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Title: Essays for Intelligent Women
Review: The Merry Recluse shows Caroline Knapp at her best: writing about the highs and lows of addiction, humans bonding with dogs, the difficulties of being shy and the mixed blessings of time spent alone. Some of the essays are simply wonderful, such as "On Being a Twin," "My Canine, Myself" and "Speaking Out for Shyness." The quality of the book suffers from the inclusion of some her lighter lesser pieces that seem knocked off to fill a deadline for her column in the Boston Phoenix. The book would have been better if they'd been left out.Knapp is best when she's exploring her own insecurities and losses. I wish she was still around to articulate what it's like to be a sensitive flawed woman trying to live an intelligent life.
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