This issue focuses on tragic but true family stories. Mikal Gilmore's remembrances of growing up with two brothers that were constantly in jail and a violent, unforgiving father. Sappho Durrell's letters and writings that seemed to indicate her father had an incestuous relationship with her. William Wharton's trip to Oregon for the funeral of his daughter's family, all killed in a massive freeway pileup caused by agricultural field burning. Emotional reading all.

There are a few light spots, particularly Geoffrey Wolff's account of his wife, Priscilla, and he sailing their boat through the Bahama Islands. ( )

interesting

A collection of essays on the subject of the family, by Mikal Gilmore, William Wharton, Mona Simpson, Geoffrey Biddle, Seamus Deane, Giorgio Pressburger, Marketa Luskacova, Geoffrey Wolff, Harold Pinter and Tracy Kidder.