Reasons She Goes to the Woods : LONGLISTED FOR THE BAILEYS WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2014

"A sexy, contrary book...also a story concerned with morality. The most sustained and challenging aspect of the narrative is its insistence about what a little girl is like." - Times Literary SupplementPearl can be very, very good. More often she is very, very bad. But she’s just a child, a mystery to all who know her. A little girl who has her own secret reasons for escaping to the nearby woods. What might those reasons be? And how can she feel so at home in the dark, sinister, sensual woods, a wonder of secrets and mystery?"A spiky echo of Angela Carter, with whom Ms Davies at her best stands fair comparison... The language is fresh, the imagery striking...and Pearl herself is a rampant, compelling, fully-realised, wild-eyed, teary creation." - The ScotsmanTold in vignettes across Pearl’s childhood years, Reasons She Goes To The Woods is a nervy but lyrical novel about a normal girl growing up, doing the normal things little girls do. An alternative cover edition for this ISBN can be found (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42605301-reasons-she-goes-to-the-woods) here Pearl can be very, very good. More often she is very, very bad. But shes just a child, a mystery to all who know her. A little girl who has her own secret reasons for escaping to the nearby woods. What might those reasons be? And how can she feel so at home in the dark, sinister, sensual woods, a wonder of secrets and mystery? Told in vignettes across Pearls childhood years, Reasons She Goes To The Woods is a nervy but lyrical novel about a normal girl growing up, doing the normal things little girls do. 'Exquisite... To be marvelled at.' Guardian Shortlisted for the Encore Award Longlisted for the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction Pearl can be very, very good. More often she is very, very bad. But she's just a child, a mystery to all who know her. A little girl who has her own secret reasons for escaping to the nearby woods. What might those reasons be? And how can she feel so at home in the dark, sinister, sensual woods, a wonder of secrets and mystery? Told in vignettes across Pearl's childhood years, Reasons She Goes to the Woods is a nervy but lyrical novel about a normal girl growing up, doing the normal things little girls do. When she was good she was very, very good. But when she was bad she was horrid!Pearl can be very, very good. More often, though, she is very, very bad. But she's just a child. A mystery to all who know her; a little girl who has her own secret reasons for escaping to the nearby woods. What might those reasons be? And how can she feel so at home in the dark, sinister, sensual woods, a wonder of secrets and mystery? Told in vignettes across Pearl's childhood years, Reasons She Goes to the Woods is a nervy but lyrical novel about a normal girl growing up, doing the normal things little girls do Pearl and her Father; Pram; Stream; The Kerb; Perfume; Playing on the Stairs; Garden; Potty; Bunny; Snow will fall; Bad; Scissors; Punishment; A new thought; Bus; A good plan; New friend; No; Clump; Smile; Upside down; Break; Pat; Rebirth; Tears; Mixed up; Glad; Sandwiches; The claw; Pretend; Click; Flight; Pretty girl; Love; Mothers and fathers; Watching; Different; Zip it; Crying; TV and nibbles; Baking; Remembering; No one; Play time; Favourites; God; Overnight; Berries; Bird; Falling down; Bump; The rules; Cut; All better; Beans; Mer-children; Dreams; Clearing up; Now what?; Ever ready WinnerChoke; Sick; Perky; Wind chime; Not any more; Bleeding; Wall; Change; Work it out; Full; Easy; Surprise; Out; Better; Understandable; Opportunity; Seeing; Focus; All right; Shed; The answer; Blush; Broken; New start; Thinking; Code; Wrong; Burning; Bikini; Thigh; Forgiven; Where?; Picnic; Introductions; Saving; Goodbye; Nothing; Wow; Trip; Disappointment; Moving on; Silver birches; The future; Tablets; The walk; Sounds; Results; Bang; Couple; Hungry; Fight; Right as rain; Help; Comfort; Blame; A special day; Closed; Dressing up; But; Outside Pearl Can Be Very, Very Good. More Often She Is Very, Very Bad. But She's Just A Child, A Mystery To All Who Know Her. A Little Girl Who Has Her Own Secret Reasons For Escaping To The Nearby Woods. What Might Those Reasons Be? And How Can She Feel So At Home In The Dark, Sinister, Sensual Woods, A Wonder Of Secrets And Mystery? Told In Vignettes Across Pearl's Childhood Years, Reasons She Goes To The Woods Is A Nervy But Lyrical Novel About A Normal Girl Growing Up, Doing The Normal Things Little Girls Do. Deborah Kay Davies. Mysterieuze scènes uit het leven van een eigenzinnig en soms 'slecht' meisje dat zich vaak terugtrekt in het bos om helemaal zichzelf te kunnen zijn