by Anne Lamott
First published 2002
Mattie Ryder's life is a mess. Her marriage has failed, her mother's health is declining, and her own waistline is expanding. But when Mattie stumbles upon a small blue rubber shoe left in her late father's car, it sets her on a journey to uncover the secrets of her troubled upbringing. With her brother, Mattie follows the clues from the shoe, determined to understand her family's past. As she opens her heart to her difficult, brittle mother, Mattie begins to see her father in a new light, discovering the truth behind his disappearance.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, secrets
Setting: San Francisco (Calif.)
291 pages · Riverhead Books