Pathways

A novel about connections forged and failed, Pathways is a perceptive, wry, and unexpectedly moving love story of deep originality and intelligence. Set in Cambridge and Las Vegas, it explores how people struggle to understand themselves and each other.

Format: Hardback
Length: 448 pages
Publication date: 04 April 2024
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Pathways is a novel by Amanda Hodgkinson that delves into the lives of two women, Cara and Heather, who are brought together by the sudden disappearance of Heather's father, Paul. Cara is a dedicated neuroscientist with a research post at Cambridge, while Heather is her almost-stepdaughter, drifting towards the end of school, trying to picture a future that fits her. When Paul suddenly disappears with no explanation, these two very different women, legally and biologically unrelated, are forced to figure out their place in each other's lives.

The story is set in Cambridge and Las Vegas, each city in its way as artificial as the other. Pathways explores the themes of connections forged and connections failed, and how people struggle to understand themselves and each other. The novel is perceptive, wry, and unexpectedly moving, a love story of deep originality and intelligence.

Cara is a brilliant neuroscientist who is dedicated to her work but has been struggling with the loss of her mother. Heather is a young woman who is trying to find her place in the world, and she is drawn to Cara's intelligence and passion for her work. As the story unfolds, Cara and Heather are forced to confront their pasts and their relationships with each other. They learn to trust each other and to rely on each other in times of crisis.

One of the strengths of Pathways is its portrayal of the complexities of relationships. The novel explores the different types of connections that people can have, from romantic relationships to family relationships to friendships. It shows how these connections can be both positive and negative, and how they can shape our lives.

Another strength of the novel is its portrayal of the different cities that are featured. Cambridge is a beautiful city with a rich history and a vibrant intellectual community, and it provides a backdrop for the story that is both intellectual and emotional. Las Vegas, on the other hand, is a city of excess and glamour, and it provides a contrast to the more intellectual and introspective world of Cambridge.

Overall, Pathways is a wonderful novel that will resonate with readers who are interested in exploring the complexities of relationships and the challenges of understanding oneself

Weight: 690g
Dimension: 241 x 163 x 39 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780349004181