WRITERS

WRITERS Photographs by Sally Soames, with a preface by Norman Mailer (Chronicle, $35) If the frequently dreadful book-jacket photos of your favorite authors just haven't done it for you in the past, these 73 black-and-white portraits (taken from 1977 to 1993) by Sunday Times of London photographer Soames should. Soames' simple style puts the emphasis on emotions and expressions -- things her complex subjects aren't exactly short on. Maya Angelou's eyes are filled with tears; Alison Lurie looks incredulous; John Updike appears amused; Carlos Fuentes looks as if he may bop you one; Ruth Rendell is very scary indeed. Complementing each picture are passages selected by the authors (usually from their own works). Quite a rarity: a coffee-table book that is impressive and enjoyable. A