Half an Inch of Water

In his latest collection of new and previously published short stories, Everett, Distinguished Professor of English at the University of Southern California and the author of nearly 30 books (e.g., Percival Everett by Virgil Russell), shows his love of nature. From a lost Native American girl to an old woman who refuses to stop riding her horse despite recommendations to desist, each story is wonderfully colored with character. Although all of the stories are beautiful, "Exposure" is one of the best, showing how a dire situation can heal a family's wounds. More than cliffhangers, Everett's endings are often as intriguing as his beginnings, allowing readers to contemplate how the story might continue. For example, "A High Lake" ends, "She let the blankets slide down from her lap. She was warmer still. The fire grew cold." The answers that the characters seek become the inquiries of the readers.