Something of a Weekend Update

Because honestly, this week it’s all about Best of Lists and you can find them all in one place at Largehearted Boy. But there are other links to be had, like:

Marilyn Stasio’s crime fiction picks for the NYTBR, starting out with Jesse Kellerman’s THE GENIUS (a near miss on my own list, too)

Oline Cogdill enjoys the presidential derring-do in James Grippando’s BORN TO RUN.

David Montgomery reviews new thrillers and mysteries by F. Paul Wilson, M.J. Rose, Henry Chang and Sam Reaves, as well as the BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES 2008 anthology.

The Telegraph’s Jake Kerridge looks at recent thrillers by Matt Rees, T.J. Middleton, Benjamin Black and Catriona MacPherson.

Also in the Telegraph, Gillian Reynolds examines Simon Brett’s notable radio detective, Charles Paris.

With the TV version of Inspector Wallander now on British television, Boyd Tonkin looks at other Scandinavian detectives infiltrating the publishing world.

Tom Nolan rounds up holiday-themed mystery novels for the WSJ.

Clayton Moore dissects the pros and cons of Patricia Cornwell’s SCARPETTA, while the Observer’s James Kidd is surprised that Cornwell deviates from her persona (which maybe makes the persona thing a bit suspect?) 

Paul Collins writes of George Herter, the All American crank.

Roy Blount Jr. talks of his writing life with Marie Arana.

Michael Dirda on the Ten Commandments of book giving.

Carolyn Kellogg pays tribute to Forrest Ackerman.

Margaret Drabble reacquaints herself with the short fiction of Doris Lessing.

No Virginia, Roberto Bolano was not a drug addict, but the Literary Saloon finds the explanation only muddies the waters.

Anya Ulinich vs. Jonathan Safran Foer. Except, not really.

Newsweek profiles “The Most Dangerous Man in Publishing”, Barney Rosset.

N+1: Biting the hand that feeds them. (via) Related, did Jonathan Yardley smoke a big bowl that made him think Gessen’s novel was actually good?

Here’s the longlist for Three Percent’s inaugural Best Translated Book of 2008. The winner will be announced on February 19th at Melville House’s quarters in DUMBO.

NPR’s Lynn Neary on the bloodbath that was last week in publishing.

Sunny von Bulow has finally died. Meanwhile, Damian Thompson argues in favor of Claus’s innocence.

And finally, H.M. is dead, and with it an important chapter in neuropsychology turns a page.