The delayed massive weekend update

And not just delayed, but rather abbreviated, because, well, we’re just busy here, what with the brother unit home for the weekend, the tail end of a major festival, and other assorted social gatherings. In other words, we seem to have acquired a life. Shocking, but true. To wit:

NYT: John Hodgman rounds up graphic novels, Laura Miller tries to get dirt about the sheer number of books published in a year (more later, perhaps), and the obligatory Dale Peck mention. Because, you know, I have to in order to keep my membership in the lit cabal….

WaPo: Well, let’s repeat ourselves once again. It’s great to see Nichelle Tramble’s THE LAST KING reviewed in a big-hitting paper like the Post, but I got the distinct feeling that Rodney Welch was, I dunno, missing the point a little bit. But then, maybe it’s me. Otherwise, Justin Cronin hearts Louise Erdrich, and David Ignatius examines a new work by Barry Lopez.

G&M: Martin Levin looks at books “of maritime interest,” Fiona Foster is captivated by Neil Jordan’s novel SHADE, and Jane Urqhuart gets the task of reviewing the late Canadian great Carol Shields’ Collected Stories

Guardian Review: Jonathan Raban finishes up his road trip with his daughter, Jenny Diski rereads ROBINSON CRUSOE, and Rachel Hoare rounds up first novels, giving quite the notice to Charlie Williams‘ DEADFOLK.

Observer: Philip Hensher tut-tuts about Stella Rimington’s AT RISK, Stephanie Merritt can’t put down Liz Jensen’s much hyped fifth novel, and Carol Shields’s Collected Stories gets posthumous approval.

Everything else:

Agatha Christie has been named Britain’s favorite mystery writer, to the surprise of, well, hardly anyone. Especially considering her books have sold over a billion (!) copies worldwide….

Jack Kerley, whose debut thriller THE HUNDREDTH MAN not only garnered huge advance buzz but seemed to sell reasonably well, explains how he went from ad exec to full-time writer to the Cincinnati Post.

Mark Billingham is the latest author to answer the Scotland on Sunday’s round of Shelf Life questions. In keeping with a recent theme of late, the comic-turned-crime writer manages to incorporate both the Da Vinci Code and Harry Potter into this piece, and we expect this will continue in every interview he gives from here on in.

Christopher G. Moore (not to be confused with that other Christopher Moore, the one who wrote LAMB, one of the funniest books I have read in a long time) is a Canadian crime writer who’s spent most of his recent years in Bangkok, writing bestselling mysteries over there. The Japan Times meets him on the eve of publication of his new book, PATTAYA 911.

Oline Cogdill splits her time between a known quantity (Carl Hiaasen) and a very unknown one (Teddy Hayes.) OK, so we’re pleased she liked BLOOD RED BLUES and that she’s excited about the plans his publisher, Justin, Charles & co., have in store.

Lots of mystery related stuff at the Chicago Sun-Times today: David Montgomery gives the new Laura Lippman an extremely glowing review, while Randy Michael Signor is a great deal less impressed wtih Carl Hiaasen. And book editor Henry Kisor is excited for Marilynne Robinson’s second novel after a 23-year hiatus.

Diana Pinckney, the Times-Picayune mystery columnist, is positively slayed by Julie Smith’s new outing, LOUSIANA LAMENT.

Quinton Skinner was about to be a published author some years back, except the psychological thriller he wrote was so hard to categorize the book contract got cancelled. He explains to the Pioneer Press how that was rectified, and what he’s doing currently.

Michelle de Kretser, author of THE HAMILTON CASE, is a native Sri Lankan who now lives in Australia. She tells Newsday how the book grew out of a surprising family connection and her memories of her native country.

Adam Woog is normally the Seattle Times’ mystery columnist but he changes gears to give a reasonably good review to Jonathan Ames for WAKE UP, SIR (which I have yet to see in stores here, grr.)

Jeff Lindsay gets another rave review, this time from Robin Vidimos of the Denver Post. I’ve heard this is Lindsay’s second book, but have yet to find any mention of what his debut was. If anyone knows, drop me a line…

I am totally, totally psyched to read Sabina Murray’s A CARNIVORE’S INQUIRY, and Carole Anshaw of the Chicago Tribune only fuels that enthusiasm further.

Robert Smith–the former Minnesota Vikings running back and a star at Ohio State before that if I remember correctly–retired for “mysterious” reasons a few years ago. Now he’s self-pubbed a book that explains his retirement in the context of the cult of sports and celebrity.

And finally, god knows we hear the question “who should play [insert series character here] in a movie” over and over, but some authors take things a little further–by writing books with the movies distinctly in mind.