The abbreviated update

Not going to do the usual long-winded massive roundup of the Weekend that Still Is. Instead, some random link smatterings:

First, the Old Grey Lady: Gary Shteyngart takes an amusing look at a new how-to guide for surviving America as an immgrant; Elena Lappin chimes in with a cautionary tale about being a foreign writer travelling to the US sans visa; and oddly, Michael-Andre Bernstein’s sprawling epic CONSPIRATORS is finally reviewed–a few months late.

Then, the Washington Post: Dan Chaon is disappointed with Leslie Schwartz’s ANGELS CREST; Eugenia Zukerman lavishes heaps of praise on Bonnie Marston’s SLEEPING WITH SCHUBERT; and look, there’s James Wood and Dale Peck–together in one review!

Next, the Globe and Mail: Greg Buium rounds up some choice jazz music reference books just in time for the zillions of festivals that are happening across Canada; Martin Levin apologizes for not reviewing a slew of worthy works; and Sarah Hampson interviews Lionel Shriver (of WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN fame) and how that book totally changed her life and expectations. Shriver also reveals that she went from living with a former boyfriend for 10 years to being married to her ex-agent’s ex-husband. Yowza.

At the Guardian Review: Alan Wall isn’t terribly impressed with Louise Welsh’s sophomore effort TAMBURLAINE MUST DIE (boo, and besides, I like Bookmunch’s review better) while Chris Petit is certainly enthusiastic about Guiseppe Genna’s thriller IN THE NAME OF ISHMAEL. Matthew Lewin rounds up some choice thrillers like some book about Four Rules…? Maybe you’ve heard of it.

Turning to the Observer: Robert McCrum fondly remembers the life and work of Anthony Buckeridge, a bunch of authors and other famous folk offer up their beach reads, and this interview of former MI5 head Stella Rimington pretty much confirms that her new novel AT RISK was ghosted by Luke Jennings.

Then, the Scottish papers: Andrew Crumey’s back with another bizarro novel, this one called…MOBIUS DICK. There’s another Alex Garland profile wondering where he’s been and why he’s back with a collaboration with daddy Nicholas. Pauline McLynn, author of the chick-lit style Leo Street mysteries, is back as well, but with a standalone that’s not even a crime novel. Then another summer reading roundup, this time at the Sunday Herald.

Everything else:

Jeffery Deaver’s new book is something I’ve long wanted to read, at least ever since he started talking about it a year and a half or so ago. GARDEN OF BEASTS is not a typical Deaver novel, because this time, he’s written a historical thriller set in 1936 Germany. The Rocky Mountain News profiles Deaver and gives the new book a great review in the process.

I’m surprised that there hasn’t been much in the way of advance word for Laura Lippman’s BY A SPIDER’S THREAD, but then again, perhaps they would have just said the same thing as Adam Woog, a self-professed “Nice Jewish Boy,” did in his glowing review for the Seattle Times.

Rob Thomas, writing for the Capital City Times, digs native daughter Mary Logue’s newest novel BONE HARVEST.

Are author websites a way to give something extra to the fans or a cheap marketing ploy? Er, why is the Scotsman even asking this? Don’t they realize that websites are just about mandatory now in the age of Google?

Boyd Tonkin explains that when it comes to the circularity of media and publisher hype (think Clinton), critics matter because they burst that self-congratulatory bubble.

And finally, death is everywhere, from books to movies to TV shows. The Naples Daily News looks at how being morbid is suddenly a hot commodity.