Canyon Solitude: A Woman's Solo River Journey Through the Grand Canyon

Rating:
Summary: A book to savor
Review: This is a wonderful read. It gracefully mixes adventure with honest self-revelation as it explores the potentials and pains of a woman at midlife. Especially meaningful to me were McCairen's meditations on solitude versus loneliness and her wrestling with fear of intimacy. Going alone into the wilderness is a radical act for a woman, and McCairen engages it with consciousness and skill. I was sorry when the book ended, I had grown to so look forward to curling up with it at the end of the day. I would welcome a sequel.

Rating:
Summary: Brutally honest and thought-provoking
Review: This is not so much an adventure story as one of confronting fears...pulling all those nagging doubts and insecurities out of the dark corners and facing them head-on, but not in a self-conscious, new age-y way. I didn't want to put it down and it stayed with me for days after I finished. Very motivational!