"One last look at Europe" - that was the idea behind a 3-month trip in 2006. The weather was always good and that 3 months led to a life of unanchored travels, for years moving among countries and continents. In Local Time: a memoir of cities, friendships and the writing life New York, London, Bristol, Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Barcelona all have a chapter devoted to them, and Rome has more. Other chapters explore themes like sexuality, Europe, identity among hybrids and hyphens, family secrets, the self fiction creates, ageing, beginnings, the history of friendships, and a life in which writing has been the centre. Known for her stylish provocative work the author has once more gone in new directions in this memoir.