The Maze: A Desert Journey

by Lucy Rees

"Northern Arizona is vast and beautiful. Horizons are huge, for the dry air is so clear you can often see for eighty or a hundred miles. Mountains we would think to walk over in a day may be three days' hard ride away. There is space between each tuft of grass or cactus." With these words, Lucy Rees invites the reader to saddle up and travel with her across the desert to the Hopi Indian mesas. There, she and a companion are searching for an ancient stone carving similar to one in Cornwall, near their native Wales, that has long fascinated them. The intricate design of the stone, spiraling inward and then turning outward again, becomes a purpose for their trek as well as a metaphor for the journey itself. Humorous and wise, this book is both a bold adventure on horseback and a moving account of personal tragedy, courage, and hope.

198 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Lorelie B · Rating 5 out of 5]

A journey of self discovery. Beautiful and heartbreaking. I don’t wish to leave spoilers, but I have been through what the central character has been through, and never seen it so faithfully and eloquently described on the page. Amazing writing can help you make sense of your own lived experience, and this did. An emotionally challenging read, but worth it.

[Donna Ziegler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not to quibble, but I think Rees is describing a labyrinth rather than a maze although maze is a better description of her journey. She write a sometimes humorous, honest account of her trip by horseback through the southwest which I found interesting.

[Billie Hinton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply lovely book. Rich description and thoughtful approach to the human relationship with horses. I highly recommend.