This is my FIRST review written completely on Substack. So let’s see how it goes!
OVERVIEW
My friend, Kerri, mentioned on Facebook that I should read this book. She was right! Thank you!
This is a memoir by E.A. Hanks recreating an Interstate 10 (I-10) road trip she took with her mother in 1996 when she was fourteen. Sadly, this time her mother is deceased, and E.A. is traveling solo on a voyage of discovery in 2019.
OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars - Highly recommend
Writing: 5.0 stars
E.A. writes beautifully. But I would not expect anything else from someone with a degree in English from Vassar.
Writing is different than WRITING. WRITING is from the heart, real and powerful when writing about yourself in a memoir. E.A. nails it!
Narration: 5.0 stars
The narration was by E.A. and perfectly done. It is her memoir after all, and I love it when an author narrates their audiobook.
Character development: 5.0 stars
The main character was E.A. It was her journey.
The secondary character was “Minnie”, the minivan that she borrowed from her dad to make the cross-country journey. I-10 and the beautiful United States along the route are characters, too.
The tertiary characters were E.A.’s family, friends, colleagues, people she interviews and/or meets along the way,
The character development of E.A. is incredible. The reason for the road trip was to recreate the 1996 trip in hopes of exploring the mother-daughter relationship and learn about her mother. Ultimately, E.A. discovered herself.
Memorable: 5.0 stars
Along the journey, E.A. read a red journal and a white binder of her mother’s poetry, random thoughts, and musings. The writings didn’t provide the answers that E.A. sought, but they helped her understand that her mother had an undiagnosed mental illness.
Sometimes you need to go to the roots to understand it all better. Learning about her mother’s family helped her heal and realize that family is always intertwined with you.
By reading excerpts of her mother’s writing, E.A. was able to finally heal from her mother’s passing in 2002.
Entertaining/Educational: 5.0 stars
I had driven I-10 many times to visit my great-aunt and great-uncle in Fort Worth, Texas. My family traveled along this route on long summer vacations, so I could picture everything on E.A.’s journey.
The best story was about E.A.’s camping trip in White Sands, New Mexico (read the book to find out about the beetles)!
Book cover: 5.0 stars
Perfect.
Book title: 5.0 stars
Correctly titled. E.A. and this Californian say, “The 10” which is the right way! .
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow: audiobook
The 10 by E.A. Hanks (yes, her father is THAT Hanks)
10 hours, 15 minutes
Release date: 4/8/2025
TRIGGER WARNINGS
Graphic language, sexual content, death of a parent, grief, violence, child abuse, suicide, drug use, alcoholism, mass shooting, murder, rape, and pedophilia.
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
