Weekend Update, served with raisin challah

…because I’ve eaten far, far too much of it this weekend. OMG. Addictive.

My newest column for the Sun is online and includes reviews of new books by Sujata Massey, Tess Gerritsen, Kim Wozencraft, Philip Kerr & William Brodrick.

NYTBR: Marilyn Stasio’s newest crime fiction column reviews the latest by Henning Mankell, Walter Mosley, David Pirie and Dick Francis; Rachel Donadio goes deep into the heart of the Dummies; Dave Itzkoff tries to do justice to the Dune series (also known as Frank Herbert’s perpetual cash cow); and Mark Kamine likes the source material for Will Beall’s debut cop novel, but wishes the end result was somewhat more polished.

WaPo Book World: Michael Dirda takes a tour of Shakespeare wars, Ron Rosenbaum-style; Sheri Holman wishes that Laura Zigman’s new novel had been more substantive, considering the issues it deals with superficially; and Maureen Corrigan looks at Francince Prose’s literary how-to-guide from the vantage point of a fellow literary memoirist.

G&M: Neal Boyd examines the effect of school shootings – and how there’s little to stop one from happening; Michel Basilieres marvels at the skill of Gil Courtemanche in depicting family relationships; and Alice Munro’s newest short story collection gets its due from Lydia Millet.

Guardian Review: Claire Messud reflects on the appeal of “La Parisienne”; Lucasta Miller reflects on the enduring appeal of Jane Eyre; Kevin Rushby has a good time with Vikram Chandra’s SACRED GAMES; Matthew Lewin reviews new thrillers by Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, Fredrick Forsyth & RJ Ellory; and Colin Greenland must have read a totally different book than I did, because how else to explain his review of John Connolly’s THE BOOK OF LOST THINGS?

Observer: Phil Hogan talks to Richard Ford about the latest revisiting of his iconic alter ego, Frank Bascombe; Peter Conrad questions David Thomson’s motivations in writing all about Nicole Kidman; and Peter Guttridge reviews the latest in crime short stories, looking at Lawrence Block’s HIT PARADE and several new (or new to UK) anthologies.

The Times: Gilda O’Neill’s tour through murderous Victorian London fascinates Melanie McGrath; Edna O’Brien talks to Jane Wheatley about the long specter of a disapproving mother (a feeling I know far, far too well); and Peter Millar has mixed feelings about James Sheehan’s debut legal thriller.

The Scotsman: Tom Adair seems surprised to be so hooked on THE MEANING OF NIGHT; Allan Massie welcomes Rumpole’s railing against potential terrorists and abuses of power; and Melanie McGrath’s new novel explores usually uncharted territory – Nunavut, that is.

The Rest:

Oline Cogdill looks at new books by Dick Francis & Ellen Crosby as well as the MWA’s newest collection of short stories, DEATH DO US PART.

Hallie Ephron also has her say on the anthology, as well as the latest by Tess Gerritsen and Thomas Lakeman.

David Montgomery’s latest column for the Sun-Times includes reviews of Gerritsen’s book as well as those by Walter Mosley, Rhys Bowen, Jason Starr & Gregg Hurwitz.

Speaking of Mosley, Richard Rayner isn’t quite as enthralled of FEAR IN THE DARK as others have been so far.

At the Baltimore Sun, Dan Fesperman has lots to say about John Le Carre’s latest foray into espionage fiction, THE MISSION SONG.

The Toledo Blade talks to Walter Mosley about racism, Easy Rawlins, and his next projects.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press profiles three 2005 debut authors, including Brian Freeman, as they deal with the publication of their sophomore efforts.

Tobsha Learner has a habit of probing uncomfortable depths with her work, as she does with her newest novel, SOUL. The Melbourne Age chats with her.

Thought that John Hodgman’s THE AREAS OF MY EXPERTISE had its run in hardback? Think again. Now that the paperback edition is out, the Hartford Courant catches up with the literary bon vivant about knowing lots of things that add up to very little in humorous fashion.

Eschewing a typical profile or Q&A, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer’s John Marshall writes something of a mash note to Nora Ephron after spending a couple of hours talking to her.

The Sydney Morning Herald talks to Danielle Wood, who puts her own distinctly adult spin on fairy tales for girls –  a 21st century Angela Carter, perhaps?