The Monday morning link roundup

And I hope I’m not the only one who’s stil adjusting to the whole “turn the clocks back” business…

Lisa Crystal Carver has tried her hand at many things, but as she tells the Boston Globe, she’s turned her attention to writing about her younger years in the post-punk era.

Gary Benchley’s chronicles of aspiring rock stardom appeared on The Morning News for years. But Paul Ford reveals to the NYT that it was all a fake — and now Benchley’s missives have been put together in a new book.

On the review side of things, Patrick Anderson is very much delighted with THE WHEELMAN, Jane Jakeman adores Frances Fyfield’s latest novel, Nan Goldberg feels Scott Turow has stretched his wings admirably with ORDINARY HEROES (though Kevin Hamilton feels otherwise) and Bernadette Murphy just wanted to enjoy CHRIST THE LORD, not be assaulted by Anne Rice’s agenda.

The Herald’s Alison Rowat makes a case for why we should stop whining about Amazon and accept that it’s actually good for the book industry. Sure, but I do like me some brick and mortar, too, even if others are sounding the death knell for them, at least on the secondhand side.

Meanwhile, the Scotsman starts talking about Christmas (already??) and how more people will shop online for gifts.

Laila Lalami talks with Newsday’s Claire Dederer about her wonderful debut effort, HOPE AND DANGEROUS PURSUITS, and how she created such marvellous characters. (link via TEV.)