Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I've read most of Lamott's books and think of her as a good, if somewhat self-centered, essayist. But with this new release, I would say that she is phoning it in. As a reader, I am beginning to see her as a successful formula writer. With each book of reflections, Lamott seems to pull out a template that can almost be diagrammed...near suicidal drug abuse, mental illness, parental neglect, struggle for sobriety, failed relationships, redemption through the Christian path, single-parenting, low self esteem, love and loss of pets and political/environmental despair. With each book, she weaves in a few new characters and events into the narrative (new kitten, gets married, eats peaches with a grand child). But the reader must be reminded, again, that she is a recovering addict with a lot of anxiety who relies on faith and hope to keep her functioning. As a reader, you are asked to suffer and sympathize along with her during "Dusk...etc." as she continues to pull herself out of her hell and crawl toward the Light. Lamott is a good writer and I don't want to disparage her skill, but I want to ask, "How long is your journey going to take and are we there yet?"