Carry on, Weekend Update

Normally I reserve enthusiastic praise around here for books, but after seeing PRIMO, Antony Sher’s one-man show adapted from Primo Levi’s Holocaust memoir “If This Was a Man” last night, I feel a similar urge. It’s harrowing and there were times when it was painfully uncomfortable to even look up at the stage, but when people of my generation (or younger) can’t really comprehend this particular horror because we’ve been bombarded for years with images and lectures, this gets right to the very essence: one man’s story, beautifully and tragically understated.

If you’re in New York, go see it. Now.

Anyway, onto the links and such:

NYTBR:  La Stasio’s column seems rather bloodless when compared to her obit of Evan Hunter, but what can you do — and besides, reviewing books is what she gets paid for, after all. This time she focuses her attention on new stuff by James Lee Burke, Denise Mina, Karin Fossum as well as a collection of stories by Margaret Millar (aka Mrs. Ross MacDonald and a damn fine writer in her own right.)

Otherwise, Ruth Franklin looks at new ways to read a book (like that’s even possible); American Gothic’s path to beloved painting is followed in a new volume; and James Traub examines a seemingly breathless new biography of Rudy Guiliani, who may be America’s Mayor but he sure as hell isn’t New York’s anymore…

WaPo Book World: Marianne Wiggins’  review of John Irving’s latest has one of the funniest opening paragraphs I’ve read in ages;  Charles Chadwick’s debut is almost as long, but Adam Mazmanian appreciates it far more; And has religion made a big inroad on college campuses, or is it really just about “God and stuff”?

G&M: Madame Cannon’s crime column, which could do with some judicious fact-checking (uh, THE PERSUADERS?) looks at the latest by Laurie King, Lee Child, Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child, Linda Howard, Anders Roslund & Borge Hellestrom, Rick Gadziola, Don Easton, Dean Koontz, and Ed McBain’s novella project TRANSGRESSIONS. Otherwise, Chris Scott is the latest to proclaim Lydia Millet’s new novel a stupendous work (and just making me want to read it all the more) and Martin Levin looks at books about grief — including Clare Sambrook’s utterly wonderful HIDE AND SEEK, one of my favorite debuts of the year.

Guardian Review: Douglas Kennedy looks at the curious disconnect (and astounding success) of publishing and evangelical fiction; Call him irresponsible, but Howard Jacobson wants more of it in fiction; and on the crime fiction front, Matthew Lewin adores Henry Porter’s new espionage novel, while Maxim Jakubowski approves of Rob Lewis’s Welsh noir and would rather dump THE TRAVELER in the trash if he could.

The Observer: Uh, isn’t summer practically over by now? Or maybe it just seems that way as the paper’s late with its summer reading choices; Adam Mars-Jones wishes Paul Theroux would steer clear of writing bad sex; and Robert McCrum really, really, really doesn’t lik Harry Potter. Guess he won’t be lining up with all the other punters….

The Times: P.D. James takes on Julian Barnes’ foray into Conan Doyle’s bizarre life in his newest novel; John Dugdale looks at new thrillers by Kathy Reichs, Robert Edric, Patrick Neate and Chris Cleave, while Joan Smith does the same for new crime fiction by Frank Tallis, Jacqueline Winspear, Susan Hill, Andrew Holmes, David Lawrence, Stephen Leather, Michael Ridpath and Reggie Nadelson;  And is the magic gone on Pottermania? Ask the kids who started at the very beginning and are getting rather long in the tooth themselves.

The Scotsman: Gerald Kaufman rounds up the newest in the mystery world;  Melissa Bank talks of New York life, new books and chick lit with Jackie McGlone; David Haslam tries to recount the “real” history of the Seventies; James Meek has a Siberian state of mind with his new novel; and Katie Gould is astounded by Morag Joss’s ability to freshen the coming-of-age novel.

Everything Else:

Oline Cogdill’s latest column for the Sun-Sentinel focuses on books by Joan Brady, Leslie Glass and Joel Goldman.

Dick Adler, writing once again for the Chicago Tribune, looks at new stuff by Peter Spiegelman, Sandra Scoppettone, Reed Arvin, Marcia Muller, Christopher Fowler, Donis Casey and Denise Swanson.

Maureen Corrigan switches over to Newsday (usually she’s reviewing for the Washington Post) to review Peter Spiegelman’s DEATH’S LITTLE HELPERS and John Burdett’s BANGKOK TATTOO.

Laura Lippman talks to Newsday about her penchant for “going darker” with her standalones, as is very much the case with TO THE POWER OF THREE.

Ottawa-based writer Rick Mofina got started in journalism, but as he tells the Canadian Press, he had to keep writing fiction — and the end result is a continuing series of mystery novels.

Julian Barnes is everywhere lately, and his current port of call is the Independent, talking about what else? ARTHUR AND GEORGE.

Perri O’Shaugnessy keep bringing out the bestsellers, and the Santa Cruz Style looks at how this writing team of sisters does it year after year.

Lisa See decided to write a more literary novel after three mysteries — and as the LA Times discovers, she’s getting far more kudos and acclaim for this new book. Also in the same paper is Dick Lochte’s praise for John Shannon’s latest, DANGEROUS GAMES.

Malcolm Knox, who seems to have an expertise in this sort of thing, reports on the 10th anniversary of a famed literary hoax that shook up the Australian publishing world.

Connie Briscoe wrote her first four novels when she was completely deaf. Now she tells the Baltimore Sun how a cochelar implant profoundly affected her writing. Also in the same paper is Judith Redding’s thoughtful review of TO THE POWER OF THREE.

The Denver Post’s Dorman Shindler catches up with John Irving on the eve of publication of his newest novel, TILL I FIND YOU. This review seems to be in the minority in that he actually liked the book….

The Boston Globe also interview Irving, but in a more focused Q&A format.

The SF Gate’s Steve Weinberg doesn’t stint on praise for Stacy Horn’s careful closeup of the NYPD Cold Case Squad.

Oksana Robski’s led a tumultuous life — multiple husbands, a bodyguard agency she founded — and now she’s turned her experiences, as well as those of wealthy miserable Russians, into a novel. Naturally, as the Chicago Sun-Times finds out, it’s hugely popular and controversial in that counry.

And finally, if you’re near Florida — stay safe, and brace yourselves.