

I had travelled into a world unlike ours. A world full of fantasy, magic and adventure and travels.

I will not forget this book anytime soon.

Thank you Simon&Schuster and Netgalley

All thoughts and opinions are my own and aren't influenced by anyone else

At the age of nine Aubrey Tourvel realizes she cannot stop traveling. After only a couple of days in one place, her curse or illness causing immense pain and bleeding. The only way to avoid this is to move on every few days. As a child she is accompanied by her mother but then moves on alone accompanied only by strangers she meets on her way. Every once in a while a secret door appears leading her into a library that can even transverse countries, picture stories abound but no people. In this mystical journey we are allowed to accompany Aubrey getting to know her and some of her companions in far away lands. This book seems to pick you up and carry you along on a journey of your own. It was a hard one to put down. I recommend it to any fantasy lover. Our world becomes quite mystical as we travel it through someone else's eyes.
Thank you to #NetGalley#Simon&SchusterCanada#AvidReaderPress for this wonderful EARC

I could give this book all of the stars and it wouldn’t be enough. This is a book where you finish sad that it’s over. You finish and have to sit with the beautiful story that settles both heavily and light in your heart. I’ll be getting a physical book because this is a life book

Walking with Aubry Tourvel through the world was a delight. While it’s a world we know it’s a different world she experiences. A fantastical journey without being a strictly fantasy novel. There are beautiful and heartbreaking secrets, an intimate and full experience of places we’ll never see in such a manner and while the companions are temporary they are brilliant and demonstrate more of the world and humanity. This book is whimsical and does best if you are a passenger princess who wants to follow along for a random adventure.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster/Avid Reader for this advanced reader copy of Douglas Westerbekes debut novel A Short Walk Through A Wide World.

“There are things on this earth that only exist because you have beheld them. If you weren’t there, they never would have been.”

What would it take to encounter, up close and personal, and see, really see, the world around you - to appreciate the things you can comprehend, and to open yourself, fully with no holding back, to the wonders you cannot. Both the deadly and the divine.

For Aubry Tourvel, these are not merely philosophical questions.

For Aubry is cursed.

From the age of nine years old, Aubry has been burdened with a mysterious ailment which causes her to experience an agonizing medical decline when she remains in the same physical place for more than a few days. Set in the late 1800’s, Aubry must roam the world - alone and fierce - in an exploratory role unheard of for girls, or even women, of the time. Trapped into a forced lifelong exile that pits her against an entire wide world of jungles, rivers, mountains and deserts, Aubry must face head-on whatever may befall her.

Along the way, Aubry will also learn about love and it’s misfirings, and just what is, or is not, available to her, in her unavoidably nomadic existence. For Aubry, a lifetime’s loss of “home” (and all that it implies) may very well be her permanent future.

Aubry’s story is a strange and colorful one - a meandering fable peppered with fascinating adventures and a myriad of characters she encounters across the globe - ultimately revealing itself to be an enchanting and magical look at human consciousness, our deeply-rooted connection to the wide world around us, the mystifying nature of time, and the sublime miracle of simply “being”.

With big, bold (often wonderfully chaotic) imagery, encompassing vast geographical vistas, amidst an atlas of far-off and exotic locations, this story is an imaginative feast to serve the explorer in all of us.

Destined to please readers of Fantasy and Magical Realism, along with lovers of a good story everywhere, this book a sheer delight, and one this reader found herself savoring in a single read almost straight through.

A great big thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.

What an amazing book. Aubry's disease causes her to wander, and this book could have read like a travelogue all about places and things. But it isn't. This is a book about relationships and people. About home, and loss and wandering. About making connections in small periods of time that create a lasting impact, both on Aubry and on those she meets. It reminds me of Gabriel Garcia Marquez with magical realism layered over intense humanity.

I'd recommend this book to anyone.

As someone who loves nothing more than curling up with a good book and dreaming of far-off lands, I was immediately drawn to "A Short Walk Through a Wide World" by debut author Douglas Westerbeke. From the very first page, I felt a kinship with Aubrey Tourvel, our intrepid protagonist, who is forced to keep moving to avoid a mysterious ailment.

In many ways, Aubrey's journey mirrors our own quest for connection and understanding in a vast and ever-changing world. Like many of us, she grapples with the transient nature of relationships, finding solace in fleeting connections and the beauty of the unknown. As she travels from one place to another, I found myself nodding along, empathizing with her struggles and celebrating her victories.

Westerbeke's writing is both captivating and relatable, weaving a tale that is equal parts enchanting and thought-provoking. Through Aubrey's eyes, I experienced the world in a new light, savoring every lush description and poignant moment of introspection. Despite the fantastical elements, the core of the story resonates with universal themes of love, loss, and the resilience of the human spirit.

One of the highlights of the book is Aubrey's unwavering determination and sense of humor, which shine through even in the darkest of moments. Her journey is peppered with touching encounters and unexpected twists, keeping me on the edge of my seat until the very end.

While there were moments where I wished for more depth and detail, particularly regarding certain plot points, the overall impact of the story is undeniable. The ending, while unexpected, left me feeling both satisfied and contemplative, much like the conclusion of a long journey.

In conclusion, "A Short Walk Through a Wide World" is a relatable and deeply satisfying read that will appeal to anyone who has ever felt the tug of wanderlust or the ache of longing for connection. Douglas Westerbeke has crafted a timeless tale that will stay with me long after I've turned the final page, reminding me of the beauty and complexity of the world we inhabit.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Final Thoughts: This book is more than just a story; it's a companion for anyone who has ever dared to dream of adventure and discovery. Dive in and let Aubrey's journey inspire your own wanderlust-fueled escapades.