Weekend linkage

This weekend’s update may not be quite as comprehensive as usual because I’m out of town all day, which will be explained a little later this morning. But before we get into the usual link pileup, a big and hearty round of applause to Charlie Williams, who definitely went above and beyond in keeping the joint hopping with cool topics and plenty of discussion. And stay tuned, as the next contestant arrives on Tuesday.

Onward ho:

NYTBR: Margaret Atwood gushes about Orhan Pamuk’s long-awaited new novel SNOW; the Turkish author is also interviewed; and Charles Taylor approves of the smooth storytelling style of Alan Furst.

WaPo Book World: Elizabeth Hand suffers sensory overload after reading Jasper Fforde’s new book; looks like Deborah Jowitt didn’t write the definitive Jerome Robbins biography after all; and Madison Smartt Bell is mightily impressed with Dennis McFarland’s new novel PRINCE EDWARD.

G&M: Rock n’ Roll meets lit in a whole new way thanks to the efforts of One Ring Zero; Craig Nova’s CRUISERS manages to miss the mark as a literary thriller; and Ray Robertson wonders exactly why Paul Maher bothered with yet another Kerouac biography–like there aren’t enough of those on the market already?

Guardian Review: A fresh extract from David Lodge’s new novel about and starring Henry James; Christopher Marlowe continues to hold authors in his thrall; and Andre Brink is taking South African literature to a whole new level.

Observer: It’s all about the vacation spots of noted writers (including Henning Mankell, AS Byatt, and Maggie O’Farrell) this week, but there’s also some more tut-tutting about Dale Peck and the culture of gonzo reviewing, and why discovering heretofore unknown gems by famous writers is the new black.

Scotsman and Scotland on Sunday: Meet Catherine Lockerbie, the powerful and enthusiastic brains behind the Edinburgh Book Festival; another rapturous review of A.L. Kennedy’s PARADISE; Scarlett Thomas a Booker Prize shortlist contender? That’s what Stewart Kelly says; Jenny Colgan reveals why the Edinburgh Festival holds a deep place in her heart; and Zoe Strachan’s second novel SPIN CYCLE gets a hearty round of bitchslapping.

The rest:

Jacqueline Winspear, the Edgar-nominated author of the Maisie Dobbs series, talks to Newsday about her long road to publication after working in the academic publishing world, and why the Great War has her in its thrall.

What is it about the foreign sleuth that’s proved so fascinating and more importantly, so popular for legions of mystery fans? The Age attempts to find out, and cobbles together their top ten international detectives.

Also in the Age is a long piece about the state of Australian fiction–i.e., that it’s in some kind of decline. You know, the usual thing. I suppose I could use this time to recommend Emily Maguire’s TAMING THE BEAST as a prime example of good fiction being created in Australia, so why not?

Guest-blogger makes good: John Marshall of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer is absolutely delighted with Robert Ferrigno’s THE WAKE-UP.

Les Roberts is back with his column at the Cleveland Plain Dealer, reviewing the latest from Margaret Maron, Ed McBain, and Australian newcomer (to US shores, anyway) Garry Disher.

Anthony Horowitz is best known for his series starring Alex Rider, junior spy, but now he’s branched out into adult fiction with THE KILLING JOKE. Barry Forshaw, writing for the Independent, meets the bestselling writer.

Also in the Independent is a lengthy profile of Alexander McCall Smith, who’ll be wowing the masses at the Edinburgh Book Festival. (link from Fiona, who should embrace the free book deluge with everything she has.)

M.K. Preston (Marcia to her friends) has staked her place amongst romantic suspense writers. Her career and life is profiled by the Claremore Progress.

Another profile of Louise Welsh courtesy of the Sunday Telegraph, now that her next book, TAMBURLAINE MUST DIE, is out.

Anna Dale spent a decade working in Waterstones in her native Suffolk. Now she’s one of Bloomsbury’s hottest properties, as her debut novel for youngsters hits stores this fall.

Mark Sarvas, as promised, delivers the kind of review of Nicholson Baker’s CHECKPOINT that is thoughtful, incisive, and blows a lot of those print reviews right out of the water. Somebody reprint this baby! Calling the LRB….

So it looks like A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES won’t be made into a movie after all–that’s just fine with the New Orleans Times-Picayune, which gets kind of nervous at how their beloved work might get butchered by movie hacks.

And finally, what the hell is it with the Independent and jaw-droppingly stupid articles? First I find out that the Michael Connelly hatchet job piece got reprinted in Australia yesterday (no link, because what’s the point?) and then there’s this: Deborah Ross is Peter Ackroyd’s biggest fangirl, but when she met him, oh no, he wasn’t so nice after all, so she has her revenge by printing it all in the paper. Yeesh.