{"product_id":"9780571399888","title":"Gaining Ground : 'A life-changing book' (Samantha Harvey)","description":"\u003cp\u003eOne of the great novels of the twentieth century . . . Absolutely stunning' Max Porter'An intricately, perfectly mapped journey into self-liberation . . . It will stay with me for the rest of my days' Samantha Harvey 'Wildly original . . . Beneath the radical disquiet is a beautiful hymn to the hearts and minds of women' Sarah HallI swear I loved them all, and I did the best I could. And then I left them, left all of it.   Abra has a perfect-seeming life as a wife and mother: until one day, she walks away, leaving only a note asking her family not to look for her.   In a woodland cabin, her new life alone begins. There are no mirrors, no clocks, no memories: just the squirrels breathing in the forest, and silence of vegetables growing.   Years later, a young woman arrives, and the past-flashes begin. Daughter? A strange word. Is this her? And what will this mean?Joan Barfoot's Gaining Ground is a both a provocative meditation on living on your own terms and an exquisite work of art. It calls to anybody who has ever wanted to escape - who has asked what it costs to be wild, to be sane, to be free.   What readers are saying:So damn extraordinary.   This book meant everything to me.   An instant all-time favorite.   I loved reading this book . . . A story of impossible bravery, survival and reconciliation.   A beautiful story about a woman who puts her own happiness in life above her maternal duties.   One of the most influential novels I have ever read.   Wonderful. So much food for thought. I never re-read books, but this is one of the first I'll make an exception for.   A masterpiece.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Bookmonger","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":60214670983502,"sku":"9780571399888","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0874\/5795\/6174\/files\/9780571399888.jpg?v=1784984911","url":"https:\/\/thebookmongerbearsden.co.uk\/products\/9780571399888","provider":"The Bookmonger","version":"1.0","type":"link"}