`Author:` [[Rebecca Solnit]] `Availability:` > [!info] > ## Summary ## Key Takeaways **The Faraway Nearby (2013) – Storytelling as a Form of Love** This book blends memoir, literary criticism, and cultural [[History]] to explore **how human connections—especially intellectual and emotional ones—shape our identities**. **Synopsis:** • Solnit frames the book around **her complicated relationship with her mother**, who suffers from Alzheimer’s. • She weaves in stories of **artists, writers, and historical figures**, showing how [[storytelling]] itself can be an act of love and intellectual companionship. • The book rejects **the centrality of romantic [[Knowledge/Love]]** in favour of **[[Friendship]], artistic kinship, and the power of shared narratives**. • She discusses moments of **[[Knowledge/solitude]], intellectual connection, and creative inspiration**, suggesting that **these forms of intimacy often outlast romantic passion**. **Key Themes:** • **Storytelling as connection:** Instead of focusing on romantic relationships, Solnit explores how **shared stories and intellectual exchanges bind people together more deeply**. • **The endurance of intellectual love:** [[Relationships]] based on **shared thought, [[Creativity]], and deep conversation** often provide more meaning than fleeting passion. • **Companionship over romance:** The book highlights **friendship, artistic kinship, and familial bonds** rather than traditional love stories. 💡 **Connection to Eliot:** Like _[[Middlemarch]]_, _The Faraway Nearby_ challenges the **myth that romantic love is life’s ultimate purpose**, instead celebrating **the intellectual and emotional companionship found in friendships, family, and creative partnerships**. ## Quotes - ## Notes `Concepts:` `Knowledge Base:` [[Books index]]