Returning to California when her father suffers a heart attack, Phyllis Theroux reflects on her upbringing in a large, affluent, and emotionally complex San Francisco family. Through vivid memories, sharp observation, and quiet humor, she explores the relationships that shaped her childhood, her struggle between loyalty to her California roots and her desire to build a different life in the East, and the influence of family, faith, and place on her identity. The memoir combines intimate personal recollections with thoughtful reflections on growing up, leaving home, and understanding the past.

Phyllis Theroux

California and Other States of Grace. A memoir