The Victoria Day Weekend Update
NYTBR: Marilyn Stasio leads off her column with a glowing review of the latest Inspector Brunetti novel by Donna Leon, then looks at new releases by Chris Knopf and Maureen Jennings before explaining why she had to toss Harlan Coben’s latest after the 2nd person POV prologue. Wow. La Stasio hasn’t been this scathing since she panned Boston Teran’s last novel…
Otherwise in the Book Review, David Means waxes eloquent about Ann Beattie, Geoff Nicholson has mixed feelings about Caleb Carr’s reworking of the master detective; and Sophie Harrison ends up underwhelmed with Alix Ohlin’s minutely detailed debut novel.
WaPo Book World: Jonathan Yardley (who gets to review THE WASHINGTONIENNE on Tuesday — boy oh boy that should be fun) wishes that Philip Caputo could have written more of a novel than a journalistic treatise; whoever got the idea to get Curtis Sittenfeld to review Adrienne Miller’s debut was very, very clever; Donna Rifkind finds much to like in Annie Giardini’s already well-acclaimed debut; and Michael Dirda looks at a new biography of the Baroness Budberg.
G&M: Paul Quarrington never got the whole Zorro thing till he read Isabel Allende’s novel; in other swashbuckling news, Stephen Smith has a similar reaction to mine about CAPTAIN ALATRISTE; Eric McCormack explains the Flashman phenomenon now that there’s a new installment out; and Michelle Berry takes her satirical skewer yet again to the ‘burbs with her 3rd novel.
Guardian Review: This is why you should never brag in a pub, for the result saw Caryl Phillips dragging Russell Banks to the highest point in Africa; Manda Scott wonders what Rome really did for Britain; Susannah Rustin catches up with Joan Didion just as her latest memoir is published; and Aili McConnon reports on the book scene in Buenos Aires.
Observer: Ali Smith constantly receives deserved adulation, but as Louise France finds out, she’s not one for the publicity game; Hepzibah Anderson rounds up new fiction by the likes of Wesley Stace and Nick Laird;
The Scotsman and sundry: Ali Smith returns with a “dazzling” new novel about which she really doesn’t want to tell you much about; Andrew Crumey pretty much thinks that Umberto Eco’s latest bites the big one; John Finkel tries to make sense of Michael Finkel’s bizarre-beyond-bizarre story; and Alex Gray reveals what’s on her night table.
The Times: Michelle Paver explains why she switched over to the kiddie side of lit; the Times goes even more overboard in their praise for Ali Smith; and the whole “Sinatra was mobbed? OMG!” sentiment is getting kinda old, if you ask me.
The Rest:
The Denver Post’s book editor, Tom Walker, talks to several authors, including S.J. Rozan, about how fiction grappled (and is still dealing) with the aftereffects of 9⁄11.
Oline Cogdill devours Denise Hamilton’s latest effort, SAVAGE GARDEN, and explains what works so well in her latest column.
Superfreelancer John Freeman turns his attention to the crime side of fiction, pointing out what makes THE RIGHT MADNESS work so well for the SF chronicle and enjoying Elmore Leonard’s latest efforts for the Denver Post.
Robert Crais writes a thoughtful essay for the daily LA Times about, well, his house. And why he loves it so.
Turning our attention to the ongoing ConnellyWatch™: The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Regis Behe chats with Connelly about Bosch returning to his beloved uniform; The Gwinnett Daily Post offers a brief interview in advance of Connelly’s appearance at their local library; And wearing his City Paper hat, Duane Swierczynski chats with the author about why the author really belongs to Philly — hey, he lived there till he was 11!
Les Roberts rounds up new releases for the Cleveland Plain Dealer and he’s vastly disappointed with THE CLOSERS while also looking at new books by Kathryn Wall and Iris Johansen.
Mitch Cullin tells the Dallas Morning News’ Jerome Weeks how his latest novel, the fabulous A SLIGHT TRICK OF THE MIND, was born somewhat accidentally, and it’s certainly a departure from his previous, more experimental work.
Jane Ciabattari reviews THE BITCH POSSE for the Chicago Tribune, calling it a “riveting and emotionally charged read.” Well, yeah.
What is it about Venice that charms so many people, writers included? The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Bob Hoover looks at two Venetian-tinged novels by Donna Leon and Joseph Kanon.
Carlo Wolff is seduced by the charms of John Burdett’s BANGKOK TATTOO, as is David Prather of the Huntsville Times. But as I explain in this backblog post, this and its prequel (BANGKOK 8) absolutely drive me bonkers…but I still read them and probably will read more. Dammit. Oh and BANGKOK 8 had a pornographic cover? WTF? I don’t remember that at all…
Richard & Judy have chosen their summer selections and Hodder Headline (who have two on the list) couldn’t be happier, bumping up print runs for GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS by David Wolstencroft and George Hagen’s THE LAMENTS.
David Bowker’s upcoming novel HOW TO BE BAD, which is a wonderfully skewed take on how not to impress a psychotic girlfriend, has been optioned to the movies. Now if only someone would adapt Rawhead for film….
Richard Gwyn’s first novel is a religious thriller that’s getting a ton of attention in his native Wales, to the point where the chain stores there are stocking up bigtime on the book.
Can Nancy Pearl read your mind and discover what books you should read? The Sydney Morning Herald sure seems to think so.
Biographer Deirdre Bair has two major rules about writing such things: check the facts and go to the sources.
Did Jacquelyn Mitchard’s life change appreciably when her first novel was anointed by Oprah? Not really, as she tells the AP’s Bob Thomas.
John Marsden worries that authors today are less skilled at writing about society’s current condition than they once were. Well gee, maybe if we didn’t have all these video games…I kid, but come on.
And finally, Arnold Jones has been dubbed by many as “the real life Sam Spade,” and now the 84 year old former PI is getting a mayoral citation for his efforts. Maybe he ought to write his memoirs, too…