Memoirs provide a locus of discovery for both reader and author. In Gathering the Family William Holtz traces his family history from Finnish immigrant grandparents who spoke no English through his own poverty-stricken, troubled upbringing. Through his exploration of memories, family photographs, and stories, Holtz illuminates his questions about those who gave him life and shaped him: a handsome but doomed father, an overworked mother, and an alcoholic brother whose greatest success seemed to occur at his death. Not only is this a poignant story of a man"s life and reflections, but it also serves as a model for those who are thinking about mapping their families" passages.