Victories at sea
Alex Kershaw, a British writer living in Williamstown, is devoted to chronicling the human dramas of World War II. His fourth book on the subject, "Escape From the Deep: The Epic Story of a Legendary Submarine and Her Courageous Crew" (Da Capo), chronicles the sinking of a US submarine that sank more ships in the war than any other.
In the fall of 1944, in the Pacific, the USS Tang's last torpedo malfunctioned and boomeranged back to the vessel, instantly killing half the crew of 87. Nine crew members swam 180 feet to the surface. The Japanese captured and tortured them. Near death in August 1945, the crewmen were liberated.
Kershaw, 42, became enthralled with the stories of veterans when he was researching a biography of photographer Robert Capa, famous for capturing through his lens the scene at Omaha Beach on D-Day. Kershaw is well aware that he is in a race against time to collect eyewitness accounts. Two Tang survivors died shortly after he interviewed them for "Escape."
Writers to the rescue
Two fund-raisers Thursday promise lively pairings of creative types. Mary Gordon, author of the memoir "Circling My Mother," will discuss with longtime radio host Christopher Lydon the difficulties of writing about family. The benefit for 826 Boston, a writing center for students 6 to 18, will be held on the 26th floor at 60 State St. Details at 826boston.org.
At Florian Hall in Dorchester, a trio of established writers - South Boston memoirist Michael Patrick MacDonald; Tom Perrotta, author of "Little Children"; and George Pelecanos, acclaimed for his crime novels and his work on HBO's "The Wire" - will be joined by rock musicians turned writers Joe Pernice and Warren Zanes, former member of the Del Fuegos. The occasion is a benefit for Interim House, a halfway house in Dorchester for male substance abusers. Details at ashmontrecords .com/raisetheroof.
Chronicles of change
Providence writer Ann Hood takes on divorce and death in two books out this spring.
Twelve-year-old Madeline Vandermeer is the spunky narrator of Hood's first young-adult novel, "How I Saved My Father's Life (and Ruined Everything Else)" (Scholastic). After her parents get divorced, Madeline grapples with downscaling her lifestyle (forgoing classes at a prestigious ballet school in Boston) and making peace with her stepmother, a pushy food writer.
In "Comfort: A Journey Through Grief" (Norton), Hood chronicles the sudden death of her 5-year-old daughter, Grace, and her efforts to come to grips with the loss. She learned to knit, she got a tattoo, and she and her husband adopted a child from China. She moves on in life, but she never loses her connection to Grace.
Coming out
Pick of the week
Ellie Joubert of Bear Pond Books, in Montpelier, Vt., recommends "The White Tiger," by Aravind Adiga (Free Press): "The very talented Adiga's debut novel of chauffeur Balram Halwai and his cunning rise in society left me just too amazed for words. I knew something of India, but never has any other writer captured the way of life as well or in such a strong voice."
Jan Gardner can be reached at JanLGardner@yahoo.com.
