The last MWU of August

Although the reason for this news will be divulged at a slightly later date. But have no fear, there’s lots to chew on this weekend:

NYT: Even though Sam doesn’t get his brownie point this week, it’s still a fairly interesting Book Review this week. Let’s check in with La Stasio first, as Ed McBain gets the long-winded treatment for his new 87th Precinct novel HARK, followed by shorter raves for Sujata Massey, Margaret Maron and Lea Wait. Otherwise, Choire Sicha [rounds up tough girls in fiction

]3 , Sarah Glazer calls for a re-examination (and a new translation) of Simone de Beauvoir’s THE SECOND SEX, and Chuck Klosterman is well, typically Klosterman in this screed about college related books.

WaPo: Two bloggers, no waiting: Lizzie Skurnick reviews Justin Cronin’s new novel THE SUMMER GUEST. Otherwise, it’s David Mitchell week (making some folks giddy) as the CLOUD ATLAS author is interviewed and very favorably reviewed by Jeff Turrentine. Also, Michael Dirda is bowled over by China Mievelle’s minimalist vision of fantasy.

G&M: Margaret Cannon bestows positive platitudes upon Karin Slaughter (but it’s the fourth book, not the fifth), Don Lee, Andrew Martin, Patricia Highsmith’s final novel, Jeff Stetson and James Hawkins. Otherwise, another stellar notice for David Mitchell, a new collection focusing on writers and their native languages, and Martin Levin examines a few collections that strive for whacked-out humor.

Guardian Review: Amos Oz’s new book deals with his mother’s suicide in the early 1950s, and the Review publishes a long extract from the book. Otherwise, Louisa Waugh argues in favor of more balanced travel writing, Helen Falconer goes gaga for Sheri Holman’s THE MAMMOTH CHEESE (finally available in the UK) and Nicholas Lezard seems shocked that crime writing can be so good as he waxes rhapsodic about Michael Dibdin. Ah, snobbery….

Observer: Peter Guttridge is back with his crime fiction roundup, looking at new releases from Anthony Horowitz, Elmore Leonard, Andrew Martin and Mark Billingham, whose new novel THE BURNING GIRL is just fantastic (I read it a few days ago, playing hooky from the assigned reads.) Otherwise, I totally want to read this new biography of Antonio Stradivari, the famed violin-maker; Yet another fictionalization of Jane Austen’s life, but this one has more to do with her sister; and Robert McCrum reminds the world that in the end, it’s the readers who decide which books get read and stay read when there’s hundreds of thousands per year to choose from.

Scotsman & Co: David Robinson goes to Botswana in search of the real-life inspiration for Precious Ramotswe–and finds her; it’s all Amos Oz, all the time; and Andrew Crumey deems David Lodge’s AUTHOR, AUTHOR as the definitive novel about Henry James. Take that, Toibin!

The Professor and Mary Ann section:

For those who wondered about the biggest mystery surrounding Dean Koontz–where did all that hair sprout from?–the answer is revealed in this lengthy interview with the Independent. Evidently, his new ‘do is the result of a transplant “so successful it’s gone out of control.” Good lord, what’s next, Rogaine Addicts Anonymous?

J.L. Abramo gets one hell of a nice write-up by Denis Hamill in the New York Daily News. Abramo’s newest Jake Diamond novel, COUNTING TO INFINITY, is just out now.

Tess Gerritsen, currently touring for her new medical thriller BODY DOUBLE, talks to a local paper, The Maine Press-Herald, about well, all the usual stuff that people ask touring authors.

Oline Cogdill presents a mixed bag in this week’s column: a bit of a thumbs down for Ian Smith, but quite the thumbs-up for Nichelle Tramble.

Dick Adler returns with his crime fiction column for the Chicago Tribune, looking at new releases by Garry Disher, John Altman, Raelynn Hillhouse, Denise Mina, John McEvoy, and David Bowker.

John Birmingham started off writing comedic novels, but he’s a tough man to pigeonhole, as he explains to the Age. Now he’s moved to futuristic thrillers and his career’s taking off even more.

Sue Grafton talks to the Southwest Florida News Press about R IS FOR RICOCHET and why some folks think the title “R IS FOR ROMANCE” might be more apt.

We live in a Jane Austen universe, as the famed author still influences all sorts of people from chicklit practitioners to those writing hitman noir. How did this come to pass? The Washington Post takes a look at Austen-mania.

Iain Banks talks to the Bookseller about his new book THE ALGEBRAIST, a nearly 200,000-word SF tome.

And finally, just when you think the Norma Khouri story can’t get any weirder, here comes the news that she’s actually bilked almost a million bucks from her former neighbors. Ah, a lying, cheating, stealing sociopath–when does the book deal about her get reported?