The massively exuberant Weekend Update
And one reason for me to feel that way is because my newest review runs today in Newsday, of Elizabeth George’s all-backstory, all-the-time novel WHAT CAME BEFORE HE SHOT HER.
NYTBR: A.O. Scott offers his take on Richard Ford’s return to Frank Bascombe’s life, THE LAY OF THE LAND; Leisl Schillinger (who I agree, should also do a whole lot more at the Book Review) gets giddy about ONE GOOD TURN; Gregory Cowles makes me want to read Scarlett Thomas’s new novel even more than I already did; and yo, what’s up with Henry Alford’s review of Amy Sedaris’s book? The level of condescension nearly made my head explode.
WaPo Book World: Ron Charles is unbelievably moved by Stephen King’s new novel LISEY’S STORY; Dennis Drabelle examines the twisted, adults-only tales of Roald Dahl; Daniel Stashower’s account of one of America’s oldest unsolved murders has a decidedly Poe-like flavor; and Rosemary Herbert reviews new mysteries by Elizabeth George, Brian Evenson, James Church and Gianrico Carofiglio.
G&M: Alice Munro talks all things short story with Val Ross; Martin Levin is thoroughly entertained by Erik Larson’s new true crime book, THUNDERSTRUCK; Andrew Allentuck examines the Stronach legacy through several generations; Christine Pountney is just as excited about Heather O’Neill’s debut novel as I am; and Margaret Cannon’s crime column reviews new titles by Robert Harris, Andrew Taylor, Julia Spencer-Fleming, R.J. Harlick, Andrew Pepper & Stephen Booth.
Guardian Review: Orhan Pamuk reveals how his recent court travails affected his writing; There’s lots on the 60th anniversary of Penguin Classics, covers and all; Lucy Ellmann gets excited at Elfride Jelinek’s latest rage-charged novel; and Matthew Lewin reviews new thrillers by Thomas H. Cook, Jonathan Kellerman, Meg Gardiner and Anna Blundy, whose new book I absolutely must get my hands on (how did I forget it’s out????)
Observer: Tim Adams spent a week trolling Second Life and reports back on his findings; Lyn Barber coaxes James Hamilton Paterson out of his reclusive habits to talk to her; and another day, another article on the popularity of fan fiction.
The Times: Petros Markaris continues his social observation-cum-crime novel series in his native Greece; Ruth Rendell excels at smoothly written cataonia, according to Lucy Taylor; Gilbert Adair tries his hand at a post-modern Agatha Christie novel and nearly succeeds; and Peter Millar has a mixed take on the THRILLER anthology, just out in the UK.
The Scotsman: Alexander McCall Smith takes a darker turn with his newest work; Patrick McCabe returns to the dark side for his newest novel, WINTERWOOD; and Sir (!) Gerald Kaufman reviews recent crime offerings by Lee Child, Qiu Xiaolong, Lucretia Grindle and Peter Helton.
The Rest:
Oline Cogdill is justifiably enthralled with Jan Burke’s latest crime novel, KIDNAPPED.
Hallie Ephron mixes fact and fiction in her last column, reviewing new books by Daniel Stashower, Gillian Flynn and Julia Spencer-Fleming.
David Montgomery’s in the Philly Inquirer this week, reviewing Michael Connelly’s latest Harry Bosch novel, ECHO PARK.
Jenny Minton praises James Benn’s BILLY BOYLE for its ruminations on morality and codes and its WWII setting.
Three years after being unmasked as the author of THE BRIDE STRIPPED BARE, Nikki Gemmell is hard at work at her next project, the Sydney Morning Herald discovers.
At the Age, Kate Grenville annoys historians by suggesting her Booker Prize-shortlisted novel is “a new form of history writing.”
Is a 14 year old girl Australia’s Next Big Thing?
Over 100 genre writers gathered at the memorial service for SF writer John Mike “Milo” Ford, who died at the age of 49 last month.
Alan Cheuse has nothing but praise for Gillian Flynn’s sophisticated and disturbing debut SHARP OBJECTS.
And finally, RIP Robert Rosenberg, Israeli journalist and crime novelist.