Who is Joan Anderson from A Year by the Sea: Thoughts of an Unfinished Woman and what is their importance?

Joan Anderson is both the author and main character of this book. Joan was a writer and housewife in her fifties, who realized that she wanted to re-think her role in life. Until recently, she had always tried to be accommodating to all the people around her, becoming whatever it was they wanted her to be. Joan had always tried to be submissive and feminine, but in truth, she felt much more at home enjoying close contact with nature. She moved around a lot as a child, but she always loved the coastal area of Cape Cod, where she felt truly at home. Joan married young because she thought she was supposed to, and tried to make up for the emotional neglect and confusion about her own identity by throwing big, entertaining parties. Joan managed to run herself ragged trying to make life as vibrant and fun as possible, and trying to help her whole family have perfect lives. Joan needed to let go and stop trying to control everything, and allow others to take care of her sometimes. After a year of solitude and thinking, Joan learned how to be quieter and more relaxed, living in the moment, and seeing to her own needs. She also learned how to depend on herself, taking pride in her physical strength. She realized that she was not done with learning, and she developed more of a sense of expectation and adventure, looking forward to what life had to offer.