This Is the Place: Women Writing About Home

Home is where the soul resides, and for each of us it has different implications. Thirty female essayists from diverse backgrounds contribute their perspectives of the place they feel most comfortable in or else have the most haunting memories about. Some have traveled the world and lived in different distant places but still find one cozy spot back in their original homeland that claims their attachment. Others recall the tumult of civil war and crime in their birthplace but still find their origins connected to the lawless state. For some, the call of their native language brings comfort, and for many it is the association of family and, very often, the grandparents, with their stories and embraces that recall fireside warmth. Some take to the alluring curves of a ship and the call of the the sea, while others applaud the glacial pristine beauty of Alaska. Relationships come into play in these stories and not all are filled with joyful recollections. Some city folk have been disappointed in the demands of country living, while other rustic dwellers would not share in the pleasure of hectic city life. Each of these essays provides a glimpse into thoughts of home; it is a delightful read.