Seeking Rapture: Scenes From A Woman's Life

From the bestselling author of The Binding Chair, this acclaimed follow-up to her memoir The Kiss explores the bonds of motherhood between four generations.

When Kathryn Harrison was a girl, her mother left her in the care of her British grandmother, raised in Shanghai. Her grandmother was an influential figure—imperious, a master storyteller, and someone who, when coaxed, would share stories of a magical, vanished world. She married late, and her daughter, Harrison's mother, was independent and modern-minded, often appearing in film-star clothes and urging glamour on her shy daughter. Harrison grew up trying to understand these women and find her own path.

In this witty, touching memoir, Harrison writes about the ties that bind mothers and children, and the forces that can drive them apart. She reflects on her inheritance of storytelling, her family history, and her own experiences as a mother, including moments of longing, struggles with perfectionism, and family conflicts. SEEKING RAPTURE conveys her tender feelings toward her children and their imaginary worlds. This evocative book will resonate with readers contemplating motherhood, loss, and renewal, capturing moments that create the drama of domestic life.