Out of the Woods
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Orion Publishing Co
Published:23rd Jan '20
Should be back in stock very soon
This memoir explores the author's struggles with identity, depression, and guilt as a bisexual man. Set against the backdrop of Epping Forest, it offers a poignant reflection on masculinity and acceptance.
Out of the Woods is a compelling and deeply personal memoir that explores themes of sexuality, shame, and the healing power of nature. The author, Luke Turner, delves into his struggles with depression and guilt stemming from his identity as a bisexual man, as well as the trauma of past sexual abuse and the complexities of his religious upbringing. This poignant narrative is not only a reflection on his inner turmoil but also a journey toward self-acceptance.
Set against the backdrop of London's Epping Forest, Turner finds solace among the trees, where he grapples with the societal expectations of masculinity and the intricacies of his sexual identity. The forest serves as a sanctuary, allowing him to confront the demons of his past and embrace the duality of his existence. Through vivid prose, he captures the beauty and challenges of reconciling his personal truth with the perceptions of the world around him.
Out of the Woods has garnered critical acclaim, being shortlisted for the 2019 Wainwright Book Prize and longlisted for the Polari First Book Award. Critics have praised it for its unique blend of humor and serious reflection, highlighting its innovative approach to the nature memoir genre. Turner’s brave exploration of his experiences offers readers a rich tapestry of emotions, ultimately presenting a powerful narrative about finding one's place in the world and the journey toward authenticity.
Turns the nature memoir genre upon its head . . . OUT OF THE WOODS is a book full of poetry and pathos. More than anything it is a bold and beautiful study of how to be a true modern man -- Ben Myers * THE SPECTATOR *
This is a book to get lost in...A disturbing trauma narrative, it's also a work of delightfully low, pants-dropping comedy, and a learned meditation -- Sukhdev Sandhu * GUARDIAN *
OUT OF THE WOODS is a brave and beautiful book, electrifying on sex and nature, religion and love. No one is writing quite like this. I'm so glad Luke Turner exists -- OLIVIA LAING, author of THE LONELY CITY
OUT OF THE WOODS had me hooked. Refreshing, frank, edifying, courageous . . . I was quite emotional by the end. Luke Turner is a serious thinker and a unique and important new voice -- AMY LIPTROT, author of THE OUTRUN
Unflinching on relationships, the nature of obsession, lust, masculinity, faith and lost innocence. OUT OF THE WOODS is a very special book -- BRETT ANDERSON
Truly beautiful prose... the candour and insightful scholarship Turner brings to his subject make it a very worthwhile read -- Grub Smith * LITERARY REVIEW *
OUT OF THE WOODS is emotionally and sexually charged, deeply moving, with hauntingly exquisite writing and an extraordinary command of language that draws you into the depths of the forest and Luke's struggles with bisexuality, religion and love. Such raw honesty is precious and makes for a powerful read. I feel like I want to bind this book in wood and keep it in a special place for when I return to read it again and again -- COSEY FANNI TUTTI
OUT OF THE WOODS is like nothing I've read before - rich, honest, humane and thoughtful, it is utterly original and really gets into the bones -- LUCY JONES
Turner mixes vulnerability with the sort of insight that comes only through a complex honesty -- Sean Hewitt * IRISH TIMES *
Honest, haunting and moving, OUT OF THE WOODS envelops you in its leafy, sprawling pages, and squeezes tight. Captivating and poignant * ATTITUDE *
A transformative, brutally honest memoir which is unafraid to stalk the monster that hides in the darkest of forests. OUT OF THE WOODS is like the Brothers Grimm adapted by Derek Jarman and it is easily one of my books of the year -- JOHN HIGGS
Achieves that tricky balance of feeling both deeply personal and totally universal * ESQUIRE *
A compulsive and beautifully written debut: all those who loved THE OUTRUN should read it -- Caroline Sanderson * Editor's Choice, THE BOOKSELLER *
An important and moving memoir about the struggles of being bisexual . . . His brave, often poetic prose encompasses the pastoral, the confessional, and the erotic -- Paul Edmondson * CHURCH TIMES *
Sparkling with sexual energy and intelligence, OUT OF THE WOODS is both a timely reminder of the dangers of concealment and suppression, and a powerful testament to the redemptive power of - lovingly, determinedly - making what was hidden known -- HELEN JUKES, author of A HONEYBEE HEART HAS FIVE OPENINGS
An unflinching and unsentimental portrait of place, spirituality and sexuality . . . Turner's is a memoir stripped of nostalgia - honest to its bones - and a bold reimagining of what nature writing can be -- Jessica J. Lee, author of TWO TREES MAKE A FOREST
- Short-listed for The Wainwright Prize 2019 (UK)
- Long-listed for Polari Prize 2019 (UK)
ISBN: 9781474607162
Dimensions: 196mm x 130mm x 30mm
Weight: 260g
288 pages