Book Nook - Across the Street, Around the Corner

 Amid the isolation of the 2020 pandemic, one woman embarked on a heartwarming journey to rediscover the essence of her Pasadena, California neighborhood. In her captivating new book, Across the Street, Around the Corner, Mary Lea Carroll invites readers to join her in an exploration of community, connection, and the hidden magic of the familiar.

 

Carroll—an experienced world traveler—brings us into her vibrant 1960s childhood neighborhood, seamlessly time bending it with her current-day Los Angeles community. At turns funny or warm or thoughtful, she shares how the lockdown period inspired her to take a closer look at the people and places right outside her door.

 

Through companionable strolls, front yard gatherings, and heartfelt conversations with neighbors, Carroll unveils the profound truths about the value of community. Her engaging storytelling weaves together past and present, demonstrating how meaningful connections close to home can profoundly enrich our lives.

 

“Across the Street, Around the Corner is about exploring the micro-world of my own neighborhood instead of the big wide world at large,” Carroll explains. “I challenged myself to get to know or stay connected with those right nearby. I hope my book encourages readers to explore their own neighborhoods, make those connections too, and see how much beauty is right at their fingertips.”

 

Carroll's book serves as a gentle reminder of the importance of being a good neighbor and how small acts of kindness contribute to building a strong, supportive community. Her unique perspective and engaging prose inspire readers to find worth and meaning in the everyday interactions that make a neighborhood truly special.

 

Join Mary Lea Carroll on this delightful journey and discover the hidden gems waiting just outside your doorstep. Across the Street, Around the Corner is a testament to the enduring power of community and the beauty of the connections we make when we take the time to look around.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Mary Lea Carroll is author of Across the Street, Around the Corner, A Road Home, Saint Everywhere-Travels in Search of the Lady Saints (a People Magazine Pick), and Somehow Saints-More Travels in Search of the Saintly. Before family life, Mary Lea Carroll was a travel guide, journalist, and writers’ assistant at Paramount Studios. A talented storyteller and MOTH story slam winner, Carroll weaves her passions—travel, comedy, art, family, and community—into her writing. Mary Lea and her husband of 37 years live in Pasadena, California. You can learn more at www.maryleacarroll.com.