THE 10 A Memoir of Family and the Open Road

Journalist E.A. Hanks conversationally narrates an account of her solo road trip along Interstate 10, retracing the route she drove with her mother from California to Florida as a child in 1996. As she immerses herself in conversations with residents and explorations of towns like Tombstone, Arizona, and Palatka, Florida, Hanks grapples with questions about the formative impressions of place on identity and interpersonal relationships. Following her mother's death in 2000, Hanks read the journals and poetry she left behind, searching for insight into her mother's inner life and family history. Delivering the material with candor, Hanks thoughtfully shares shades of loneliness, pain, and love for a parent who was struggling with substance addiction and mental illness. Filled with insightful commentary on the complexity of mother-daughter relationships, this production inspires self-reflection from listeners. J.R.T. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2025]