GHOSTS IN THE GARDEN: Reflections on Endings, Beginnings, and the Unearthing of Self

On her 41st birthday, Kephart, feeling overwhelmed by deadlines, domestic worries and midlife, decides to visit the famed Chanticleer gardens, which are situated near her Philadelphia home, to reflect and remember. Against the serene backdrop of this splendid landscape, Kephart experiences something that "can happen to anyone anywhere—to anyone who takes a detour from routine and stops, at last, for answers to old questions." Sorting through memories, Kephart (author of two parenting books, one, A Slant of Sun , a National Book Award finalist) finds symbolic meaning in the soil, seeds and flowers of the garden, comparing their seasons and cycles to those of humankind. She muses on the potential of growth and evolution, associating moments in her life to events such as the popping open of seeds and bulbs in the spring. Over a two-year period, Kephart revisits Chanticleer, musing on the soul, identity and time, observing the world and questioning her past and present. Accompanied by stylish photos by Kephart's husband, William Sulit, these meditations will have readers pondering many big questions: What will I do with the next portion of my life? What will I count among my blessings? This pleasant book gently probes such issues, reminding readers of their universality. Agent, Amy Rennert. (Mar.)