Sunday Smatterings

The NYTBR teems with crime fiction this week what with the David Gates’ review of SPADE AND ARCHER, Walter Olson on David Liss’s recent historical novel, Richard Lourie on THE SILENT MAN by Alex Berenson and of course, Marilyn Stasio’s column, which focuses attention on new offerings from Matt Rees, Joel Stone, Louise Penny and Stuart Kaminsky.

David Montgomery compiles a column on new mysteries and thrillers by Alex Berenson, S.J. Rozan, Val McDermid, Josh Bazell and Charlie Huston in the Chicago Sun-Times.

Oline Cogdill has her say on Steven M. Forman’s debut Florida mystery BOCA KNIGHTS.

Adam Woog rounds up what’s new in crime fiction by Val McDermid, Jo Nesbo, Jacqueline Winspear and the Mystery Writers of America in the Seattle Times.

Alexander McCall Smith talks to the Sydney Morning Herald about his prolific output, Precious Ramotswe and the audacity of hope.

The Melbourne Age looks at Mills & Boon’s thoroughly modern makeover.

The Florida Times-Union talks with thriller writer and enthusiast Steve Berry.

T.C. Boyle discusses his new novel THE WOMEN and the death of the print business with the LA Times.

Maud Newton’s portrait of her father runs online at Granta and is well worth your time.

Jennifer Weiner has ways to fix the Philadelphia Inquirer – and newspaper book review sections as a whole. (via)

Joseph Epstein explains why THE BROTHERS ASHKENAZI by Israel Joshua Singer – the older brother of Isaac Bashevis – is a masterpiece.

Picasso – genius, enigma, or somewhere in between?

Robert McCrum ponders what kind of future there is for e-books – and whether there’s any way to stop the oncoming tide.

James Adams ponders publishing’s general future altogether in the Globe & Mail.

Google and Amazon are making ebooks available for a number of platforms, namely the iPhone.

Say hello to Kindle 2, which will be unveiled officially on Monday.

New York Comic Con, where I spent some time playing videographer, comes to a close today, and Newsarama attended Vertigo’s Crime panel where they gave even more details about their new graphic novel line. 

And finally, sometimes pissing off the pizza man produces interesting results.