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I love Thomas's writing. For many years her book "Safekeeping" was on my desk to remind me that there are many ways to tell a compelling story and that I don't need to be tied too much to the narrative forms and techniques we are taught. It's always been a good antidote to me after going to a conference or workshop where we are critiqued only on the first page of a work. (A digression on that -- I'm so tired of being told that our work needs to sell itself based on just the first page when pretty much every book that I admire does NOT just jump in on the first page but lets the story warm up a bit. I sometimes feel I can tell when a writer has been told by an editor/agent/friend that they must do this -- you end up with a disjointed first page or two that is yes, very readable and exciting, and then on page three we are back to where it seems the writer really wanted the story to start.)
I don't know where my copy of the book is right now. Maybe I lent it so someone and don't remember? I like to recklessly lend books. One of the few reckless habits I have.
I've thought of "Safekeeping" many times in the last year as I have sometimes found myself saying (with as straight a face as possible) that I am working on a series of prose poems about a Belgian professional cyclist. And it's true. That's what people get for asking a writer what they are working on and expecting an honest answer.....
I also enjoyed "A Three Dog Life" -- her later memoir.
This article mentions her "Thinking About Memoir" which I liked but not as much as the actual memoirs she writes. I've given that book as a gift to people who are just starting on their writing journey. I can think of two people who have mentioned to me what a strong impact that book had on them. So keep that in mind.
