Offering readers insight and wisdom as it sparks their memories of remarkable people in their lives, Connecting chronicles the personal and familial relationships of some of America's best-loved authors. Among the writers contributing to this compelling anthology are Joyce Carol Oates, who writes about the end of a friendship and the beginning of adulthood; Alice Hoffman, who reveals how her grandmother's legacy of advice is a testament to her immortality; and Alec Wilkinson, who explores a woman's coping with the murder of her husband.

Gutkind (English, Univ. of Pittsburgh) is the editor of Creative Nonfiction, a journal espousing a genre whereby techniques for writing fiction are adapted for narrating dramatic true stories. The concept is reminiscent of the "new journalism" advocated several decades ago by Tom Wolfe et al. This collection consists of 20 contemporary essays about relationships, frequently rooted in memories of families and friends, which are, according to the editor, "predominant shaping forces" and lifelong influences. Noteworthy contributions include B.J. Nelson's account of assisting his mother's suicide, Alice Hoffman's recitation of simple but profound truths couched in her grandmother's humor, and Deborah Tannen's poignant reminiscences of her adored father. Each writer's style is unique and the collection provides a rich variety of compelling stories. Recommended for public and academic libraries.?

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Denise J. Stankovics, Rockville P.L., Vernon, CT