New California Writing 2013

Wattawa and Glaser gather myriad voices from across the Golden State in the latest installment of this literary series. Excerpts from Joan Didion (Blue Nights) and Michael Lewis (Boomerang) sit alongside pieces from Julie Otsuka (The Buddha in the Attic) and poet Robert Hass (Time and Materials). Lesser-known writers such as Donna Miscolta (When the de la Cruz Family Danced) and Poe Ballantine (Love and Terror on the Howling Plains of Nowhere) also make appearances. The former talks bluntly of National City, near San Diego, nicknamed Nasty City, in "Home is Where the Wart is"; while the latter, in "Free Rent at the Totalitarian Hotel", recalls spending time in Eureka after Wall Street had crashed in the fall of 1987. Peach grower David Mas Masumoto (Wisdom of the Last Farmer) ruminates on spring in the Central Valley and Gustavo Arellano (Taco USA) takes on the taco%E2%80%94"such a simple, brilliant meal: a tortilla wrapped around a stuffing"%E2%80%94to remind readers how greatly food factors in the California mindset as well. The collection's broad palette highlights the state's hidden treasures and increase appeal to those outside its borders. (Apr.)