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So Many Ways to Begin

A journey through love, loss, and self-discovery.

Jon McGregor author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:HarperCollins Publishers

Published:9th Feb '17

Should be back in stock very soon

So Many Ways to Begin cover

David Carter's life is upended by a revelation that challenges everything he knows. So Many Ways to Begin explores themes of love and self-discovery.

In So Many Ways to Begin, David Carter grapples with the discontent that permeates his life. He yearns for the days when his wife, Eleanor, was the vibrant woman who captured his heart. As a museum curator, he reflects on how his once-promising career has become mundane and unfulfilling. The arrival of their daughter, a moment that should have brought joy, instead highlights the growing distance between him and Eleanor. David's life feels like a series of missed opportunities and unfulfilled dreams, leading him to question the very foundations of his existence.

The narrative takes a turn when a seemingly innocuous comment from his mother's friend reveals a hidden truth that shakes David to his core. This revelation forces him to confront the reality that his life has been built on a deception, leaving him restless and introspective. As he navigates the complexities of his relationships, David must come to terms with the choices he has made and the paths he has not taken.

So Many Ways to Begin is a poignant exploration of longing, regret, and the search for authenticity. Through David's journey, the story delves into the intricacies of love and the inevitable changes that life brings. It challenges readers to reflect on their own lives and the ways in which they seek fulfillment amidst the chaos of everyday existence.

‘Extraordinary’ Daily Mail

‘Subtle, clever and affecting’ Independent on Sunday

‘A homage to ordinary people and ordinary things, to the parts of our lives that often go unspoken … moving and honest’ The Times

‘A book about the search for greater meaning in the strange dance of chance’ Independent

‘McGregor’s meticulous syntax melts into a hot flood of words … An intimate tale with penetrating things to say about the wider history of twentieth-century Britain’ Sunday Times

‘An absorbing and unexpectedly uplifting novel … It will leave you thinking long after you have put the book away on the shelf’ Irish Independent

‘A close reading of ordinary lives … tender and often
beautifully poetic’ Stephanie Merritt, Observer

‘Both compelling and convincing. A deeply rewarding read, serious and often beautiful’ Good Book Guide

‘McGregor is a brilliant prose stylist, and here he excels at
making the provincial and the ordinary seem extraordinary’ Sunday Times

‘This is a wonderful novel; low-key but beautifully paced,
scattered with extraordinarily intense moments’ Independent on Sunday

‘This is an unforgettable novel' Daily Telegraph

ISBN: 9780008218676

Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 28mm

Weight: 350g

384 pages