Wolf (A Place Like Any Other) is one of those writers who, instead of flicking a bug off the screen of her computer, recognizes its metaphorical potential and invites the creature into her writing. She does that over and again in this collection of soul musings focused on healing. Whether she is reflecting on the surroundings of her backyard screen house or pondering a bad day with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms, Wolf is a master at converting the ordinary into the extraordinary. Drawing from a rich vocabulary to express herself, she explores each subject like a miner panning for gold, extracting the essence of a lesson or truth, then presenting it almost matter-of-factly. Whether she is writing about a personal betrayal, the aftermath of her abusive marriage or how a friend's life was shattered by the Oklahoma City bombing, Wolf invites self-reflection. Although she gazes inwardly, she does not stay there, always moving on to some new place in her spiritual journey. For example, in "Scene from a Mall," Wolf gets lost in comparing her own interior muddle with the slick facades of the shoppers below as she ascends an escalator. By the time she reaches the top, she realizes envy has bitten her and she emerges from her reverie with a new esteem for those she is watching. Wolf's background is Christian, but readers of all faiths, especially those in tune with the spiritual path, will find her writings insightful. (Oct.)
