The Book of Wanderings

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On an illuminating pilgrimage, a mother and daughter embrace the desert's wisdom: carry only what you need, burn what can't be saved, and leave remnants as offerings. Kimberly Meyer, having given birth to her daughter Ellie during her senior year of college, finds her bohemian dreams overshadowed by the responsibilities of single motherhood. Both are haunted by the circumstances of Ellie's birth—Kimberly by a restless yearning for adventure, and Ellie by a fear of abandonment. In an effort to bond with Ellie, now a college student, and to rediscover herself, Kimberly embarks on a quest for meaning. They leave behind their ordinary life in Houston, Texas, dedicating a summer to retracing the steps of Felix Fabri, a medieval Dominican friar whose travels resonate with Kimberly. Their journey takes them to exotic destinations rich in mystery and spirituality—from Venice to the Mediterranean, Greece, partitioned Cyprus, Israel, the Sinai Desert with Bedouin guides, the Palestinian territories, and finally to Cairo and Alexandria in Egypt. In spare, gorgeous prose, this memoir captures Kimberly and Ellie's transformative journey and the deep bond they forge. It reflects on simplicity, the distractions of life, and the search for a place that feels like home, appealing to anyone who has contemplated the road not taken or faced the void of change and loss.