What is the author's tone in The Writing Life by Annie Dillard?

Overall, the book has a tonal quality of sharing confidences. Not secrets - there is no sense here that the author is writing from a place of wanting to keep what she knows just between herself and the reader. There is, however, a certain sense of intimacy about the writing here, of the author being sure that her audience will understand what she is saying without spelling it out overtly. There is a sense of connection, of common interests, of mentor speaking to student not in a lecturing or patronizing way, but in a way that suggests there is much that is valuable that can be learned if attention is paid.