Look out, it’s the massive weekend update
NYTBR: You know, this Franklin Foer essay on federalism (or whatever) is all very nice, but what the hell does it have to do with books? Something tells me Mr. Tanenhaus won’t be earning his brownie this week….
In more bookish stuff, Kevin Guilfoile’s debut thriller gets a seriously good write-up; Katha Pollitt likens Masha Gessen’s memoir of growing up in Russia to an “exciting novel,” and Pamela Paul wishes THE SOCIOPATH NEXT DOOR had used real research and case studies instead of pop flavoring.
WaPo Book World: Bob Ivry wishes Richard North Patterson would just relax and stop trying so hard to change the world; Jodi Picoult ruminates on what it’s like for one of her books to be banned from the curriculum; and Lisa Zeidner thrills to Meg Wolitzer’s latest effort.
G&M: Margaret Cannon’s crime column looks at new releases by Elizabeth George, James Swain, Margaret Millar, Jon Fasman, Charles Todd, and Rhys Bowen. Otherwise, another day, another interview with Ian McEwan about his latest novel, SATURDAY; Edward Shorter looks at some new books that chronicle the decline and fall of contemporary marriage; and Camilla Gibb considers Damon Galgut’s THE QUARRY to be “near perfection”.
Guardian Review: Maxim Jakubowski rounds up the latest in crime fiction including new releases by Daniel Chavarria, Philip Gooden, Jon Dalton and some guy named Knucklebuster. Otherwise, famed neurologist Oliver Sacks is profiled at length, Steven Poole warms to the ghostlike qualities of Taiichi Yamada’s new novel, and HarperCollins UK honcho Caroline Michel ponders the future of books in the age of electronic.
Observer: Peter Guttridge makes his long-awaited return to the paper with his crime fiction roundup, looking at new books by Lisa Gardner, Adrian McKinty, Stel Pavlou and Jacqueline Winspear; Alexander McCall Smith chats with Kate Kellaway as 44 Scotland Street’s first volume is published in book form; the 10th anniversary of the Orange Prize looms and people are still debating its worthiness; and Robert McCrum beats the “too many books” drum.
The Times: Donna Leon has her say about the latest Arkady Renko novel by Martin Cruz Smith; Andrew Miller’s new novel attempts gravitas but succeeds at awkwardness; and India Knight is most impressed with Karen Zailckas’s memoir of teen alcoholism.
The Scotsman: Um, didn’t I just read this interview of Sandy McCall Smith in another paper? Ah well, just a sign that the blitz is on yet again. Otherwise, Will Napier, an American living in Fife, has a debut horror novel out that’s getting mucho attention and press; Andrew Crumey wonders about this whole “100 Best Scottish books” business; and oh man, I want to read this book by Mari Akasaka. Very, very much.
The Rest:
Oline Cogdill gives her view on Robert Crais’s THE FORGOTTEN MAN, dubbing it another memorable installment in the series.
David Lazarus of the SF Chronicle looks at some tough chick heroines created by Megan Abbott, Jodi Compton and Stella Rimington.
Dick Adler’s mystery column in the Chicago Tribune this week focuses on new releases by Vicki Delany, Rhys Bowen, Cara Black, Pam Lewis, Elizabeth Gunn, Beverle Graves Myers, Bruce Alexander, Margaret Millar and Alison Gaylin.
Les Roberts returns to his post at the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, examining the latest by Meg “Rookie of the Year” Abbott, Philip Craig & William Tapply and Rebecca Pawel.
The Toronto Star sits down with publishing phenomenon Carlos Ruiz Zafon, whose novel THE SHADOW OF THE WIND spread like wildfire across many countries.
In the same paper is Jack Batten’s review of Howard Engel’s marvellous accomplishment (and a damn good book too) MEMORY BOOK.
Kelly Braffet, whose debut novel JOSIE AND JACK must be read as widely as possible, chats with the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review about the makings of the book, her obsession with pulp novels and what she’s writing now.
Also in the same paper is Rege Behe’s Q&A with Kevin Guilfoile, author of CAST OF SHADOWS, McSweeney’s regular and Pirates fan.
The New York Daily News recently caught up with Ian Rankin to talk about the usual things — the new book, how much life Rebus has left in him, etc.
The Indianapolis Star meets author Tony Perona, whose new book ANGELS WHISPER is just out from first edition publishers Five Star.
Craig McDonald goes on a bit of a reviewing blitz for Columbus This Week, looking at books by Victor Gischler, Al Guthrie, Rob Roberge, J.A. Jance and Kinky Friedman.
Frank Wilson, the Philly Inquirer’s Books Editor, gives many reasons for reading Richard Montanari’s locally based THE ROSARY GIRLS.
Dorman T. Shindler’s back in the Denver Post to review John Dunning’s latest bibliomystery, THE SIGN OF THE BOOK. Also, Tom & Enid Schantz round up mysteries by looking at the latest by Harley Jane Kozak and James Swain.
Speaking of Dunning, The Rocky Mountain News looks at his latest novel, liking the mystery but lamenting the de-emphasis on the book collecting world. Hey, it had to happen sometime…
Do authors deserve to be funded as full-time writers? The Sydney Morning Herald examines the dwindling supply of grants for literature.
The blitz is on, and the Independent gets out of the gate with its interview of Kazuo Ishiguro, whose new novel NEVER LET ME GO is vying with Ian McEwan’s for preliminary Booker Prize favorite. Even if it is waaaaay too early for that sort of thing…
Former Orion and Century chief Anthony Cheetham has landed at a new publishing house. He’ll serve as an “editor at large” with Profile, responsible for the enormous success of Lynne Truss’s EATS, SHOOTS AND LEAVES.
Is Mark Giminez “the new Grisham”? Considering the excitement since he inked deals with Doubleday in the US (who, incidentally, are Grisham’s publishers) and Time Warner in the UK, he might…
The Bellingham Herald interrogates Phillip Margolin, whose latest novel LOST LAKE (also reviewed in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer) is yet another example of his ability to craft a page-turner.
A new book festival out of Orlando is putting forward the claim that Jack Kerouac belongs to them — even though his Florida days were pre-ON THE ROAD.
And finally, Neal Pollack — Pulp Fiction convert. (link from Jenny D)