Book excerpt: "Listening Against the Stone brings together selections spanning the breadth of the work of Brenda Miller, including six essays that have won the Pushcart Prize. These deeply personal essays paint a picture of how her sense of spirituality has evolved and shifted through the years: always rooted in a strong desire for connection. Together, they tell the story of a single woman making her way, stumbling but always seeking out touchstones-a dog, a friend, a painting, a tree-to help her gain her true bearings."--Publisher's website.