Solace: Rituals of Loss and Desire

by Mary Sojourner

Solace is a book about obsession and release, and the life-long search for balance in a world revolving around appetite and acceleration. Written in short, beautifully crafted pieces, the book carries the reader through Sojourner's life, from a restrained Catholic childhood to the excesses of her generation, through motherhood and divorce to her quiet, solitary existence in the Southwest, where she has learned the importance of living at the right pace.

Genres: Nonfiction

208 pages, Hardcover

First published March 2, 2004

Reviews

[Lois · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know I'm in the minority on this one, but I just couldn't get through it. The reason I got it from the library was because, while going thru some old papers I'd saved, I came across a magazine page with one of the short essays from this book. I had saved it because I loved the way it was written, and the intriguing topic of simple living and getting by with less. This time I noticed at the bottom that it said it was an excerpt from this book. However, in getting the book, and reading it, I found this one little section was really the only one I cared about. i can't even really say why, but I just didn't find the rest to be as inspiring as the one I'd saved, so I mostly just skimmed through the rest.

[Candice Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made the feel the lightest I have in weeks. I am amazed.

[Melanie Ullrich · Rating 3 out of 5]

This biography is my favorite of Mary Sojourner's books. I finally learned to love her lyrical, fragmented stories about her confusing and passionate life.

[SouthWestZippy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book. I do not have it in me to do what she did but if I did I would do it very close to her way.