When you approach a book like Glenda Goodrich's "Solo Passage: 13 Quests, 13 Questions," you can't help but expect the experience to feel like something otherworldly.

I have to admit that I somewhat expected Goodrich to come off as something rather superhuman, a woman whose diehard commitment to wilderness quests would leave me in awe.

Instead, however, I found myself struck by the vulnerability Goodrich infuses within the pages of "Solo Passage," a vulnerability that deeply humanizes her and makes us realize that this is a human being who embarks on these 13 quests and this is a human being who is working through her life choices, difficult cycles, losses, grief, quirks, and many foibles. Rather than coming of as "super human," Goodrich comes off as someone for whom embarking on such extreme quests is a way of immersing herself in what the natural world has to teach her about life, death, happiness, spirituality, and forgiveness. So often, these types of books drip with some vague concept of spiritual pursuits. However, as Goodrich undertakes her series of wilderness quests through the backcountry of Oregon, Washington, and California it's abundantly clear that there's a simplicity and intimacy to her objectives that helps you bond with her and realize that she's grappling with very real life issues from past abuse to cyclical relationship dysfunctions to many other issues that will feel familiar to most readers.

In "Solo Passage," Goodrich chronicles sacred ceremonies that help to connect her to the land and help to reinforce a universal intimacy. The healing and restorative power of nature comes to life here - from the touch of coyote fur to a snake's kiss to a ceremonial blood offering and much more. At times, her stark humanity comes vividly to life whether she's compromising on her own stated goals for a quest or simply bending to the ebb and flow of spirit in the universe.

I was hospitalized in the midst of my reading "Solo Passage," an 11-day journey that added a layer of perception and emotional resonance that intensified the book's thought-provoking power and deeply personal impact. I didn't finish the book until I'd returned home and survived my own profound challenges.

Honest and insightful, "Solo Passage" is highly recommended for anyone who wishes to journey inward, rediscover themselves, and seek greater meaning and relationship with the surrounding world.

Solo Passage: 13 Quests, 13 Questions is a beautifully written memoir of adventure and discovery. It is an inspiring book that details the challenging quests undertaken by one women in the wilderness, the first quest is not undertaken until she is over fifty proving that adventure and self discovery can be undertaken by anyone at any age. Her life story is woven into her quests and is rich and emotional. I loved the book, it is beautifully structured and masterfully written by a talented writer. I lost myself in the pages and journeyed with her. Fantastic book, very highly recommended, especially for women looking to rediscover themselves and their purpose.