It’s the massive weekend update, baby

Before I turn to the usual mix of news, reviews and interviews, the latest example of my own  freelancing endeavors is now available for viewing.

NYTBR: La Stasio turns her jaundiced eye towards Henning Mankell’s BEFORE THE FROST (which she mostly likes but I get the sense she wishes the story had more of Kurt instead of Linda Wallander) as well Craig Johnson’s debut THE COLD DISH, David Fulmer’s JASS, and best of all, a couple of translated crime novels courtesy of Bitter Lemon Press. I’ve been eyeing several of these with much anticipation, especially as I try to educate myself further in foreign crime.

Otherwise in the TBR, Liesl Schillinger finally gets a book worthy of her tastes as she bestows nothing but praise on Miriam Toews’ A COMPLICATED KINDNESS; Rachel Donadio wonders if Stephen Greenblatt’s “biography” of Shakespeare might well belong on the fiction racks; and Philip Lopate rounds up new books about all things New York.

WaPo Book World: Maureen Corrigan rounds up what she dubs “mystery brain candy” including works by Janet Evanovich, Tony Hillerman, Anthony Eglin, Leslie Glass and HRF KEating; another paper, another review of Curtis Sittenfeld’s PREP;  Jonathan Yardley has what basically amounts to a shit fit over Bret Lott’s writing memoir (and a hilarious rant it is, too); and Nancy Reisman digs Jennifer Haigh’s second, and much buzzed-about, novel. Also, in the main paper, there’s an interesting article on the shops of the Upper West Side, including Murder Ink, the oldest independent mystery bookstore going.

G&M: Rosemary Aubert lauds Peter Robinson for writing a “flawless procedural” in the form of his newest Inspector Banks novel, STRANGE AFFAIR; Margaret Cannon’s crime column looks at the latest by Jan Burke, John Grisham, Peter Clement, Liz Brady, Stuart Kaminsky and Otto Penzler’s DANGEROUS WOMEN anthology; Sir Martin Gilbert writes of Jewish history in an epistolary way; and Gale Zoe Garnett looks at a couple of books about getting naked — in academic-esque style, of course.

Guardian Review: Mark Lawson rhapsodizes in full about Ian McEwan’s SATURDAY; James Lasdun is decidedly unsympathetic towards having a positive view of Stephen Amidon’s latest; Lesley Glaister describes a favorite book of the romantic variety; and Henry Shukman argues that procrastination is actually good for your writing. I’m not totally buying it but boy, it sure sounds like a great idea…

Observer: Ian McEwan gets a long-winded tribute from Robert McCrum, who cedes his weekly column to Carl Wilkinson so the latter can gripe about the Hot Young Thing phenomenon and why they really don’t deserve two-book deals.  Also, Geraldine Bedell is intrigued by a new book that argues anger is actually quite healthy.

The Times: Erica Wagner makes sense of the new phenomenon that is THE SHADOW OF THE WIND; and Jasper Gerard meets Ian McEwan to talk about — of course — his latest novel SATURDAY.

The Scotsman: Linda Fairstein is interviewed about her newest book, writing full time and the case that still haunts her;  Gerald Kaufman rounds up all sorts of crime fiction goodies, including the latest by Barbara Cleverly, Quintin Jardine, Christopher Fowler, Bill James and Jonathan Smith; the Leigh Hunt revival is on in full force and starting to win; and Zoe Strimpel doesn’t get why THE ICARUS GIRL is so widely hyped.

The rest:

Publishing News has further details on Luigi Bonomi’s breakaway from Sheil Land Associates to set up his own agency. Basically, he can’t talk to his clients for six months and can’t poach but “there is nothing to prevent clients following him.” Make of that what you will…oh and because he’s leaving, as is Amanda Preston (whose career options are still unknown but she is due to be married shortly) along with John Rush’s retirement, that leaves SL with only its boss — Sonia Land — and Vivien Green. Ouch. (2nd item.)

Boyd Tonkin dishes on what it was like to be a Booker Judge, the John Sutherland flap, and some of the most famous skirmishes related to the prestigious UK-based prize. Meanwhile, the Telegraph reports that Sutherland has agreed to “gag himself” and not issue any public statements until after the prize winner is announced in October.

Meanwhile, the Whitbread is embroiled in a new row, as it seems David Mitchell’s CLOUD ATLAS should have been ruled ineligible because he was living in Japan until recently, when authors are supposed to be residing in the UK six months in each of the last three years. Uh, isn’t this something you check before the nominations are issued?

Katy Munger, the author of the fabulous Casey Jones series (who is very, very missed and I wish she’d make her comeback sooner rather than later) guests for Oline Cogdill at the Florida Sun-Sentinel, looking at the latest by P.J. Parrish and Sandy Balzo.

Dick Adler’s latest crime fiction column for the Chicago Tribune looks at new books by Michael Gruber, Pip Granger, Bill Eidson, J.D. Rhoades, Peter Moore Smith, and Charles Todd.

The Richard and Judy brand just gets stronger, as sales of Carlos Ruiz Zafon’s THE SHADOW OF THE WIND–their first book club selection of 2005–already shows signs of briskness.

OMG, the sky’s about to fall! Katy Guest, writing for the Independent, actually gives Belle de Jour a good review. Guess it had to happen sometime…

Passenger, a literary magazine devoted to writers ages 50 and over, marks its 15th anniversary, and the Baltimore Sun interviews the two women responsible for keeping the journal afloat.

Dave King, author of the already well-reviewed debut THE HA-HA, is interviewed by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Regis Behe. King is also interviewed by Robin Dougherty of the Boston Globe.

Peter Robinson’s latest novel isn’t just racking up the accolades on this side of the world — India’s ND TV gives STRANGE AFFAIR a great review as well.

Michael Gruber’s VALLEY OF BONES is given good notice at the New York Daily News by Sherryl Connelly, who is less enthusiastic about Jennifer Haigh’s BAKER TOWERS.

It’s shown up rather late but a good review is still a good review, and the Boston Globe is very keen on Kate Atkinson’s CASE HISTORIES.

Deborah Solomon, who has a habit of asking people bizarre questions for her Q&A feature in the New York Times Magazine, interrogates Simon Winchester, the bestselling author of KRAKATOA.

Jessica Coen, editrix of Gawker, looks at two new “bad girl” books, one fictional, the other memoir, for the New York Post.

John Freeman, the world’s most prolific freelancer, does his thing for the Toronto Star as he profiles Ian McEwan.

And finally, does every young crime writer wear the same shirt? Enquiring minds want to know…