Really, it’s just another Weekend Update

So I think I’m going to steal TMFTML’s tag line and declare that this blog, too, is keeping summer hours for the next little while. Truth is, when I’m not working or writing, I’d rather be outside or even out of the city proper, and there’s something rather liberating about actually having a life again. Of course, we’ll see how long this lasts…

NYTBR: Kurt Andersen spends a hell of a long time talking about Garry Trudeau in the midst of this review of his latest Doonesbury collection; Sally Satel is intrigued by a new book arguing that ethical behavior has little relation to brain chemistry; John Crowley reconstructs Lord Byron’s “lost” novel; and Neal Pollack talks about persona in all its ugly forms.

WaPo Book World: Ron Charles is amazed by the Frankenstein-like quality of the lost Lord Byron novel; Jonathan Yardley is spooked by a new book about the quality of nighttime; and George Robinson rounds up the latest in sports lit.

G&M: Henrietta Swan Leavitt’s contributions to astronomy are finally recognized in a new book; C.S. Morrissey is amused by two new books about the new Pope; and Susie Maguire wishes 44 SCOTLAND STREET were a little more substantial (and much as I love McCall Smith, I had problems with this volume, too.)

Guardian Review: Pretty much every writer on the planet has contributed their choices to the Review’s Summer Reading section; Duncan Campbell looks at the bizarre world depicted in John Burdett’s BANGKOK TATTOO; Maxim Jakubowski rounds up new releases by Michael Connelly, Don Winslow, Gene Kerrigan and Tanith Lee; and Nicola Barr tries to keep her nose out of the air as she looks at “airport fiction” by Jodi Picoult, Emma Forrest and Adele Parks.

Observer: Peter Guttridge’s crime roundup includes the latest by Jasper Fforde, Mark Billingham, John Burdett and Anders Roslund & Borge Hellstrom; The rise and fall of Jonathan Aitken is documented in both his new memoir and this interview; Simon Garfield is riveted by an anonymous memoir of a woman in Berlin; and Stephanie Merritt comments on whether review pages really do have relevance anymore.

The Times: Simon Barnes delves into the complex rivalry between Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova; P.J. O’Rourke is back with yet another essay collection; and Qang Zhongshu’s new novel plumbs the depth of the concept of loss of face.

The Scotsman: If you’re going to the Edinburgh Book Festival in August, the lineup is going to kick some serious ass;  The horrible murder of Angela Pearce is explored in a new book about the crime; Sybille Bedford may have finally written a memoir, but it still doesn’t reveal much about who the novelist really is; and Jeffrey Myers ponders what it’s like to be married to a genius (utter hell? Nah…)

The Rest:

Oline Cogdill is not so thrilled with Edna Buchanan’s latest effort, SHADOWS. My reaction (to be documented in a column to be run later) is a little more positive but I was just happy Britt Montero wasn’t in it…

A new cottage industry has sprung up in the wake of the success of the #1 Ladies Detective Agency novels — people flying to Botswana to tour the country in the hopes of finding landmarks noted in the novels. Too bad Botswanans have hardly heard of Precious Ramotswe…

The Age catches up with George Pelecanos, who finally goes on record as to what he thinks about that unbelievable hatchet job review in the Washington Post for DRAMA CITY.

The Belfast Telegraph’s Gail Walker rounds up new crime releases by Stephen Booth and Jonathon King as well as Ian Rankin’s Complete collected short stories. Which is pretty hefty. Well, yeah.

The Oregonian’s Holly Johnson applauds Laura Lippman for her sensitive portrayal of female friendship in her new standalone, TO THE POWER OF THREE. In other words, she gets it. The book has also been deemed a “Beach Read of the Week” at the Daily News.

Les Roberts is back with his mystery column for the Cleveland Plain Dealer, looking at new stuff by Thomas Cook, Marcos Villatoro and Lisa Scottoline.

The Independent’s Christina Patterson meets Ali Smith to discuss her new novel, mainstream fiction and that pesky gender divide. The paper also chats with Gene Wilder, who’s moved on from the Gilda Radner years to write a new memoir.

Bob Blaisdell is mightily impressed with Kevin Smokler’s anthology BOOKMARK NOW, comparing it to a party where everyone is witty and smart and none are drunken and boorish. nice.

James Sallis looks at the enduring appeal of Edgar Allan Poe in the wake of a new biography about the tormented writer.

Who is allowed, or entitled, to write about a particular country? A native, or an emigre? The question is explored in this new essay by Alan Cheuse.

The NY Daily News meets Owen King, whose debut short story collection makes it clear he’s his own writer, not just the “son of Stephen.”

And finally, happy Father’s Day. Go hug your dads, whether in person or metaphorically.