BeautyBooksElectronicsHome & KitchenSports & OutdoorsIndustrial & ScientificToys & Games
Deliver toUnited Arab Emirates
The Forest Is the Path: Sunday Times and Irish Bestseller – A special companion book to the number 1 bestselling album by Snow Patrol

Description:

'The pages sing in this beautiful book.' Bono

'Moving and lyrical, The Forest is the Path is an imaginative and deeply personal journey of self-discovery.' The Irish Times

You’re falling through time so all I can do is fall with you.

The numbness had set in long before I sat at your bedside. But even with senses impaired as the flight touches down at Belfast City I can somehow still feel the screeching of wheels on tarmac scorching something deep into me.

Gary Lightbody's phenomenal companion to Snow Patrol's No.1 Album of the same name is a remarkable work of narrative writing.

The Forest is the Path explores some of the main themes of the album; time, home, love, death and life, and serves as a prequel to the record, telling the story of his dad Jack's death. It tracks the journey he went on – a journey whose end seemed to unlock a part of Gary that had been dormant until he started to write songs again.

This is the book that emerged from that time.

‘[An] astoundingly poetic book’ – Pandora Sykes

'Raw…and extraordinary.' – Nihal Arthanayake

'Lightbody's propose is fluid and unflinchingly honest' – The Irish Times

'Absolutely beautiful.' Audrey Carville

‘I have both cried and laughed reading this book. It is beautiful.’ – Muireann O'Connell

Gary Lightbody's book 'The Forest Is the Path' was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 2025-03-17.

Read more

Editorial Reviews

Review

'A tender, thoughtful exploration of love and grief. A beautiful book.' Marian Keyes

'Absolutely floored me. Novelistic and majestic. I've long loved Gary Lightbody as a lyricist. Maddeningly it turns out he can do it in the long form too. This is a brilliant prose debut. I hope there's more to come.' John Niven

'A stunning meditation on family, grief and creativity, told in gorgeous prose. The Forest Is the Path is an evocative and moving manifesto of loss and love, and a reminder of what's important.' Sinéad Gleeson

'The Forest is the Path is a lyrical, moving and astoundingly honest portrait of grief. A deeply personal account of a difficult time which will resonate with every reader who's ever lost someone close. Full of pathos, hope and hard-won profundity.' Jan Carson

‘Lightbody’s experience in songwriting ― heartfelt, confessional treasures like Chasing Cars, Run and Open Your Eyes is beautifully rendered in narrative form.’ Sunday Times, Pavel Barter

'I read it in one go…and then I read it again.' Lorraine Kelly

'A beautiful piece of work.' Ryan Tubridy, Virgin Radio

'The book and the album – both are absolutely terrific.' Brendan O'Connor

‘Gary Lightbody from Snow Patrol has written a really beautiful book, The Forest Is the Path, about writing and dealing with the grief of losing his dad. It’s really great.’ Edith Bowman

'This book is visceral and raw, travelling at breakneck speed through moments of grief, memories and artistic creation.' The Sunday Post (Scotland)

'Like Joan Didion in her remarkable memoirs about grief, Lightbody is well able to capture the surreality of the disappearance of a loved one out of your life.' The Irish Independent

'Gary Lightbody's lyricism works just as beautifully on the page as it does in his music.' Loverboy Magazine

'Much like Dante's dark wood or the mythic journey into the unknown, Lightbody's forest is both an obstacle and a revelation – a place where getting lost is the only way forward.' Irish Times

Book Description

Sunday Times and Irish Bestseller – A special companion book to the number 1 bestselling album by Snow Patrol

Review:

5.0 out of 5 stars The whole book so awesome

A.C. · September 3, 2025

This book was so sweet and heartbreaking and awesome. Made me cry.

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny and sad, profound and relatable, and beautifully written memoir

E.C. · March 18, 2025

I went into "The Forest Is the Path" with curiosity but a certain amount of trepidation. While I consider Gary Lightbody to be one of the finest lyricists of the 21st century, I wasn't sure what a prose memoir of his would be like. Would it be leaden and mawkish? Overinflated and egotistical? Would it even be readable at all?I need not have worried. "The Forest Is the Path" is clearly the work of a poetic mind, but in the best possible way. The prose style is compressed and yet laden with emotion, while still being eminently readable. As in his lyrics, Lightbody depicts extremely relatable human experiences (dealing with bureaucracy, trying to figure out how to escape high tide without getting his shoes wet) set against a backdrop of cosmic grandeur.The book is partly about his father's death from dementia, and it dips in out and of time as he meditates on the meaning of memory, the nature of consciousness, the source of creative inspiration, and our experience of time itself. It's both funny and sad, casual and profound, like having a really good conversation with an old friend. He finishes with an exploration of anger and forgiveness that provides no concrete answers, but leaves the reader feeling uplifted despite the heavy subject matter. Highly recommend to anyone dealing with grief, contemplating consciousness and creativity, or just wanting to enjoy some beautiful prose.

5.0 out of 5 stars Through The Path With You

M.S. · October 7, 2025

Jumping into this masterpiece not knowing what to expect and coming away with the deepest respect for the man Gary Lightbody. The tale so intricately woven and intertwined with the music has given my a new love for the music and the band I've admired for so long.A beautiful journey through the rugged landscape of life and family. I've listened to his reading and his courage in reading words I could not muster for my own father for fear of releasing him from my memory. Thank you Gary..it is a triumph!

Intimate grief

s.d. · September 30, 2025

An intimate insight into grief. Especially delayed grief.

Fabulous read.

R. · July 29, 2025

Fabulous book. Really enjoyed it and empathised with many of Gary’s feelings.

Book

L. · August 8, 2025

Beautifully written book.Loved it

Do yourself a favour and read this.

T.B. · August 16, 2025

This book is a must for readers grieving a parent Gary obviously writing from experience has the grief down to a T..it is a beautiful, heartfelt book.

A very special book.

S. · July 31, 2025

Beautiful, lyrical, intelligent, funny, moving... Absolutely loved it, bought a couple of copies as gifts. Such a special book.

Visit the HarperCollins Store

The Forest Is the Path: Sunday Times and Irish Bestseller – A special companion book to the number 1 bestselling album by Snow Patrol

Product ID: U0008751900
Condition: New

4.6

AED13834

Price includes VAT & Import Duties
Type: Hardcover
Availability: In Stock

Quantity:

|

Order today to get by

Free delivery on orders over AED 200

Return and refund policies

Imported From: United States

At bolo.ae, we stand behind the authenticity and quality of every product we sell. We guarantee that all items offered on our website are 100% genuine, sourced directly from authorized distributors, trusted partners, or the original brands themselves.

We do not sell counterfeit, replica, or unauthorized goods. Each product undergoes thorough inspection and verification at our consolidation and fulfilment centers to ensure it meets our strict authenticity and quality standards before being shipped and delivered to you.

If you ever have concerns regarding the authenticity of a product purchased from us, please contact Bolo Support . We will review your inquiry promptly and, if necessary, provide documentation verifying authenticity or offer a suitable resolution.

Your trust is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in every transaction.

All product information, including images, descriptions, and reviews, is provided by third-party vendors. bolo.ae is not responsible for any claims, promotions, or representations made within product content or images. For more accurate or detailed product information, please contact the manufacturer directly or reach out to Bolo Support.

Unless otherwise stated during checkout, all prices displayed on the product page include applicable taxes and import duties.

bolo.ae operates in accordance with the laws and regulations of United Arab Emirates. Any items found to be restricted or prohibited for sale within the UAE will be cancelled prior to shipment. We take proactive measures to ensure that only products permitted for sale in United Arab Emirates are listed on our website.

All items are shipped by air, and any products classified as “Dangerous Goods (DG)” under IATA regulations will be removed from the order and cancelled.

All orders are processed manually, and we make every effort to process them promptly once confirmed. Products cancelled due to the above reasons will be permanently removed from listings across the website.

Similar suggestions by Bolo

More from this brand

Similar items from “Rock”

Share with

Or share with link

https://www.bolo.ae/products/U0008751900

Visit the HarperCollins Store

The Forest Is the Path: Sunday Times and Irish Bestseller – A special companion book to the number 1 bestselling album by Snow Patrol

Product ID: U0008751900
Condition: New

4.6

Type: Hardcover

AED13834

Price includes VAT & Import Duties
Availability: In Stock

Quantity:

|

Order today to get by

Free delivery on orders over AED 200

Return and refund policies

Imported From: United States

At bolo.ae, we stand behind the authenticity and quality of every product we sell. We guarantee that all items offered on our website are 100% genuine, sourced directly from authorized distributors, trusted partners, or the original brands themselves.

We do not sell counterfeit, replica, or unauthorized goods. Each product undergoes thorough inspection and verification at our consolidation and fulfilment centers to ensure it meets our strict authenticity and quality standards before being shipped and delivered to you.

If you ever have concerns regarding the authenticity of a product purchased from us, please contact Bolo Support . We will review your inquiry promptly and, if necessary, provide documentation verifying authenticity or offer a suitable resolution.

Your trust is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in every transaction.

All product information, including images, descriptions, and reviews, is provided by third-party vendors. bolo.ae is not responsible for any claims, promotions, or representations made within product content or images. For more accurate or detailed product information, please contact the manufacturer directly or reach out to Bolo Support.

Unless otherwise stated during checkout, all prices displayed on the product page include applicable taxes and import duties.

bolo.ae operates in accordance with the laws and regulations of United Arab Emirates. Any items found to be restricted or prohibited for sale within the UAE will be cancelled prior to shipment. We take proactive measures to ensure that only products permitted for sale in United Arab Emirates are listed on our website.

All items are shipped by air, and any products classified as “Dangerous Goods (DG)” under IATA regulations will be removed from the order and cancelled.

All orders are processed manually, and we make every effort to process them promptly once confirmed. Products cancelled due to the above reasons will be permanently removed from listings across the website.

Description:

'The pages sing in this beautiful book.' Bono

'Moving and lyrical, The Forest is the Path is an imaginative and deeply personal journey of self-discovery.' The Irish Times

You’re falling through time so all I can do is fall with you.

The numbness had set in long before I sat at your bedside. But even with senses impaired as the flight touches down at Belfast City I can somehow still feel the screeching of wheels on tarmac scorching something deep into me.

Gary Lightbody's phenomenal companion to Snow Patrol's No.1 Album of the same name is a remarkable work of narrative writing.

The Forest is the Path explores some of the main themes of the album; time, home, love, death and life, and serves as a prequel to the record, telling the story of his dad Jack's death. It tracks the journey he went on – a journey whose end seemed to unlock a part of Gary that had been dormant until he started to write songs again.

This is the book that emerged from that time.

‘[An] astoundingly poetic book’ – Pandora Sykes

'Raw…and extraordinary.' – Nihal Arthanayake

'Lightbody's propose is fluid and unflinchingly honest' – The Irish Times

'Absolutely beautiful.' Audrey Carville

‘I have both cried and laughed reading this book. It is beautiful.’ – Muireann O'Connell

Gary Lightbody's book 'The Forest Is the Path' was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 2025-03-17.

Read more

Editorial Reviews

Review

'A tender, thoughtful exploration of love and grief. A beautiful book.' Marian Keyes

'Absolutely floored me. Novelistic and majestic. I've long loved Gary Lightbody as a lyricist. Maddeningly it turns out he can do it in the long form too. This is a brilliant prose debut. I hope there's more to come.' John Niven

'A stunning meditation on family, grief and creativity, told in gorgeous prose. The Forest Is the Path is an evocative and moving manifesto of loss and love, and a reminder of what's important.' Sinéad Gleeson

'The Forest is the Path is a lyrical, moving and astoundingly honest portrait of grief. A deeply personal account of a difficult time which will resonate with every reader who's ever lost someone close. Full of pathos, hope and hard-won profundity.' Jan Carson

‘Lightbody’s experience in songwriting ― heartfelt, confessional treasures like Chasing Cars, Run and Open Your Eyes is beautifully rendered in narrative form.’ Sunday Times, Pavel Barter

'I read it in one go…and then I read it again.' Lorraine Kelly

'A beautiful piece of work.' Ryan Tubridy, Virgin Radio

'The book and the album – both are absolutely terrific.' Brendan O'Connor

‘Gary Lightbody from Snow Patrol has written a really beautiful book, The Forest Is the Path, about writing and dealing with the grief of losing his dad. It’s really great.’ Edith Bowman

'This book is visceral and raw, travelling at breakneck speed through moments of grief, memories and artistic creation.' The Sunday Post (Scotland)

'Like Joan Didion in her remarkable memoirs about grief, Lightbody is well able to capture the surreality of the disappearance of a loved one out of your life.' The Irish Independent

'Gary Lightbody's lyricism works just as beautifully on the page as it does in his music.' Loverboy Magazine

'Much like Dante's dark wood or the mythic journey into the unknown, Lightbody's forest is both an obstacle and a revelation – a place where getting lost is the only way forward.' Irish Times

Book Description

Sunday Times and Irish Bestseller – A special companion book to the number 1 bestselling album by Snow Patrol

Review:

5.0 out of 5 stars The whole book so awesome

A.C. · September 3, 2025

This book was so sweet and heartbreaking and awesome. Made me cry.

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny and sad, profound and relatable, and beautifully written memoir

E.C. · March 18, 2025

I went into "The Forest Is the Path" with curiosity but a certain amount of trepidation. While I consider Gary Lightbody to be one of the finest lyricists of the 21st century, I wasn't sure what a prose memoir of his would be like. Would it be leaden and mawkish? Overinflated and egotistical? Would it even be readable at all?I need not have worried. "The Forest Is the Path" is clearly the work of a poetic mind, but in the best possible way. The prose style is compressed and yet laden with emotion, while still being eminently readable. As in his lyrics, Lightbody depicts extremely relatable human experiences (dealing with bureaucracy, trying to figure out how to escape high tide without getting his shoes wet) set against a backdrop of cosmic grandeur.The book is partly about his father's death from dementia, and it dips in out and of time as he meditates on the meaning of memory, the nature of consciousness, the source of creative inspiration, and our experience of time itself. It's both funny and sad, casual and profound, like having a really good conversation with an old friend. He finishes with an exploration of anger and forgiveness that provides no concrete answers, but leaves the reader feeling uplifted despite the heavy subject matter. Highly recommend to anyone dealing with grief, contemplating consciousness and creativity, or just wanting to enjoy some beautiful prose.

5.0 out of 5 stars Through The Path With You

M.S. · October 7, 2025

Jumping into this masterpiece not knowing what to expect and coming away with the deepest respect for the man Gary Lightbody. The tale so intricately woven and intertwined with the music has given my a new love for the music and the band I've admired for so long.A beautiful journey through the rugged landscape of life and family. I've listened to his reading and his courage in reading words I could not muster for my own father for fear of releasing him from my memory. Thank you Gary..it is a triumph!

Intimate grief

s.d. · September 30, 2025

An intimate insight into grief. Especially delayed grief.

Fabulous read.

R. · July 29, 2025

Fabulous book. Really enjoyed it and empathised with many of Gary’s feelings.

Book

L. · August 8, 2025

Beautifully written book.Loved it

Do yourself a favour and read this.

T.B. · August 16, 2025

This book is a must for readers grieving a parent Gary obviously writing from experience has the grief down to a T..it is a beautiful, heartfelt book.

A very special book.

S. · July 31, 2025

Beautiful, lyrical, intelligent, funny, moving... Absolutely loved it, bought a couple of copies as gifts. Such a special book.

Similar suggestions by Bolo

More from this brand

Similar items from “Rock”

Share with

Or share with link

https://www.bolo.ae/products/U0008751900