In this visually rich, multigenerational literary memoir, Mary Ann Hogan reflects on a life of letters and her relationship to her late father, former book critic at the San Francisco Chronicle, and the mysteries surrounding her prominent California forebears. Circle Way is a bittersweet memoir of a father, daughter, and an extraordinary California family. Written in an evocative, expressionistic style, this work of creative nonfiction flutters somewhere between journalism and poetry. At the heart of the story, journalist Mary Ann Hogan reflects on her life of letters, a calling she shared with her father, Bill, a notable book critic whom John Steinbeck dubbed "an old and valued friend." As Mary Ann sifts through Bill's notebooks and drawings after his death, she discovers a man whose unrealized dreams echo some of her own. Eager to learn more about her family as she wrestles with terminal illness, Mary Ann explores the fascinating cast of characters who were her forebears. We meet the author's great grandfather, a lumber baron who built much of Oakland before losing his fortune in the crash of '29, and a great uncle who served at San Quentin for a murder he may not have committed. Richly illustrated with artful drawings, letters from literary luminaries such as Jack Kerouac and Kurt Vonnegut, and gripping newspaper headlines, this poignant and absorbing tale is an immersive feast for anyone interested in literature, history, and the often-mysterious facets of family.