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.