When I first read Cheryl Strayed’s book Wild, I knew that I had to add it to my repertoire of “in character” portrayals.  It was one of the most rewarding books I’ve ever brought to life. Her experience was so far from anything I could imagine doing—hiking the Pacific Crest Trail for months?  No. way. Then when I got turned on to Strayed’s Tiny Beautiful Things, I was absolutely stunned by her insights into people, her openness and willingness to be completely vulnerable in her stories, and her unf-ingbelievable one-of-a-kind writing.  So when I read that one of Cheryl’s favorite books of all time, the one that influenced her the most as a writer, was The Lives of Girls and Women, I immediately bought the book.  It took me 5 years before I got around to reading it. And then I did.  Now I understand. Alice Munro and Strayed’s works remind us of what happens when you are in the hands of a truly exceptional writer. Must. Read.