Peel back the Weekend Update

So now it can be told: Publishers Weekly asked Ron Hogan and me to write the feature article in this week’s issue, which focuses on the formation of ITW and the 60th anniversary of the Edgar. As is often the case, a lot of good stuff got cut for space and for clarity, and some people who were interviewed couldn’t be included in the end. But after this, I will never quake in my boots at doing phone interviews – not after having to talk to 7 in one day alone.

Thanks to everyone who agreed to speak to me and Ron for the piece, and I’ll reiterate the sentiment one last time: any notions of rivalry between the organizations are greatly exaggerated.

Now to the Update:

NYTBR: Mary Roach’s review of Terri Jentz’s new memoir just makes me want to read the book that much more; John Summers’ essay looks at past and present movers and shakers in the political realm; and why do people hate America so much? Robert Wright looks at some books that might answer this question.

And in the Travel section, it’s all books, all the time, as many writers offer up books that triggered their own wanderlust, there’s Mark Twain’s Hawaii, literary New York, Borges’ Buenos Aires, and Sarah Lyall on Hay-on-Wye.

a WaPo Book World: Ron Charles’ review of DBC Pierre’s new novel had me at the opening paragraph; Ruth Kluger is bowled over by Irene Nemirovsky’s masterpiece SUITE FRANCAISE; and Edith Grossman explains how she set on the path to becoming, arguably, the best translator going.

G&M: Margaret Cannon’s crime column has a distinctly Canadian flavor this weekend, looking at new releases by Kay Stewart & Chris Bullock, Scott Gregory Miller, Garry Ryan, John McFetridge, Linda Hall, Daniel Kalla and more; Michelle Berry applauds Louise McCormack’s attempt at “thinking girl’s chick lit”; Trevor Ferguson enjoys John Brady’s brand new series character; and Mo Hayder calls Peter Robinson’s latest crime novel “rather brilliant.” Can’t argue with that…

Guardian Review: Lucasta Miller meets David Campbell, the man behind the Everyman imprint of literary reprints; Joanna Briscoe loves her Jilly, but wishes the queen of romance had been more economical this time out; and Nicholas Lezard is amazed at Temple Grandin’s ability to plumb her own depths.

Observer: The paper’s sports writer picks his favorite of new football books on the eve of the World Cup; David Jays wishes a new non-fiction account of a 1960s serial killer had been more sympathetic towards the victims; and Robert McCrum weighs in on that whole plagiarism business.

The Times: Elmore Leonard gives a rundown of his storied career upon acceptance of his Diamond Dagger honor; Matthew Pearl talks to Alice Fordham about his obsession with the life and death of Edgar Allan Poe; and Peter Millar rounds up more historical thrillers by Bernard Knight, Simon Levack & Nick Drake.

The Scotsman: Boris Akunin talks to Jim Gilchrist of White bulldogs, computer games, and why boredom is the ultimate creative stimulant; Alan Massie finds Kenneth Harvey’s new novel to be an “interesting and ambitious failure”; Nirpal Dhaliwal hates, hates, hates LONDONSTANI; and Kirsty Gunn explains why she left New Zealand behind for London.

The Rest:

Oline Cogdill – not so much a fan of DOPE, as she explains in her newest crime fiction column.

The Seattle Times’ Adam Woog’s newest column looks at the latest by Patrick Neate, Kris Nelscott, Naomi Hirahara, Peter Abrahams and Donna Leon.

The St. Louis Dispatch’s Harry Levins looks at new thrillers by John Sandford, Thomas Holland and John Hart.

Robin Vidimos at the Denver Post has many good things to say about Peter Abrahams’ new novel, END OF STORY.

Joe Finder’s new novel, KILLER INSTINCT, is hugely entertaining and incredibly fast-paced – but for this book, unlike others, he decided to research the firearms aspect firsthand instead of just relying on experts. He explains why to the Boston Globe’s Jake Halpern.

Sometimes I really wish I could read well in other languages, because Horst Bozetsky’s HERR SILBERSTEIN’S DUEL sounds totally like the kind of thing I would want to read.

If you’re going to the Harrogate Crime Festival, don’t forget to submit a short story to their new writing contest, which is being spearheaded by Ann Cleeves.

With CRIME BEAT on shelves now (and the next Bosch, ECHO PARK, finished and ready for publication this October) Michael Connelly talks to the WSJ’s Jeff Trachtenberg about mining fact for fiction.

The Lincoln Journal profiles recent Malice Domestic GoH Katherine Hall Page, whose latest mystery is THE BODY IN THE IVY.

Who is the latest literary wunderkind? In Australia, it’s 22-year-old Tara Winch, as the Sydney Morning Herald, discovers.

The same paper also looks at a new erotic novel by the pseudonymous Cameron Redfern, really multi-published Sonya Hartnett.

And finally, Siskel & Ebert as you’d never seen them on TV. (link from Mr. Champion’s breakfast.)