Weekend Update, Part II: From this actual weekend

NYTBR: As editor Sam Tanenhaus introduces a new column for the New Year, the rest of the Review’s rather sparse. Highlights include a new essay by Cynthia Ozick, John Simon talking up Christopher Marlowe and the current fascination for this Elizabethan-era playwright, and Will Blythe’s appreciation of George Plimpton.

WaPo Book World: For some reason, the new edition–if there is one–isn’t available online yet. So the slim pickings of the week include Patrick Anderson’s rave about Michael Gruber’s new novel (which I concur with) and Jonathan Yardley’s wonderful tribute to his old friend Charles Willeford.   

Globe & Mail: Martin Levin looks at the Seven Deadly Sins instead of making resolutions; Elizabeth Johnston examines two new novels from young Canadian female writers; and if you want Great Canadian Speeches, this book’s for you.

Guardian Review: Along with readers’ look back at the year that was, choice types look ahead to noteworthy books due out in the next six months. Otherwise, Kurt Vonnegut and Studs Terkel fete Nelson Algren, Rachel Hore rounds up debut fiction, and Ali Smith admires the caricature quality of Annie Proulx’s new story collection.

Observer: Stephanie Merritt casts an eye to the new and notable of 2005, Tim Adams is more charitable about the new Murakami, and Ed Vuillamy remembers Susan Sontag.
 

The Times: Joan Smith is just the latest to rave about Boris Akunin’s latest translated Fandorin novel; Tobias Hill is mightily frustrated with Haruki Murakami’s new novel; Helen Dunmore, on the other hand, is incredibly impressed with Helen Oyeyemi’s debut.   

Scotsman & Sundry: Peter Burnett goes bananas for Taichi Yamada, the latest Japanese author to be translated into English; Umberto Eco’s essay collection shows an author at the peak of his powers; and Irvine Welsh was influenced by Jane Austen–really.

Le Best du Reste:

Oline Cogdill shoots out of the gate with the first major review of Jan Burke’s BLOODLINES, already a front-runner for year-end lists even though the year’s barely begun. In related news, Burke is interviewed about the work by the Long Beach Press-Telegram, revealing that the first 70 pages or so were actually written way back in 1997–but at an editor’s request, abandoned to focus on a more contemporary Irene Kelly novel.

With more in the “books I really adore” category, the Miami Herald’s Connie Ogle feels the same way I do about Liz Jensen’s THE NINTH LIFE OF LOUIS DRAX.

Les Roberts looks at some last-minute 2004 reads by Eleanor Taylor Bland, Roy Lewis and Stephanie Kane for the Cleveland Plain-Dealer.

Minnesota’s leading literary couple, Pete Hautman and Mary Logue, are profiled in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune about their respective works and how they manage to be separate and equal.

Ann Cleeves, the reading officer for Yorkshire-area libraries, is casting about for notable titles that would fit a new initiative to get locals reading crime fiction in translation.

Craig McDonald, over at Columbus This Week, offers a preview of notable titles due out in the first half of 2005, including releases by Ray Banks, Al Guthrie, Michael Gruber and Craig Holden.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Regis Behe, on the other hand, tells readers which books he kept trying to push into others’ hands, and it’s a more eclectic list than the usual fare.

The Sydney Morning Herald ponders the bastard stepchild of publishing: movie and TV tie-ins. They sell, but are they really literature?

The Age gets on the “What’s Hot in 2005” bandwagon, with an Australian twist.

Elizabeth George’s how-to on writing, WRITE AWAY, gets a strong review in a far-flung place thanks to Sharon Bakar, who writes for the Malaysian Star.

Elwood Reid’s D.B. was well-regarded by many in 2004, and now the Grand Rapids (MI) Press adds a similarly positive review of this novel.

Jessica Reaves of the Chicago Tribune provides a double dose of Stephen Elliot–thumbs up for his novel HAPPY BABY (just out in paperback) but less enthusiasm for his political campaign book.

Over at the Chicago Sun-Times, Allison Block provides a triple review of Alexander McCall Smith’s von Igelfeld novels, and is most appreciative.

The New York Daily News talks to movie guru David Thomson, who reveals his next book is about…Nicole Kidman? Oh dear….

And finally, Best. Exchange. Ever. (courtesy of the divine Ms. Maccers)