The Graywolf Annual Three: Essays, Memoirs and Reflections

The 14 pieces in this anthology of new works range from journalismJames Fenton's account of last year's Philippine electionsto personal recollectionsPhillip Moffitt's memories of his grandmother in The Power of a Womanto tributes to enduring writersRichard Ford's discussion of Hemingway, Faulkner and Fitzgerald in The Three Kings. Many of the writers included here live in the West and evoke the power and beauty of its landscape and wildlife. Although the topics covered vary widely, the volume seems more unified in tone than most anthologies, in part because each piece is told in the first person. Overall, the book makes for pleasant, comfortable readinglike spending an evening in deep discussion with an old friend. (February)