Death Valley by Melissa Broder

If you explored the California desert on foot, you know it can be a very confusing place. One minute you are on a road and have big rocks on your right and the next minute you are on the same road and have rocks on your left.  It is no wonder that many people have gotten lost in the desert of California. "Death Valley" by Melissa Broder is about a writer who escapes to the desert not to get lost, but to get found. The protagonist is struggling with a situation many people in the "sandwich generation" struggle with: Her dad is in the ICU facing probable death from an accident and her husband has a mysterious, undiagnosed chronic illness that is bringing stress on her marriage. So, she leaves her husband and father behind for a few days on an adventure in the desert. She checks into a Best Western motel, is suggested a hike by the front desk clerk, and sets off on an odyssey. Part reality, and part fantasy that includes walking inside a cactus, the heroine grapples with death, love, loss, creativity and addiction. She tries to make sense of the human life span while lost in the desert. If you have spent any time with a loved one in the hospital, "Death Valley" will speak to you. The anxiety, the fear and the uncertainty are all explored in this tight book. Melissa Broder is an author new to me, and I look forward to reading more of her work. You can follow her @realmelissabroder To buy this book on Amazon click here.