Synopses & Reviews
This gorgeous collection gathers Alice Walkers wide-ranging meditationsmany of them previously unpublishedon our intertwined personal, spiritual, and political destinies. For the millions of her devoted fans, and for readers of Walkers bestselling 2006 book,
We Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For, here is a brand new "gift of words" that invites readers on a journey of political awakening and spiritual insight.
The Cushion in the Road finds the Pulitzer Prizewinning novelist, poet, essayist, and activist at the height of her literary powers, sharing fresh vantages and a deepening engagement with our world. Walker writes that "we are beyond a rigid category of color, sex, or spirituality if we are truly alive," and the pieces in The Cushion in the Road illustrate this idea beautifully. Visiting themes she has addressed throughout her careerincluding racism, Africa, Palestinian solidarity, and Cubaas well as addressing emergent issues, such as the presidency of Barack Obama on health care, Walker explores her conflicting impulses to retreat into inner contemplation and to remain deeply engaged with the world.
Rich with humor and wisdom, and informed by Walkers unique eye for the details of human and natural experience, The Cushion in the Road will please longtime Walker fans as well as those who are new to her work.
Review
Praise for Alice Walker:
"Alice Walker is a muse for our times . . . she touches the soul, and propels us to action."
— Amy Goodman, host of Democracy Now!
"A lavishly gifted writer."
The New York Times
Review
Praise for The Cushion in the Road:
Walkers compassion, courage, and humor gain strength and eloquence essay by essay. . . . Media attention will surge for this provocative collection by Walker, a revered writer of conscience.”
—Booklist
"The Cushion in the Road is quintessential Alice Walker:edgy, demanding, prayerful, loving, and aware. An essential companion for those who wish to be a force for positive change in our perpetually challenging world."
—Foreword
Praise for Alice Walker:
"Alice Walker is a muse for our times . . . she touches the soul, and propels us to action."
—Amy Goodman, host of Democracy Now!
"A lavishly gifted writer."
—The New York Times
About the Author
Alice Walker is one of the most prolific writers of our time, known for her literary fiction, including the Pulitzer Prizewinning The Color Purple; her many volumes of poetry; and her powerful nonfiction collections, including We Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For and The Chicken Chronicles: A Memoir (both published by The New Press). Her advocacy for the dispossessed has spanned the globe. She lives in Northern California.