Discovering the deep human emotional dimension through adventure and mystery

From the award-winning author Jennifer Egan, Heartwood is a disruptive novel that combines the adventure of nature with the human soul. At the heart of the story is the mysterious disappearance of 42-year-old Valerie Gillis, an experienced mountaineer who gets lost 200 miles from her destination on Maine's Appalachian Trail. Trapped in the wilderness, Valerie expresses her thoughts through fragments of poetic letters to her mother while battling the elements and holding onto hope.

Beverly, a dedicated Maine game warden, leads the search for Valerie, striving to uncover the truth behind her disappearance. Meanwhile, Lena, a 76-year-old observer living in a retirement community in Connecticut, takes on the role of an unexpected detective from the safety of her home. The interactive narrative structure intensifies the investigation, as developments suggest that Valerie's disappearance may be more complicated than it appears.

Heartwood is "a gem with thousands of facets – suspenseful, metaphorical, tender, and ultimately healing," as Megan Majumdar states. The story explores the adventure of a lost mountaineer and reveals the inner journeys of its characters. A novel that inspires bigger questions about how we lose ourselves and how we can reconnect."

Pages: 320, Year of Publication: 0408, Dimensions: 15.2x15.2cm