The Edge of the Continent: The Desert (Rare Bird)

This book is about California. Specifically, this third volume is about Joshua Tree—the dry, sparsely populated landscape known for its strange topography and spiritual pull. Jacqueline Suskin spent winters on a ranch at the far edge of the desert for many years, caring for mustangs and goats, walking the long sand roads in solitude. This book explores the richness of her experience in a place many view as barren, exposing its unique offerings through personal narrative. In this collection, Suskin invites readers into the often unseen magic of the desert, a place where silence and open space bring gifts of potent healing and ancient insight to those who are willing to sit still and listen.

Jacqueline Suskin is the author of The Collected, a book of narrative poems paired with found photographs, and Go Ahead & Like It, a self-help book that explores the healing power and artistry of positive list making. Known for her multidisciplinary work with a project she calls Poem Store, Suskin composes improvisational poetry for patrons who choose both a topic and a price in exchange for a
unique verse. She regularly brings poetry into classrooms around the country and was honored by Michelle Obama at the White House as a Turnaround Artist. The Edge of the Continent is a trilogy of poetry about the state of California, the first volume came out in 2018. Suskin is based in Los Angeles, but considers the entire state of California her home.

Skylit: The Edge of the Continent: The Desert by Jacqueline Suskin