Solo Passage

August 31, 2023
Feeling unsettled as her fiftieth birthday approached, author Goodrich embarked on what she thought would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience: a wilderness quest. Based on practices drawn from Indigenous cultures, such guided quests consist of solitary days spent fasting and reflecting in remote natural settings. Goodrich shares this initial experience along with 12 other quests in which she subsequently participated, providing descriptions of the marvelous wonders she finds in her temporary settings, relatable summaries of physical discomforts, and intriguing accounts of spiritual insights. Goodrich has endured a lot: alcoholic father, married and a mother at seventeen, two divorces and several failed relationships with emotionally abusive men, abandoning her kids to escape their toxic father. She has also achieved a lot: graduating from nursing school, changing careers to go into HR, in her fifties becoming an artist and art doula. Her story comes together as she considers her quests in relation to spirituality (creativity, forgiveness, compassion) and candidly shares her inner transformations. Many readers may wish that they could join this intriguing great-grandmother on one of her upcoming quests.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Goodrich recalls lessons learned on a series of wilderness quests in this nonfiction debut. A vision quest, writes the author, "is an act of courage and determination that involves solitude, fasting, and prayer." Solitary quests into the wilderness, she notes, are central to the spiritual narratives of Indigenous Americans, Buddhists, Muslims, and Christians. After reading about wilderness questing in 1996, the then-50-year-old woman, hailing from a conservative white family, decided to take her first of 13 journeys. Each of the book's chapters center on a single quest, focusing on both physical experiences and spiritual and psychological revelations. Goodrich takes readers through her peregrinations, from a trip to Death Valley carrying only a few necessities and four gallons of water (and, intentionally, no food) to an "unrelenting downpour" in the Pacific Northwest. Similarly diverse, her spiritual revelations range from the sublime, such as a tree stump that inspired a prayer for her to acquire a new self, to a trip shortly after the death of her mother in which she grappled with the meaning of death. Each unique journey reveals "an unexpected treasure," found both in the beauty of nature and in spiritual awakenings. Some lessons she learned along the way were therapeutic, as she confronted traumas from her previous life, including teenage pregnancy, abusive men, and infidelity that left her "with lingering shame and self-doubt." Particular sensitivity is given to honoring the Indigenous peoples whose ancestral land the author traversed as she discusses their rituals and practices while avoiding problematic appropriation. An artist from Willamette Valley, Oregon, Goodrich includes more than a dozen of her original pieces in high-resolution, full-color reproductions, many of which correspond to specific vision quests. This narrative is an important reminder that it is never too late to seek a new self, and that we should take time to acknowledge the value of solitude, nature, and open-mindedness. A poignant and engaging sojourn into the American wilderness.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. (Online Review)

July 31, 2023
Goodrich's enticing memoir of the 13 wilderness quests she undertook in midlife to seek enlightenment and healing in nature begins with a tender introduction, presented in the form of a bedtime story she tells her grandchildren, springing off from this timeless line: “Once upon a time there was a woman who went into the wilderness . . .” In the chronicle that follows, Goodrich addresses facing her fears, finding her “medicine name,” and digging deep into self. She pairs each of her wilderness “quest”s with a pressing question she had never dared to ask herself. Her story proves to be not only a ravishing experience with nature but an exploration of identity, as she learns to practice forgiveness of herself, nourishes her long-abandoned creativity, seeks fresh purpose in life, and learns to become a better grandmother to her grandchildren.
Meditation and nature intertwine harmoniously in this well-structured and concise narrative, accentuating the profound relationship between humans and their natural surroundings. With her evocative prose flowing with clarity and power, Goodrich will draw seekers in to the awe-inspiring landscapes she paints with words, vistas that mirror the intricacies of our inner lives. Throughout, nature becomes a catalyst to gain wisdom, and Goodrich incorporates both spiritual and creative awakenings as she recounts challenging endeavors like engaging in fasting that amplifies her awareness and tests her psyche. Her adventures and her memorable record of them serve as powerful testament that people can, with will and courage, become who they feel they are meant to become.
As Goodrich finds solace in her quests, she successfully depicts a symbiotic relationship between nature, solitude, and artistic expression. This contemplative journey provides a powerful metaphor for the multifaceted nature of the human experience, emphasizing the importance of self-discovery and reconnecting with nature in finding our truest selves, no matter what age or stage in life. Readers who are curious about the inner workings of the spirit, lovers of nature, or seekers of self-discovery will be enthralled—and likely inspired to embark on their own quests.
Takeaway: An immersive chronicle of quests into the wild to find oneself.
Comparable Titles: Rebecca Solnit's A Field Guide to Getting Lost, Meg Nocero's Butterfly Awakens.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A