These Are Strange Times, My Dear

Praise

Praise for These Are Strange Times, My Dear


Finalist for the 2019 Oregon Book Awards Sarah Winnemucca Award for Creative Nonfiction“A self–described ‘evangelist of the word,’ lawyer and poet Willis dives deep in this collection of essays. Where else might one find mention of Thomas Jefferson and Harvey Weinstein (though not in the same essay)? . . . Indeed, in all of the essays, Willis offers a fresh perspective on many cultural tropes . . . For those who want to share a deeper experience of life, with all its loneliness and fragility, Willis is an apt companion.” —Booklist

“Offers a unique vision for life in such challenging times . . . Willis’s nuanced and interior approach to politics is a welcome departure from the harsh rhetoric so popular today. Even readers who disagree with her will appreciate her sincerity and experiences as a mother, lawyer, and author.” —Library Journal

“Her best essays combine rigor with sensory observation, ranging widely among varied interests . . . A compassionate, measured voice that serves as an antidote to strident pontificating.” —Kirkus Reviews


“[An] impassioned, wry perspective informs these essays, which sit at the intersection between the political and the personal. They’re striking for their candor and willingness to consider complexity, whether she’s pondering public protest or private sorrows.” —Amy Wang, The Oregonian