"A mother tries—and succeeds-- to rediscover her sense of self through a series of walks in England and Scotland."
It is said that a woman is broken into a million pieces on becoming a mother. But how does a woman reassemble herself after that happens? For writer Kerri Andrews, her reconstruction begins on a series of walks in England and Scotland.
Pathfinding is part walking guide, part nature writing, part memoir, and part history lesson. Once a keen walker, Andrews finds at the outset that the demands of motherhood have nearly eliminated any chance to do the thing she loves. But she realises the path back to herself begins by walking again.
Andrews’ lyrical nature writing leaps off nearly every page—the dark grey clouds gathering on the horizon, the geological stripes on the Scottish mountains, the dappled sunlight shining through the trees. But she doesn’t shy away from the very real struggle—both physical and emotional-- of completing some of these arduous walks.
She also tackles head on the impossible standards that society places on mothers while neglecting to give women the infrastructure necessary --low-cost child care, for one-- that would make their lives better. (In the acknowledgements, Andrews notes the approximately £22,965 in nursery fees she paid to get the book written.)
On one of the walks, Andrews figures out that she’s been too hard on herself. “Whatever else I consider myself to be, I realise it would be completely fair for me to think of myself as resilient, and strong, and brave,” Andrews writes. (Amen, sister.)
Press this book into the hands of any mother and she will see herself on these pages, walker or not.
| Primary Genre | Biographies & Autobiographies |
| Other Genres: | |
| Recommendations: |
The desire to walk is something that defines us, bringing joy, connection and freedom. But what happens to all this when we become mothers?
From the author of Wanderers, comes an urgent exploration of what it means to rediscover ourselves through the land we walk and the people we walk alongside.
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In the wake of the complete metamorphosis of becoming a mother, Kerri Andrews determines to undertake a series of journeys on foot to understand what has happened to her.
Alongside a backpack full of supplies, Kerri carries with her the shadow of post-natal depression and the idea that maybe the hills are no longer for those, like her, who bear the mental and physical scars of childbearing and childrearing.
Yet, what she soon discovers are tales of mother-walkers that have long been neglected or hidden away. From Mary Wollstonecraft and Ellen Weeton to Kate Chopin, here are women whose urgent stories offer new ways of stepping into motherhood.
As Kerri traverses urban, rural and increasingly mountainous landscapes in the North West and Scotland, she is joined by women who have also experienced the profound changes that having children can bring to bodies and minds. Together, they explore the complicated ground of motherhood today – balancing enormous responsibility and upheaval with ambition, rage and hope – creating new paths as they go.
Pathfinding features in the following genres: Star Books, Biographies & Autobiographies, Lifestyle, Hobbies and Leisure, Nature and the natural world: general interest, Sports, Travel, Memoirs, Biography, Literature and Literary studies, Memoirs
Pathfinding is available in Paperback, Hardback
Pathfinding was written by Kerri Andrews and published by Elliott & Thompson
Pathfinding has 224 pages
£9.89
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