NOMINATING LIBRARY COMMENTS

A Short Walk Through a Wide World unfolds the adventurous tale of Aubry Tourvel, a woman on a quest to outrun her unique condition: if she stays in one place for more than a few days, she begins to suffer a deadly illness. Her life becomes a state of constant movement, traveling through cities and across continents, unable to return to wherever she steps foot. Oscillating between delight and despair, her decades-long pilgrimage is a journey of survival, full of interesting characters, feats of physical and mental strength, and a magnificent view of far-flung places through eager eyes. This enchanting novel encourages readers to discern the depths of one’s heart in times of turmoil and uncertainty and to embrace what fleeting relationships we have in this life. Westerbeke’s compelling prose delights and inspires, and his narrative tempts us to set out and discover traces of magic while exploring our own wide world.