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.

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.

This is the book that emerged from that time.

‘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