Around the horn

And we start with confusion, because I swear to god, Mel Gussow’s “gee whiz, look how many people are novelizing Henry James!” piece seems suspiciously similar to earlier ones in the major British papers…but hey, maybe it’s just me. Or maybe not.

Although Chris Lehmann has issues with the minimalist prose style and the novel’s lack of originality, ultimately, he gives a thumbs-up to Marc Bojanowski’s debut novel THE DOG FIGHTER. Also in the WaPo, Jonathan Yardley considers Carson McCullers’ THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER and its themes of religion and loneliness, just in time for its huge success as an Oprah pick.

Jack McLelland, one of the co-founders of one of Canada’s leading publishers, McClelland & Stewart, has died at the age of 81.

Nilanjana Roy, the Books columnist for the India Business-Standard, looks at the common thread that links Umberto Eco’s THE NAME OF THE ROSE to several books all the way to current bestsellers that need not be mentioned–the hunt for secrets of old manuscripts.

Bill Bryson beat out a host of more academically-minded scientists to snag the 10,000 pound Aventis Science Prize for the Best Popular Science book of 2003.

Paul Quarrington’s new novel, GALVESTON, mines the same oddball territory he’s known for in books like WHALE MUSIC (which, in turn, led to a rather odd little movie.) He’s interviewed in the Globe and Mail about the new book. Otherwise in the G&M, Neil Jordan’s new novel SHADE is attraction attention all over the place, and the paper interviews him about his latest artistic pursuit.

Jimmy Beck, pouring the vodka tonics in lieu of Lizzie, points to Aleksander Hemon’s rebuttal of Frederick Hitz’s lament-in-print that real spies don’t behave like their fictional counterparts. Hey, maybe I should whip up that proposal explaining just how real CSIs don’t behave in any way like the ones on TV! Or maybe I won’t because really, the sum reaction of such an idea is….well, duh.

Another day, another Alexander McCall Smith profile, originally from the Los Angeles Times (but reprinted in the Winston-Salem, NC Journal.)

Adam Woog rounds up the latest mystery fare for the Seattle Times, concentrating his efforts on the likely-unprecedented release of books by a father and daughter in the same month. I am, of course, referring to James Lee Burke and Alafair Burke.

Diana Pinckney does pretty much the same thing for the Times-Picayune, although she focuses on the big bestsellers (Lee Child, Michael Connelly) and a couple of potential ones (Jack Kerley.)

The entire world linked to this yesterday but what the hell, so will I: James Wood pens a nice article on the Man International Booker Prize for New York Magazine. You mean, literary coverage? Really? Maybe it’ll stick around…

And finally, I knew dating in New York was crazy, but this is absolutely beyond ridiculous…