Intended as more than a Reader's Companion, these appreciative critical essays are collected here for the first time as a volume--having been previously cyber-published on literary and arts sites.Ranging across genres, cultures and time, the works under discussion include essays on wildlife rehabilitation, equestrianism, literary reading and roadside sales, all contextualized for our times. Drawing our attention to counter-cultural works and literary creations outside the mainstream, and indeed frequently offering a poignant critique of the assumptions of the literary canon, these essays are perfect for those for whom reading remains a vital experience.