Holiday-Themed Sunday Smatterings

So many best-of lists! So many gift guides! So many favorite books! So I’ll keep it to a minimum:

Marilyn Stasio’s notable crime fiction picks for the NYTBR are wide-ranging and expansive and reserves a spot for Hannah Berry’s awesometastic graphic novel BRITTEN & BRULIGHTLY. 

Tom Nolan presents his crime fiction holiday gift guide in the WSJ. 

Oline Cogdill is impressed with Brad Parks’ debut crime novel FACES OF THE GONE. 

Janet Maslin talks about PD James’ TALKING ABOUT DETECTIVE FICTION in the NYT.

Patrick Anderson zeroes in on many of the same problems I have with Joseph Wambaugh’s current work in his review of HOLLYWOOD MOON.

Tom & Enid Schantz reviews new mysteries by Christopher Fowler, Jonathan Gash, Charles Finch and P.D. James.

PW’s Jordan Foster talks with Robert Crais about his new Joe Pike novel THE FIRST RULE and PD James about her brief tract on detective fiction.

Carol Memmott conducts a brief Q&A with Sue Grafton about U IS FOR UNDERTOW.

Mark Billingham gets into the nitty-gritty of finance and house-buying with the Daily Telegraph.

Joseph Finder and Lee Child share their e-reading experiences with the NYT.

CJ Box picks his top ten American crime novelists who “own” their territory for the Guardian.

Al Roker chooses his six favorite mystery novels for The Week.

Cathi Unsworth talks with Metro UK about BAD PENNY BLUES, which might have made my “Best of 2009” list if I’d read it in time.

Philip Kerr discourses on Bernie Gunthier and socialism to the Socialistworker.co.uk.

Alexander McCall Smith offers a glimpse into his prolific writing life to Carol Memmott at USA TODAY.

From now through January, The Rap Sheet will be a showcase of all things Derek Raymond, which is all too fine by me. He doesn’t get nearly enough attention.

And finally, part I: Quentin Tarantino, WTF?

And finally, part II: I cannot stop giggling about this.