“Stunning…[a] varied, kaleidoscopic, and…insightful map to the formation of a writer who understands how deeply mysterious the ‘familiar’ really is.” — Publishers Weekly
“…a tender-hearted excavation of [Oates’] hardscrabble early life…in sharing with us the lost landscape of her childhood, she has ensured it will never be forgotten.” — O magazine
“Oates perfectly captures the unique confusion of childhood, brought on by the unsatisfying explanations of adults.” — Elle
“’The Lost Landscape’…offers a window into a highly original mind. While it is never a given that a writer’s personal story can illuminate her work, in Oates’ case, it very much does.” — Minneapolis Star Tribune
“[An] intriguing new memoir…Oates mines literary gold.” — San Francisco Chronicle
“This captivating account of the growth of a writer’s mind puts [Oates’] new collection of essays firmly in the tradition of similar autobiographical works by writers such as Goethe, Wordsworth, and Joyce.” — Philadelphia Inquirer
“[An] intimate yet sweeping memoir…” — The New Yorker
“…affecting...the book place[s] us intimately in the mind of Oates’ vulnerable self.” — Providence Journal
“A tender-hearted excavation of [Oates’] hardscrabble early life…in sharing with us the lost landscape of her childhood, she has ensured it will never be forgotten.” — O magazine