Raise a pint to the weekend update
NYTBR: And the blitz is on! Zoe Heller is out of the gate with one of many, many reviews of Ian McEwan’s fabulous new novel SATURDAY. But hers, you see, is almost NYRB in terms of scope and thought. Good on you, Ms. Heller.
Otherwise, they let Joe Queenan back in the Book Review to talk about his fascination with ghostwriters; Sarah Lyall goes a step further to look at the curious life of Naim Attalah; Rupert Holmes talks about how he combined his musical theater background and his novelistic skills for his latest book, SWING; and if I haven’t mentioned this before, I want this new book by Steve Stern. Now.
WaPo Book World: Elizabeth Hand commends the fine qualities of Peter Rushforth’s imaginative new novel, PINKERTON’S SISTER; Donna Rifkind puts her finger on why Cynthia Thayer’s new novel really didn’t work for me; and well, what did you expect, a bad review here? But no, Michael Dirda loves SATURDAY, too.
G&M: Margaret Cannon’s crime column looks at the latest by Boris Akunin, Lawrence Block, Robert Crais, Robert B. Parker, Richard North Patterson, Jean-Christophe Grange, and Patterson, Inc. Really, there should be a moratorium on Patterson reviews. What’s the point? They sell like hotcakes anyway…Otherwise, Michael Keefer takes a double dose of Christopher Marlowe; Anita Brookner is still going incredibly strong in her 23rd novel; and THE KITE RUNNER is the new “it” book? Since when? It’s more like the “sorta, kinda new it book” if you ask me…
Guardian Review: Most folks know Ruth Prawer Jhabvala as the screenwriting doyen of the Merchant Ivory films, but this profile reveals her to be the accomplished novelist she once was and still is; Ian McEwan goes due north — WAY north — and of course, writes about it; and Matthew Lewin rounds up the latest thrillers by Lisa Gardner, Joel Ross, Craig Russell and Varda Burstyn.
Observer: David Jays finds the letters of Lytton Strachey to be a fascinating and illuminating read; Andrew Miller’s latest novel uses Rwanda as a backdrop, but Stephanie Merritt argues the book’s about bigger things; and memo to Robert McCrum: agents are real people, too….really they are!
The Times: Witi Ihamaera’s WHALE RIDER shone a light on the Maoris and got made into a movie, but has resulted in bitter friction and tumult; Jennifer Johnston still has some tricks up her sleeve in her latest book, according to Penelope Lively; and Charlie Higson has some James Bond on his nighttable –not exactly surprising for the author of the “young 007” series…
The Scotsman: Jane Jakeman considers Denise Mina’s THE FIELD OF BLOOD to be a “brave failure” for its fractured structure (me, I just dug it through and through); Tom Adair is extremely impressed with Cynthia Ozick’s latest effort; Jonathan Falla’s debut deals with love and adventure in the time of Tibet; and memo to Stuart “I didn’t mention my beard this week” MacBride: it’s OK not to finish a book. If they don’t love yo back, why should love love them?
All the rest you can shake a stick at:
The National Book Critics Circle Awards were given out over the weekend and in fiction, Marilynne Robinson, scoops up the prize for her marvellous novel GILEAD.
In the aftermath of Otis Twelve’s Lit Idol win, his local paper, the Daily NonPareil, catches up and gets his take on the somewhat surreal experience of having his work read, judged and awarded with “more flowers than the Kentucky Derby.”
Oline Cogdill returns to the Sun-Sentinel after several weeks’ absence to weigh in on the latest Randy Wayne White, which, according to her, is rather flawed.
Dick Adler’s back in the Tribune with his newest crime column, looking at new releases by Elizabeth Bloom, Matthew Carnahan, James Swain, Russell Andrews, Harley Jane Kozak, and Charles McCarry.
The Toronto Star’s Jack Batten discovers the wonderfully understated writing of Iceland-based author Arnaldur Indridason, whose JAR CITY was one of the best books I read last year.
The Palm Beach Post’s Lauren Gold was at Sleuthfest a couple of weeks ago and provides a nicely detailed roundup of Florida’s annual mystery writing conference.
The San Jose Mercury News’s John Orr looks at the Book/CD combo SWING by Rupert Holmes and while he likes it, wonders what takes so long for the mystery to get going.
Nevada Barr is briefly profiled in the Denver Post by Dorman Shindler about her latest Anna Pigeon novel, HARD TRUTH.
In the same paper, freelancer extraordinaire John Freeman (also seen this week in the Hartford Courant interviewing Ian McEwan about his latest book) looks at Richard Montanari’s latest serial killer thriller, THE ROSARY GIRLS.
The Chicago Sun-Times’ Gary Dretzka gives a fabulous review to DRAMA CITY, but uh, what’s all this about how George Pelecanos walks? A strange, strange lede…
The New York Post’s Ruth Gutman declares Al Guthrie’s KISS HER GOODBYE to be a “delectably nasty tale.”
Regis Behe speaks with Homer Hickham, who decided to fictionalize John F. Kennedy’s young life and his army days to “give him extra happiness.”
Anthony Giardina at the SF Chronicle looks at Kevin Guilfoile’s unbelievably hyped debut novel CAST OF SHADOWS and thoroughly critiques its good points and bad.
The UK crime fiction site Macavity’s has updated with fresh content and a brand new interview with Donna Leon, talking about her latest Brunetti novel BLOOD FROM A STONE.
Christopher Rice’s newest novel was supposed to be a sequel to his last, THE SNOW GARDEN. But as he tells the Houston Voice, things didn’t quite work out as planned, and the result was LIGHT BEFORE DAY.
Stephen Elliot’s HAPPY BABY garnered much buzz in the ‘sphere last year, and the fuel for that and his other novels is examined in great detail in this profile by the Chicago Tribune.
Ruth Ellenson (editor of the upcoming THE MODERN JEWISH GIRL’S GUIDE TO GUILT, which I have a vested interest in reading) looks at the merits of Pearl Abraham’s latest novel for the Jewish Journal of Los Angeles.
Another day, another interview of Alexander McCall Smith which is basically all rehash, all the time. Look, I love him too (and have interviewed him myself) but can’t you guy the guy a break from the promo life and, um, let him write some more books? Please?
As promised, the second and third installments of Eric Berlin’s interview with Robert B. Parker.
John Sutherland looks at the true crime genre and some of the best books of late for the UK Financial Times.
And finally, while this might be a big seller, I don’t think her, um, talents (and potential bestseller status) quite measure up to this woman’s.