Detours of the Soul: How to Avoid Yourself

How does reading 25,000 library books shape our lives? Gloria Turner explores this question in Detours of the Soul: How to Avoid Yourself—the product of lugging at least this many books from and back to her job at the public library. Culling and assimilating ideas from these literary inspirations (and sometimes lack thereof), Gloria set out to create her own book about being an artist, feeling displaced, and living in an empty nest. She brings hope to others struggling with living in this beautiful but sometimes unsightly world with the simple message: don't give up.

In this part medley to inspirational books she has consumed, part artistic celebration, and part whimsical look at the celebrations and fragmentations of contemporary life, Gloria bares her heart raw and her soul open, producing a universal and provocative work. With captivating images and poignant “word pictures,” Detours of the Soul: How to Avoid Yourself will pull readers into Gloria's world, an insightful translation of all our lives that will not soon be forgotten.