Finding Soul in the Afternoon

I found Dr. Oliver's book so fascinating and thought-provoking...a beautifully authentic look into a mid-life crisis - a crisis of self discovery- and how creatively Rachel handled it...thank you! Your poetry is amazing too!

The voices of elders are a treasure in a youth-oriented culture. Rachel Oliver shares candidly through prose and poetry her journey as she recalls life's experiences while traveling by car across country to the places that gave shape and form to her life. A vivid and moving account one woman's pilgrimage through the years. A fellow life-traveler Coarsegold, California

Dr. Oliver leads us down roads where only the brave and determined venture forth. Intrepid? Yes! Courageous? You bet! Fascinating? For sure! Clear your calendar until you finish reading this book then plan on spending a lot of time contemplating your own mythic, psychological, spiritual and physical journey. In a world where many people wake up confused, hopeless, bored and lonely, Dr. Oliver takes one of her fluffy best friends, Ginger, and explores connections to her life (past, present and future) via the U.S.A.; She examines areas in her psyche where most of us would not venture even if we travelled with an over-protective pet bear. For those of us with physical challenges and a craving to go and do, Finding Soul In the Afternoon can be a text as well as a guidebook. I used the Internet and searched out the towns she visited. I renewed a promise to myself to "outrun the moss" and keep moving (if only metaphorically); I began a new journey inward. Dr. Oliver is a Shaman/Healer and her book is spellbinding.

Finding Soul in the Afternoon is the story, not only of an older woman's journey through our country but through her past, as she reconnects with the spirits of her father and maternal grandmother. This book is filled with observations of animal life, wise comments upon the state of our natural world, and is sprinkled with moving poetry. It is a most enjoyable read.