Search - Refuge : An Unnatural History of Family and Place

This is a great book for woman who are faced with breast cancer. As her mother is dying from cancer, she compares and contrasts her life with the bird life around the Great Salt Lake. If you are interested in nature and healing, I recommend this book, however Ms. Williams does get a little bit too spiritual for my tastes.

The author parallels the effects of changing levels of the Great Salt Lake on its birds and changing levels of grief. It would have worked even better if I knew anything about birds or the Great Salt Lake. But I learned enough to keep going and be glad I did.

I think the emphasis is on the place, in this book; she describes the area around Great Salt Lake by referencing trips there, often with her mother. It's interesting to find the places she's mentioned (Like "Utah Tree") on Google Earth (since I've never been to the Great Salt Lake)