It’s all about the links

And lamenting, just a little bit, that the Flames couldn’t deliver in the end. Tampa Bay played amazingly well and are deserving of the Cup–but who in their right minds, 5 years or so ago, would have thought that the Lightning would win the Stanley Cup before Ottawa would? Of course, since there won’t be hockey next season, it’s all moot anyway…but I digress. Rabid hockey fandom will now cease and give way for the usual bookish fare:

The New York Times jumps on the David Bezmozgis bandwagon. Oh it’s great to see Canadians get noticed everywhere, dontcha think? Which reminds me: Alice Munro, short story goddess, has a new one in this week’s New Yorker. Check it out, as well as her audio Q&A with fiction editrix Deborah Treisman.

The success of Natsuo Kirino’s OUT (which, you’ll notice, is mentioned in the right-hand side column of the blog) has been nothing short of phenomenal in her native country of Japan. The Inter Press Agency looks at why this book struck such a chord with Japanese readers–and why it didn’t do too shabbily in the US, either.

Me and Travis McGee, or so goes Doug Moe’s profile of John D. MacDonald’s alter ego, who’s celebrating the 40th anniversary of his existence.

Tim Wohlforth is one of those crimedogs whose name pops up in places like Plots with Guns and Hardluck Stories. Now he’s made the jump to the longer format with his debut PI novel, set in his hometown of San Benito County. The local paper talks to him about his new novel.

Charlie Huston’s CAUGHT STEALING is a debut novel that’s been attracting a lot of attention in the mystery community, and this glowing review by Anthony Rainone at January Magazine will only stoke the fires further.

Robert Birnbaum’s latest freewheeling Q&A is with Jim Harrison, the author of TRUE NORTH.

Later today the Orange Prize winner will be announced, and it’s a tossup. When the news is out, you’ll hear about it here, so check back in the late afternoon for the announcement.

And finally, Alex Kingston is pissed for getting fired from ER for being “too old.” I don’t blame her–though I don’t watch the show much anymore, she was one of my favorites back in the day, and she’s a fine actress. So next year, look out for ER: The College Years (or maybe it’s ER: The New Class?)