"The Devil's Punchbowl" by Greg Iles, read by Dick Hill; Brilliance Audio. Unabridged, 20 CDs, 24 hours, 14 minutes. $38.99. In print: Scribner. $26.99. 592 pp.

In John Irving's latest novel, the main character shares the author's profession, but that's not the most important similarity.

When browsing online or in a bookstore, one might easily conclude that every third person in the country is actively engaged in writing or reading a memoir.

"At Home In Stone Creek" by Linda Lael Miller; Silhouette (2009), 211 pages, $4.99 (paperback)

"Last Night in Twisted River" by John Irving; Random (553 pages, $28)