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The quote sets the stage for the adventures of a woman who has enjoyed a variety of experiences. Initially sustained by a family that is both intellectually and physically focused, Brown's early life was a mixture of self-challenges such as hiking that were shared with her family and included the training and encouragement to appreciate art and other cerebral pursuits. The author expresses gratitude for the balance in her early life, as well as the adventures that continued through the years.
One example of such adventures was when Brown arrived in London in 1964 with a box of flatware, which was a wedding present. She and her boyfriend were planning to marry shortly after her arrival, but being shy and new to international travel, Brown told the customs agent that she was "visiting," which caused him to eye her and her treasure trove suspiciously until her husband-to-be helped to define her status.
The title of the book refers to a couple of Brown's relationships with men, as well as herself and her daughter, to whom the book is dedicated. The role of family plays a major part in the story. Photographs of Brown's ancestors, as well as descriptions and anecdotes of them, pepper the text. Brown was born in the early 1940s and feels a deep connection to her interesting kin. The book describes many adventures of the outdoors, but it is also a journey of a woman in particular times and places that shaped her life. This extremely well-written story is enjoyable on many levels, as good memoirs are. The author is someone to whom readers may easily connect. The story is constructed naturally, so the reader feels at home.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review