Go forth with the Weekend Update

But first, my latest review, where I manage to shock longtime blog readers and especially myself by liking an Elmore Leonard novel. Is the Apocalypse approaching? Do I spot a bunch of horsemen riding in the shadows?

I jest, of course, but I’m glad I found a way to understand Leonard’s appeal more readily. Anyway:

NYTBR: Dan Chaisson is rather taken with A SLIGHT TRICK OF THE MIND (while more shallowly, I’m similarly inclined towards the author photo);  Jim Holt offers up yet more reasons to pick up a copy of FREAKONOMICS; and Ruth Davis Konigsberg’s fiction chronicle seems rather, uh, dated. Craig Holden and Richard Rayner, great of course, but both were out in February…

WaPo Book World: Patrick Anderson moonlights in the weekend section to effuse about THE HOT KID;  Michael Dirda pinpoints all the reasons why I find John Burdett’s books to be so hypnotically maddening; Ha Jin dishes about winning the Pen/Faulkner, among other things; a new biography of Buster Keaton demonstrates just how much of a comedy genius he was; and I know this is only a preview page, but Jonathan Yardley’s gonna review Michael Connelly’s next book? I mean, WTF? No, let me do that again. Yay!

G&M: Margaret Cannon rounds up the latest in crime by Maureen Jennings, Harlan Coben, Donna Leon, Denise Hamilton and Bernard Schlink & Walter Popp; Martin Levin tilts at windmills and meets up with Edith Grossman, the current queen of Don Quixote; and Chuck Palahniuk is back to his shockable, hyperspastic self with his latest collection.

Guardian Review: Michael Dibdin examines two new crime novels in translation by Kjell Westo and Benjamin Prado, while Maxim Jakubowski rounds up new releases by Malcolm Pryce, John Connolly, John Harvey and Lee Jackson; Blake Morrison is unduly fascinated with the crazy story of Michael Finkel and the multiple murderer; and Paul Theroux went to the jungle and all he came back with was a long-winded feature.

Observer: Siddartha Deb’s sophomore novel is one part thriller and another part examination of Indian culture; Nicci Gerrard mines emotionally wrought territory once again; and Robert McCrum kinda rips MacMillan a new one.

The Times: James Eve attempts to meet with the Bologna collective formerly known as Luther Blissett, now Wu Ming; Joan Smith can’t believe she got through the “magnificently awful” autobiography of Goldie Hawn; and David Horspool attempts to categorize John Berger’s new novel but decides to enjoy it for what it is.

The Scotsman: Nick Brooks’ new novel is deemed “a compact gem”; Wesley Stace (aka John Wesley Harding) reveals what’s on his bedside table; and Scarlett Thomas is not so impressed with Adam Thorpe’s efforts at narrative structure.

The Rest:

And what’s the predominant theme of this weekend’s roundup, at least on the crime side? A return visit to ConnellyWatch ™ where it seems that every newspaper is reviewing the new book or interviewing the author, as what happens with the Long Beach Press-Telegram.

After reading Oline Cogdill’s review of Michael Connelly’s latest — and especially her last line — I now have that damn song from TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT running in my head. Argh.

Gary Wisby of the Chicago Sun-Times is also excited about Harry Bosch’s return to the force, as he makes clear in this review. Also in the Sun-Times is Roger K. Miller’s take on Philip Kerr’s latest Berlin-tinged novel, HITLER’S PEACE.

Dick Adler leads off his crime column for the Chicago Tribune with his thoughts on THE CLOSERS, and also looks at new releases by Don Winslow, David Rosenfelt, Francine Mathews, Neil Olson, Lou Jane Temple and Will Davenport.

And still more good press for Connelly, this provided by Robin Vidimos of the Denver Post.

Finally, there’s Eugen Weber at the registration-less LA Times offering his phlegmatic opinion.

Naomi Hirahara talks to the Pacific Citizen about her acclaimed series starring Japanese-American gardener Mas Arai — and how the series wasn’t meant to be one, or even a mystery. Several drafts later, things changed considerably (and for the better for mystery fans.)

Joseph Kanon explains to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Regis Behe what fascinates him about wartime Venice and why he was more interested in moral questions instead of simply whodunit.

Francesca Weisman, whose debut psychological thriller NOWHERE’S CHILD impressed me greatly when it was released a couple of years ago, talks about it to This is Local London.

Craig McDonald (wearing his Columbus This Week hat) chats with James Crumley about his latest C.W. Sughrue torture session, The Right Madness.

So, I’m a bit confused here: why is it that the SF Chronicle is offering up a bigger eulogy to Steve Wasserman than, well, almost anyone else? Isn’t that kinda weird? Lee Goldberg thinks so too.

The Post-Gazette’s Karen Carlin has nice things to say about Pam Lewis’s debut SPEAK SOFTLY, SHE CAN HEAR. I admit to being a bit less taken, mostly because the writing couldn’t overcome an extremely overwrought plot.

The Freep’s John Smyntek wishes that Eugene Bergmann would step aside and let the fascinating life and words of radio giant Jean Shepherd speak for itself.

One of the additional perks of gaining notoriety after the Michael Skakel trial? Why, being Tuckerized in a James Patterson novel, as what happened to police officer Richard Conklin and attorney Mickey Sherman.

Newsflash: Tom Wolfe to write a non-fiction book next! Probably because he’s overdone fiction (bigtime) with his last novel…

Remember Alice Sebold? She wrote some little book about a teenager, and everyone forgot about it? Oh wait, parallel universe talking. Anyway, she talks to the Sydney Morning Herald about what’s happened since.

The Des Moines Register rounds up new books by Iowa workshop grads like Gregory Galloway and Ruth Larson.

Canadian director Atom Egoyan chats about his adaptation of Rupert Holmes’ WHERE THE TRUTH LIES, now playing at Cannes.

Writer and blogger Wendy McClure is interviewed at the Boston Globe about her new memoir, I’M NOT THE NEW ME, which chronicles her take on weight loss, weird Weight Watchers cards, and her acceptance of her new (and old) self.

Also in the same paper is a short piece on what writers like A.S. Byatt, Alicia Erian and Stewart O’Nan are reading.