I haven't read Rebecca Solnit before, but have thought that her books always look interesting, and she is always well reviewed. I'll be reading more of her work, having read this memoir and meditation on life, nature, art, and her difficult relationship with her mother. Rather than a narrative, it's a collection of linked essays, in which the author beautifully evokes events in her life and in the world around her. She's a very thought provokng writer, and the sections about her mother's struggle with dementia, and her own health issues are incredibly moving. She also writes about art and creativity, and the natural world with great sensitivity. This is an intelligent, profound and thoughtful book, which doesn't fit easily into any genre or category.