“A Short Walk Through a Wide World” is a debut novel by Douglas Westerbeke that weaves a tale of Aubry Tourvel, a young girl cursed with a mysterious condition that demands constant movement. Set in 1885 Paris, Aubry discovers a wooden puzzle ball that inexplicably returns to her, triggering a life-threatening illness¹.

To survive, she must never stay in one place for more than a few days nor revisit any location. Her journey spans the globe, from the Calashino Sand Sea to the Himalayas, and even through infinite libraries. Along the way, she encounters whirlwind romances, improbable friendships, and learns the value of life’s journey over its destination.

This magical realism-laced travelogue is an homage to libraries and the sustenance they provide, celebrating the resilience of the human spirit in the face of an impossible life¹².