Literary minded

And before getting started, I’ll point to my review of David Peace’s TOKYO YEAR ZERO in the LA Times. Normally I don’t get too hyped up about reviews I’ve written but this book …

The newest issue of The Quarterly Conversation is now up, and there are loads of goodies to check out from a host of good people including Scott Esposito, Garth Hallberg, Anne Fernald, Callie Miller, …

I’ve been wanting to read David Lozell Martin’s THE AMERICAN KING for a while, but Patrick Anderson just about convinces me I must.

A double dose of Michiko and amazingly, both are raves …

NYTBR: Jim Lewis considers Denis Johnson’s new novel TREE OF SMOKE; Kathryn Harrison has a reluctant take on Chelsea Cain’s much-hyped thriller HEARTSICK; Liesl Schillinger is disappointed …

Jon Evans ponders the future of reading for the Walrus, and puts his money where his mouth is (so to speak) by making one of his novels, an urban fantasy novel starring New York’s finest …

NYTBR: Marilyn Stasio doesn’t have nearly enough space to do Michael Dibdin justice, but she tries her best – and also reviews new offerings from Barbara Cleverly, Fred Vargas and Michael …

One of my favorite books of 2006 was Howard Engel’s THE MEMORY BOOK, and as CanWest’s Jamie Portman discovers, the author of the Benny Cooperman novels has turned to the memoir to talk …

By that of course I mean the stifling heat of August, though this weekend proved to be rather lovely. In matters BSP, my review of Charlotte Mendelson’s WHEN WE WERE BAD runs in today’s …

Ah, what a fantastic bittersweet party it was last night at the Black Orchid bookshop, made more so when the bristol board was passed around for people to sign. While a select few authors like Bob …

First, huge thank-yous to Messrs. Koryta and Hayes for classing up the joint the last two days. Especially with pictures! I think it’s time to add some more splashy graphics to Confessions. And …

Clive Thompson explains why New Yorkers live longer and might be healthier than the rest of the country.

Sons of Spade finds out what Les Roberts is up to.

Memo to Patrick Anderson: that …

The new Baltimore Sun column features reviews of new titles by Richard Montanari, Michael Marshall, Fred Vargas and Judy Clemens.

NYTBR: Oh man, is there much fodder for bewilderment and snark this …

First, a hearty thank-you to Nick and Charles for their thoughtful guest-blogs. Now it’s my turn for more scattershot links:

John Gardner, thriller writer and the second author to write James …

Obligatory BSP: the newest “Dark Passages” column at the LA Times has a decidedly comics-centric feel, with a twist: instead of crime writers crossing over into comic book territory, I …

Oh goody, someone went to Harrogate and came back with a hatchet job. Now, there’s no reason not to be critical of crime fiction and point out its flaws, but you think Paul Vallely could have …

Along with Jerome Weeks’ essay on Gail Pool’s new book that I linked to yesterday, the Boston Globe ran a piece by Sven Birkerts

on the beyond-exhausted print vs. blog debate. There are …

Ali Karim’s in the process of rounding up his ThrillerFest experience in a major way. Read parts I and II, with III to come tomorrow.

Speaking of the installment plan, read Duane …

My review of Ruth Rendell’s THE WATER’S LOVELY ran in the Philadelphia Inquirer yesterday. And after this, I think I shall stop reading her work because I’ll just end up saying the …

Arthur Ellis Award winner Barbara Fradkin chats with the CBC about her Inspector Green series, setting mysteries in Ottawa and her next projects.

Brian Lindenmuth has a fascinating piece about Black …

NYTBR: Lorraine Adams follows the Silk Road with travel guide Colin Thurbon; Jeremy McCarter has his thoughts on Arthur Miller’s final volume of prose; and did someone at the Book Review assign …

Add Janet Maslin to the list of those who are big Martin Cruz Smith fans.

Patrick Anderson runs out of patience with Bernard Schlink’s second Self novel.

New York Magazine picks thrillers to …

Later today the winners of the CWA Daggers will be announced, and so of course the “genre wars” starts anew with Chris Wiegand’s essay on the Guardian blog. SHOTS’ Mike Stotter …

Malcolm Lowry reconsidered on the 50th anniversary of his death. (Via.)

Everything you could want to know about Irene Nemirovsky is probably contained in this essay by Benita Eisler.

The Times …

First, thanks to those who were kind enough to watch my maiden television appearance Friday evening. Even if the segment had never aired, at least I got a really nice makeup job out of it which made …

Jonathan Yardley appreciates Maxine Hong Kingston’s influential memoir A WOMAN WARRIOR in today’s Washington Post.

In yesterday’s Post, Patrick Anderson goes gaga for the prose …

And by sparsely populated I mean “the city has migrated to the Hamptons or elsewhere.” Business as usual, in other words.

And in other news, I’ve lent my voice to the intro for the …

The New York Times Book Review‘s shiny new blog, Paper Cuts, hit the ‘sphere earlier this week with a considerable amount of fanfare. And based on early posts like the slideshow of ads, …

The North Andover Eagle Tribune wonders why there’s an upsurge of interest in all things Nancy Drew.

Maine Today chats with Linda Greenlaw, fishing expert turned mystery writer.

The Sacramento …

Jumping off from this weekend’s piece about dedications by Edward Docx, Ed Gorman reflects on what happens when a book is reissued 10 or 20 years after pub date – and the dedications no …

Quite a bit on the me front this weekend. My newest LA Times column checks in (not quite online yet, but soon) with post-⁹⁄₁₁ thrillers to see who’s doing it right; Time Out New York runs …

Michael Connelly talks with Jeff Ayers about turning a serial into a novel and juggling screenplay and novel-writing duties.

Andrew Wilson explains why Justin Evans’ A GOOD AND HAPPY CHILD is …

The show is over, and I’m finally getting back on my feet. More about BEA at GalleyCat once technical difficulties have been resolved, but in the meantime, lots of links to peruse:

The big book …

Mark Frost talks with the LA Times’ Scott Timberg about using WWII as a backdrop for his newest page-turning thriller.

The Rap Sheet presents part II of its overlooked/unappreciated series. …

I’ve tried to write and deleted about five different versions of this post over the past month or so, choosing silence because this discussion has already resulted in a great deal of spilled ink …

NYTBR: Marilyn Stasio returns with her crime fiction column, reviewing the latest by Tana French, Kjell Eriksson, Donna Leon and Ruth Dudley Edwards; Susann Cokal compares Tim Willocks’ epic …

Weather, deadlines, a strong desire for gelato are all contributing to a slight blogging malaise round these here parts. I can BSP-a-plenty, starting with my review of Heather McElhatton’s …

Clea Simon has a grand time reading Elmore Leonard’s latest crime novel, UP IN HONEY’S ROOM.

Patrick Anderson wishes the plot had moved faster in Mark Mills’ second novel even if …

And before turning to the Sunday papers, the requisite BSP: My newest LA Times Book Review column, focusing on noir fiction’s depiction of artists on the skids, is now up, as is a short review …

You can read about the big publishing news story over at GalleyCat, but let me spell out what this means for the mystery world. With Carroll & Graf and Thunder’s Mouth closing down effective …

Duane Swierczynski scores an interview with Elmore Leonard to mark the occasion of his 41st novel, UP IN HONEY’S ROOM.

Somehow I totally whiffed on reporting the Agatha Award winners, so …

Charlotte Mendelson opens up to the Guardian about writing, being one-half of a literary couple and finding humor in life.

Mark Athitakis offers a David Goodis appreciation for the Washington City …

NYTBR: Note to Tanenhaus & co: structuring the entire issue around things are are ostensibly “bad for you” also invite jokes about the Book Review being bad for you. And indeed, my …

My take on Nathan Englander’s THE MINISTRY OF SPECIAL CASES runs in today’s Philadelphia Inquirer.

As part of the current Chabon-mania in the media this week, the New York Times’ Patricia Cohen went with him to visit the real city of Sitka, Alaska, which served as the model for the fictional …

The blog vs. print debate gets aired in a big way in the New York Times this morning. On balance it’s a good piece from Motoko Rich (with great mentions of Dan Wickett and Jeff Bryant from the …

As part of the NBCC’s ongoing campaign, the LA Times ran an op-ed from Michael Connelly about the importance of book reviews to his career:

Fifteen years ago, my first book was published in …

Lots and lots of post-LA Times Festival of Books Coverage courtesy Tod Goldberg, Lee Goldberg, Carolyn Kellogg, Callie Miller, Mark Coggins, Brett Battles and more. The winners of the awards were …

NYTBR: Francine Prose has unsettling deja vu after reading THE PESTHOUSE; Claire Messud rejoices in Hermoine Lee’s biography of Edith Wharton; Dwight Garner points out the highs and lows of …

There may not have been a Weekend Update but that doesn’t mean there won’t be links:

Crime fiction roundups from Marilyn Stasio, David Montgomery, Margaret Cannon, Oline Cogdill, Susanna …

Having stumbled through the door (with sunburn in tow) I’m still catching up on all book-related news, but please do check out the National Book Critics Circle blog today as they have kicked …

My interview of Victoria Redel about her newest novel, THE BORDER OF TRUTH, is in this week’s Time Out New York.

I was wondering when Lionel Shriver would write something about Virginia Tech, and her essay on Monday’s horrendous crime appears in today’s Guardian:

Why do they happen? If it does not …

Before turning to the rest of the weekend’s links, the ghostwriting theme is explored in greater depth by Kerry Lengel at the Arizona Republic, who interviewed me (as well as David Montgomery …

RIP, Kurt Vonnegut.

Another excellent LA Noir writeup courtesy the Pasadena Weekly.

The Hampstead & Highgate Express talks to Michael Marshall about his newest thriller, THE INTRUDERS.

The RBA …

LA Noir and its editrix, Denise Hamilton, get a stellar writeup in the LA Times today. And I agree, one would have thought the anthology would appear sooner but waiting for the right editor was a …

At the Washington Post, Bob Thompson pays necessary attention to the publication of Roberto Bolano’s THE SAVAGE DETECTIVES, while Patrick Anderson, in the course of reviewing R.N. Morris’s …

Obligatory Passover-related comment: I will be quite content if I never see turkey, smoked turkey, mashed potato kugel, matzah and passover desserts for a long, long time.

NYTBR: Marilyn …

Although I’m not contractually bound to link to everything related to Laura Lippman (unlike a certain someone‘s Faustian bargain with Jonathan Ames) it behooves me to point out that …

It’s the home stretch. More cleaning, more cooking, more free-fall into OCD territory. Ah, Passover. So links will be quick and posts will be scarce until Thursday, most likely. But for now: …

Today’s theme is best embodied by the fact that I’ve been cleaning for Passover just before getting out of town for said holiday. Redundant? Masochistic? Somewhere in between? Ponder that …

Laura Lippman, who moves up to #10 on the New York Times bestseller list, is interviewed by both Duane Swierczynski and Regis Behe.

USA Today’s Carol Memmott rounds up new mysteries by Lippman, …

The lack of posts here yesterday are best explain by this and this. And so, here are the links that have piled up:

Somehow I missed Marilyn Stasio’s column over the weekend, where she reviews …

Glory be, there are a lot of Mac users and admirers in the mystery community. No surprise, and thanks to all for the suggestions, but it looks as if my laptop-buying days will be delayed a while yet, …

The Boston Globe meets William Landay, who relates why he left prosecution behind for full time writing of such wonderful books as THE STRANGLER.

Steve Allan has a couple of excellent interviews up …

First, it’s a two-fer from me this weekend as I review Barbara Gowdy’s HELPLESS for the Los Angeles Times and Michael Lowenthal’s CHARITY GIRL for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

NYTBR: …

The last thing I want to do is get into another installment of the Genre Wars, but it seems the discussion is on many people’s minds of late, what with the National Book Critics Circle’s …

If there are two books making the review rounds in a big way this week, they are CHRISTINE FALLS by Benjamin Black aka John Banville, and THE POST-BIRTHDAY WORLD by Lionel Shriver – as they …

And first, hope you all remembered to push your clocks forward as part of this “energy saving” initiative that’s really meant to confuse North America even further and forfeit an …

Today is the launch of the 3rd Edition of the Blog Short Story Project, edited by Bryon Quertermous and Dave White. Gerald So has the running tally of contributors, including Patti Abbott, JT Ellison, …

Obligatory BSP alert: My latest column for the Baltimore Sun runs this week, featuring reviews of new releases by James Hall, Matthew Klein, Terri Persons, Boris Starling and Lisa Lutz. I also review …

The hand is healing, and I can type more or less, just slower than usual. Now to the links:

The Palm Beach Post reveals all sorts of random trivia about James Patterson, like how he writes in …

Now that I’m back in New York, I can finally catch up on some links that have been piling up of late:

Although I’m bummed that I haven’t received a copy yet and almost everyone I …

NYTBR: Mayra Montero’s literary crime novel is the cover review, and a fine choice it is; Luc Sante makes some great critical points about Patrick Anderson’s thriller critique; Rachel …

Ed Gorman points to this remarkable website by John Fraser where he discourses on all matters related to thrillers.

Arundhati Roy will be publishing her first novel in a decade.

While Maureen Dowd …

To start things off, my review of Chris Bohjalian’s THE DOUBLE BIND appears in today’s Philadelphia Inquirer. It’s a mixed take, warranted because of what I thought was one story …

Jonathan Lethem’s essay in Harper’s on appropriation, influence and culture. (Via Maud.)

Dave White’s rant about why authors blog more about marketing and promotion and less on …

Patrick Anderson praises William Landay’s THE STRANGLER highly, though feels it isn’t quite to the level of MYSTIC RIVER.

The Dallas Morning News talks to Deborah Crombie, a Texas author …

And to start things off is February’s Baltimore Sun column, featuring my reviews of new books by Val McDermid, Mayra Montero, Guilio Leoni, William Landay and Bob Morris.

Also, a hearty …

Yes, I admit it: the first thing I did upon waking this morning (and preparing the requisite number of GalleyCat posts) was read the entire text of Vanessa Grigoriadis’s New York cover story on …

And continuing the BSP-ish theme that has taken over the blog most recently, I’ve cracked a brand-new market on the book reviewing front: the Los Angeles Times, where my take on two recently …

3 AM Magazine talks with Soft Skull publisher Richard Nash about the company’s origins, the AMS bankruptcy and independent publishing.

E. Howard Hunt, one of the Watergate notables, has died. …

Jim Huang’s The Mystery Company reopens today in a brand-new location that’s way more visible to prospective shoppers after life “tucked away” in a strip mall.

Vikram Chandra …

And continuing award nominations week, we’ve also got the National Book Critics Circle finalists as announced last night at Housing Works in SoHo – and while overall, there’s lots …

Want to know why Martha Grimes disdained touring for years? It’s because she suffered from spasmodic dysphonia, a disorder that made it unbelievably difficult for her to speak. But now, as USA …

David Hiltbrand went to GoodisCon and came back with this Philly Inquirer report, with quotes from Duane Swierczynski, Herbert Gross, and other attendees.

William Boyd, Stef Penney and John Haynes …

It may have the worst headline accompanying a story I’ve seen in some time, but the G&M’s interview of Fred Vargas is well worth a look.

After the phenomenal success of JARHEAD, …

First up is the my first Baltimore Sun column for 2007, reviewing new crime fiction by Chuck Hogan, Jesse Kellerman, Dana Stabenow, Sarah Graves and Frank Turner Hollon.

NYTBR: Hmm, on December 17th, …

And so, here we are in 2007, and how is it that two days into the new year I’m already behind? The more things change…the more the links pile up:

Jonathan Yardley offers his own take, and …

But first, my latest review, of Robert Wilson’s Spain-set thriller THE HIDDEN ASSASSINS, appears in the Washington Post Book World. And my end of year column for the Baltimore Sun is also up, …

Today is getting away from me (vacation, I hear you calling in the distance) and so instead, I’ll open the floor to comments with the following question:

Which five books are you most looking …

The Boston Globe talks with M.T. Anderson, National Book Award winner of the super-fantabulous OCTAVIAN NOTHING.

Can a bookstore survive and thrive in downtown LA? Metropolitan Books certainly thinks …

Happy Chanukah, for those who celebrate Judaism’s most famous minor holiday. I’ve already had enough latkes and sweets to last me till the end of the year. By which point I suspect …

After listening to Richard Powers endure her inane questions on Fresh Air yesterday, I think Terry Gross might be a greater scourge upon the radio literary scene than Michael Silverblatt. And that is …

NYTBR: Dwight Garner’s “Inside the List” column is All Pynchon, All the Time; Cynthia Ozick explains how Leo Baeck changed her writing life; Uzodinma Iwaela applauds a new book by …

MWA has announced that 2007’s Raven Recipients are Kathy Harig, owner of Mystery
    Loves Company (Baltimore, MD and Oxford,
    MD), and Mitchell Kaplan, owner of Books …

Today marks the last publishing event of 2006 – HANNIBAL RISING’s pub date. The first review, courtesy the LA Times, is up already, and Maxim Jakubowski describes what Murder One was like …

Before getting to the update, check out my latest review at the Philadelphia Inquirer, where I have much to say about Fred Vargas’s SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR (released after HAVE MERCY OF US …

It’s that time of year. Christmas music playing in coffee shops and department stores. Christmas trees are already for sale on the Upper West Side (and presumably, elsewhere.) And the best-of …

As reviewing ethics is one of my all-time favorite topics (those who attended the panel I moderated at Bouchercon can attest to this) Sharon Burnside’s article in the Toronto Star is of …

It isn’t often that an interview makes me gasp aloud, but Mark Sarvas’s interview with Jonathan Lethem did exactly that. Here’s why:

TEV: Who’s the best author we’ve …

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Mine was essentially variations on a theme of eating and watching movies. Lots and lots of movies. Borat is uneven, at times wildly funny and other times …

A few days ago I finished Scarlett Thomas’s THE END OF MR. Y, a novel that expanded my brain not unlike Richard Powers’ THE ECHO MAKER (and not just because both books deal with …

Charles Shields, who may be familiar to some readers for his biography of Harper Lee that received considerable acclaim when released earlier this way, sends word of a new project: the first …

NYTBR: Let’s start off with Rachel Donadio’s rather witless, poorly-thought-out, boring essay on literary feuds. Oh, where shall I begin? The fact that this piece has been done before, but …

The semi-serious writeups are here, but since formal dress brings out my irreverent side, here we go:

1. Jonathan Lethem & Christopher Sorrentino + British and Irish accents respectively = Mark …

As I attempt to cram about 10 hours of work into three hours, some quick links:

John Kenyon chats with George Pelecanos about his musical influences, Steve Wynn, and why he gave up playing the …

That’s because this week is all National Book Awards, all the time. It’s also the first year that I’ve read almost all of the fiction shortlisted (ONLY REVOLUTIONS excepted) and I …

But first, my new column at the Baltimore Sun (I have to get used to them running earlier in the month) which features new releases by Joseph Wambaugh, Katherine Hall Page, Laura Joh Rowland, Peter …

The New York Times gets a peek at Nelson DeMille’s home, a 10,000 square-foot Tudor-style dwelling.

How do you arrange your books? The Guardian’s Sarah Crown is ever frustrated by the …

And now, back to the literary and mystery news you’re all here for:

Laura Lippman and Duane Swierczynski got together for a wide-ranging interview about ambition, the need to set aside time to …

NYTBR: Marilyn Stasio’s column looks at recent releases by Michael Connelly, Robert Ward, Fred Vargas & Elizabeth Ironside; Peter Dizikes wonders if the paradox of having “too many …

Like many folks in and around the publishing industry, I spent a chunk of time yesterday reading through the publicity horror stories that Bella Stander’s been posting on her blog. Some are …

My review of Michael Largo’s FINAL EXITS: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of How We Die is up today at the Philadelphia Inquirer.

It’s irreverent and fun with lots of facts and some serious …

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 …

The New York Observer’s Ron Rosenbaum may have killer flu, but at least it got him to get rapturous over Philip Kerr’s spy novels.

What did Sena Jeter Naslund think of the Marie …

Which is both late and abbreviated, natch.

NTYBR: Marilyn Stasio focuses her review attention upon Arnaldur Indridason, Archer Mayor, Julia Spencer-Fleming & Robert B. Parker; Henry Louis Gates …

Even though I’ve already said how much I adored Richard Powers’ THE ECHO MAKER, there’s a whole lot more where that came from thanks to a roundtable discussion organized by Ed …

So when Tayari Jones posted the results of her recent photo session with Marion Ettlinger, something about the photograph rang a bell, but I couldn’t figure out why.

Then I realized it’s …

And as for why it’s belated…let’s just say there is nothing more amusing than watching a gaggle of 13 year old girls dressed up for the prom dancing to a remix of “Sweet …

So how often has the winner of the Edgar Award for one book been nominated for the National Book Award for his next?

Probably, oh, zero times. But Jess Walter gets to be the first, as he won the …

Done in a rush because somehow I’m ridiculously behind already…

Next year’s Mystery Writers of America Grand Master is…Stephen King.

Edward Wright has won the Ellis Peters …

And first up is my new column for the Baltimore Sun, which ran earlier than I was expecting. It features reviews of the latest by Brian Freeman, John Katzenbach, Gillian Flynn, Carol Lea Benjamin and …

The newest edition of the Philadelphia City Paper’s Books Quarterly is online, and it’s worth checking out, not just because yours truly profiled debut author Jonathan McGoran, writing a …

First off, I had quite a lot to say about Jess Walter’s THE ZERO in the Philly Inquirer, and about the Lee Siegel affair in the Denver Post.

The Asian-American Press talks to Sujata Massey …

At Penguin Most Wanted, Dick Francis explains how his newest novel, UNDER ORDERS – the first after a six-year hiatus – came to be.

Patrick Anderson deems John Katzenbach’s THE WRONG …

…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 …

When I saw the Telegraph’s feature on Amanda McKittrick Ros, I cackled. Yes, cackled. Because this is a writer who came up with fabulous lines like “I will marry you, Lord Raspberry” …

NYTBR: Although I don’t think it’s a Fiction Issue by design, it sure feels that way. There’s Neil Gordon reviewing John Le Carre’s new spy thriller; Charles Taylor being …

Ha’aretz talks to Joe Finder about writing thrillers, learning how to use a gun, and his time spent on a Kibbutz.

John Connolly chats about his health regimen to the Glasgow Herald, though with …

Today, of course, is anniversary five, and somehow I feel more reflective than I did last year or the year before. Maybe because the coverage of ⁹⁄₁₁ is more pervasive this time around, or maybe …

The link is being passed around everywhere but Sara Gran’s hysterical and to-the-bone essay about why being a writer in Brooklyn might, just might, be hazardous to your literary health is …

NYTBR: Marilyn Stasio reviews new crime fiction offerings from Philip Kerr, Tess Gerritsen, Morag Joss and Ellen Crosby; Will Self talks about Celine; and it’s a nice touch to get Allegra …

The SCBA annnounces its finalists in several category, and the shortlist for mystery fiction includes:

T. Jefferson Parker, THE FALLEN
Paul Levine, SOLOMON VS. LORD
Barbara Seranella, AN …

First of all, welcome to all those who have arrived at my blog thanks to the New York Times’ piece on Marisha Pessl. I’ve said plenty on that subject already, but I can’t help but be …

So before I get to the links, some one-line reviews:

SNAKES ON A PLANE: So, so gloriously stoopid. I almost wished I’d seen it with a packed house…but then again, it worked in a smaller …

Gosh, it has been a while since I’ve done one of this, hasn’t it? But before getting to all those choice links, Elaine Flinn has me On the Bubble over at Murderati, where I manage to talk …

Daniel Woodrell talks to the St. Louis Dispatch about the impetus for his (yup, saying it again) marvelous novel WINTER’S BONE. The Rap Sheet also points to a great interview with NPR, …

A point for anyone who gets the title reference without prompting…

Before turning to the papers, my latest column is online (unlike June’s, which mysteriously never made it to the …

George Pelecanos gets good writeup in the New York Times, what with Motoko Rich’s profile and Janet Maslin’s rave review. Like you needed more reasons to rush out and read THE NIGHT …

Though yesterday was certainly all Spillane, all the time, here’s one last lengthy tribute to the famed pulp fiction writer, courtesy the Georgetown (S.C.) Times. Oh, and another from the Rap …

Want to know what’s been going on at ConMisterio all weekend? Bill Crider has been posting video clips of some notable names, including Megan Abbott, Duane Swierczynski, Steven Torres, Margaret …

NYTBR: Joseph Epstein discourses on friendship, much to Jennifer Senior’s liking; Marie Arana’s CELLOPHANE illuminates culture in a magical realist way, as Liesl Schillinger finds out; and …

Not posting much has its privileges because I didn’t lose anything from Typepad! Bloody outages…

The Telegraph’s Will Cohu talks to Jeffery Deaver about why readers are number one …

Bulletpoint style:

• Keep checking Mary Reagan’s site for more ThrillerFest photos (as well as some from the shooting range.)
• Laura Lippman interviewed by the Miami Herald’s Connie Ogle. …

After yesterday afternoon, I’ll be paying a hell of a lot more attention to the World Cup. Crazy game yesterday, to say the least, especially watching it with hundreds of people in a crowded …

So I totally missed that the Hammett Award had been given out at Bloody Words last weekend, going to Joseph Kanon for his latest novel, ALIBI. Fortunately, Jiro Kimura snagged the press release.

The …

I go away to Portland (a beautiful city, btw, the Art Museum kicks ass and the Chinese Garden is most especially lovely and relaxing) and a new, unbelievably pointless brouhaha hits the …

I mean that both metaphorically and literally as I fly off to the West Coast for a few days – so nothing doing here until Wednesday at the earliest. But in the meantime, here’s the update: …

So many Noir anthologies, so little time – but the latest is TWIN CITIES NOIR, and it gets serious due in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

Patrick Anderson is impressed with Robert Baer’s …

With June’s arrival, things are naturally slowing down. More desire to be outside, do other things. And so for the next couple of months, the Weekend Update may appear later on Sunday. Or  …

I’m a day late, several dollars short but so, so very pleased for Jenny Davidson’s news that her novel, DYNAMITE NO.1, will be published in 2008 by HarperCollins Children’s books. I …

Happy weekend, everybody – it’s been positively fantastically gorgeous in this fair New York City, which is why I’m doing my best to spend as much time outside as humanly possible. …

Even after a decent night’s sleep, the verdict is still the same: exhaustion, best overcome by slow dips back into the real world. Though one BEA anecdote I forgot to mention on GalleyCat was …

And to think this post almost became a quick deal report and a somewhat snarky follow-up comment. It’s a habit I try not to indulge as much as I once did, because it doesn’t really help …

Because I am woefully behind on updating the Picks, sometimes I forget to mention books that I really really like. Which is why it’s good that AP’s Bruce DeSilva reminds me of how …

NYTBR: First up, Marilyn Stasio looks at a wide variety of mysteries by Donna Leon, Helene Tursten, Asa Larsson, James Swain & Pete Hautman (and is it me, or has she been reviewing more paperback …

Last Saturday morning, the Italian journalist who most recently had co-written a book with Douglas Preston on the Monster of Florence was unexpectedly released from jail. He’d been arrested …

Ah, normality. It’s so nice to be back in that state after what turned out to be a crazier-than-usual Edgar Week. But by “normality” I really mean “extremely tight …

NYTBR: Hmm, for some reason Marilyn Stasio’s crammed in more books than usual in her column this weekend. She looks at the latest by Peter Abrahams, Elizabeth Peters, James Sallis, Loren …

The slowness continues, but in truth, I don’t mind so much, because as soon as I return to the Apple, things get kah-ray-zee once again. So another quick summary to tide you over for the next 24 …

Thriller writer Stephen Leather went to Australia to research his newest effort, COLD KILL — which imagines a terrorist attack in Sydney. He talks to the Sydney Morning Herald about the end …

Greetings on this slow day here in the Nation’s Capital, where everything is pretty much shut down and I should be working on something or other. You know the drill. But in the meantime, the …

Christopher Moore, who’s about to embark on a 30-city tour for his newest novel A DIRTY JOB, talks to the SF Chronicle about his books, why he’s into fantastically-tinged stories, and his …

Some weeks ago, along with many others, I posted about thriller writer Douglas Preston’s legal troubles in Italy which led to his detainment and the threat of charges against himself and his …

Yes kids, in just a few days’ time the obsessive-compulsive’s wet dream swoops upon those who partake in all-Matzah, all the time. But before that happens, there’s houses to clean, …

And if you’re like me, some of your clocks got switched and others you’ll forget about till, oh, Tuesday…

But the good news is spring is here and the weather’s been great. The …

John Skinner, the man responsible for the Rebus walking tours in Edinburgh, has died at the age of 52. Ian Rankin, on his website, paid tribute to Skinner, saying that “I told him he was crazy …

Charles Taylor of the Newark Star-Ledger has some fun with some of the things that a book lover is best advised to avoid when searching for a new book to read:

        …

Patrick Anderson gives his approval to Peter Abrahams’ END OF STORY, which I heartily agree with (no idea why it’s taken me so long to try one of his books. Maybe because he produces good …

I feel like the last one just ran, but lo, here is my newest column for the Sun, looking at recent releases by Thomas Perry, Barbara Vine, Rhys Bowen, Joshua Spanogle and Miyuki Miyabe.

And in other …

Irish-born, Bellingham-dwelling author Michael Collins is driven by stuff that most of us wouldn’t even dream of attempting. And by that, I don’t mean novels, I mean his penchant for …

Carol Memmott looks at some new-ish political thrillers by Robert Ferrigno, Peter Schechter and Noel Hynd. Her colleague at USA Today, Deirdre Donohue, pretty much falls in love with David …

Lionel Shriver describes the effect of winning a major award — and the strangeness afterwards.

It’s the 50th anniversary of PEYTON PLACE and the AP’s Hillel Italie offers up a …

NYTBR: Oh, let’s just go straight to Naomi Wolf’s gee-willikers rant about the Gossip Girl books and others like it. Of course they are empty. Of course they are banal. Of course I …

And by dint of not posting on weekends I didn’t get around to talking about the Agatha Award nominations, which can be found here. Congrats to al the nominees, who will be feted (and winners …

Been blogging rather crazily at Galleycat (end-of-month quotas, don’t you know) and other projects have popped up in the meantime so it’ll probably be a light week once again. Still, …

First: new column, featuring reviews of the latest by David Liss, Jenny White, Robert Eversz, Kjell Eriksson and Paula Woods.

Second: I love the Phillips Collection. And the new exhibit on …

Because I’ve spent a fair chunk of 2006 with my nose in research books, reading newspapers on microfiche and scouring the web for relevant stories and anecdotal nuggets (long story short: trying …

Happy long weekend, everyone (which also explains why this update’s going out late, because sometimes, you really just want to sleep in on a Sunday morning, you know?)

NYTBR: Wait a minute, …

Like many Jewish little girls — and, no doubt, many non-Jewish ones — I read the ALL OF A KIND FAMILY books cover to cover, over and over. So I was especially pleased to see Melanie …

This year, the annual awards for the best in online fiction has a sponsor — Spoiled Ink. This means that the overall winner will get $300, while the Top Ten get a $50 membership to the literary …

Out and about for the most part today so links will be delivered bullet-style:

Ed Gorman has begun a fabulous ongoing series of “Pro-Files” of wonderful and underrated writers like Andrew …

Yes, it’s my birthday. And yes, it’s snowing up a storm outside. Whether the two events are correlated is up for debate, but I choose to think that it’s a reminder that you can take …

Paul Southern, the Manchester-based crime novelist, writes about openness and tolerance but has much trouble being able to carry it forward in his personal life, as the Times reports.

David …

NYTBR: Marilyn Stasio expends her crime reviewing energies on new releases by Sara Gran, Luis Alfredo Garcia-Roza, Carol Goodman & Henry Kisor; Rachel Donadio talks to Malcolm Gladwell about how …

This has been making the email and blog rounds but I thought I’d share this here as well. Beth Tindall (of CincinnatiMedia and many, many author websites fame) is working with the Literacy …

Some of the UK’s top authors prepare reading lists for children, and as the Guardian reports, the results are eclectic and challenging for the most part.

Jonathan Yardley strikes a good note …

So first, the new column, which features reviews of new books by Peter Blauner, Dana Stabenow, Tom Gabbay, and TK.

Also spent the weekend reading everyone else’s short stories in DUBLIN NOIR …

If there’s one piece of advice I’d probably give to anyone going to a play with the intent to review, try not to sit two seats away from the playwright in question. Granted, I didn’t …

I first bring you my all time favorite hoax: The case of I, LIBERTINE.

And then follow up with the exhausting, head-banging-against-wall-inducing story of B. Traven.

(and for those still playing …

NYTBR: Before we get to what appears to be the Book Review’s theme this week — politically savvy journo chicks — let’s first turn to Marilyn Stasio’s first mystery column …

Last night at Michele Martinez’s Black Orchid signing I got a couple of people saying that yesterday’s total output was on the tad depressing side, so even though my Friday posts are …

I suppose the death of Canadian poet Irving Layton probably won’t have the impact now that it might have, say, twenty years ago. But nevertheless, this guy was Canadian poetry, and without him, …

Paul Guyot links to fellow scribe James Lincoln Warren’s fabulous post on the choices writers have to make in telling a story — and how critical those choices must be:

[…]good …

If my New Year’s party was any indication, 2006 will include a bit of the past, a lot of reconnections with cool people, and a very bright future. Conjecture, but then I’m only sticking to …

But that’s what happens when you’re put into an immediate crappy mood.

Before I get to the update, I must note the passing of one of the greats of thriller writing, Trevanian (otherwise known as Rodney Whittaker) who died in England earlier this week at the age of 74. If …

Bullet style for the hectically challenged:

• Kacey Kowars (who interviewed me several months ago for his Internet radio show) now turns his attention to Scott Wolven, whose story collection …

Everywhere I look I see some permutation of “Best of” lists around the ‘sphere, and although I certainly have plenty of novels under consideration for the honor, I’m also glad …

Vacations are the best inventions ever. Especially vacations where I can walk into my old local bookstore haunt, go directly to the mystery section and find at least 10 books not available in New York …

Contemporary Nomad has barely been up two days but I’m already highly addicted — not surprising, since I’ve already paid close attention to the collective witticisms of Kevin Wignall …

Although it almost wasn’t, considering the insane amount of time I spent fighting with my spastic internet connection. No doubt there must be some sort of cosmic irony that it crapped out on my …

Bloody hell, this isn’t even my holiday but it seems I’ve taken it up with major league gusto (even though any turkey I had was by proxy, but it seemed to work well enough…) So as I …

Courtesy CAAF at Tingle Alley, about George R.R. Martin’s new doorstop fantasy novel, A FEAST OF CROWS:

There are lots of intelligent things could be written about the involved …

Paul Guyot has a great discussion about the importance of setting for a story, and more importantly, how a place you don’t necessarily like can inspire good writing:

I’ve been …

The latest Bat Segundo show features Jennifer Weiner, chatting about GOODNIGHT NOBODY, mysteries and the whole chick lit business. Over at MobyLives (where the switch to podcasting is a stroke of …

Although as far as I’m concerned, I have a pretty damn good excuse to be lazy…

NYTBR: Jonathan Lethem writes about one of his favorite authors, Italo Calvino, on the 20th anniversary of …

Somehow I managed to skip posting about the death of the author of notable novels such as THE FRENCH LIEUTENANT’S WOMAN, THE MAGUS and THE COLLECTOR, but luckily Mark Sarvas has assembled an …

So first, I jump on the growing bandwagon of reviewing Scott Turow’s new novel, ORDINARY HEROES. I daresay my reaction was a little different than everyone else’s, but then, I’m …

National Novel Writing Month is underway, with over 60,000 brave souls attempting to write a semblance of a 50,000 word tome in 30 days. Most just wanna have fun; some really do want to get published. …

And I hope I’m not the only one who’s stil adjusting to the whole “turn the clocks back” business…

Lisa Crystal Carver has tried her hand at many things, but as she …

Another month, another column, and this time I look at new books by Michael Connelly, Sujata Massey, Tasha Alexander, Reginald Hill and Arnaldur Indridason — all of which I liked to varying …

Mark Billingham continues his occasional series of columns for the Bookseller talking about the writing life. This time, he tackles the age-old question: does it get easier with each book? Guess what …

While other people concern themselves with Al Franken’s Minnesota Senate bid, I find this a hell of a lot more amusing:

In the offices of The New York Times, Caleb Carr’s name may mean …

Oh it’s fun to be on deadline, tra-la, tra-la…which means there’s been a serious accumulation of potentially good links:

Giller Prize nominee Lisa Moore talks to the Globe & …

Before I get to the links, I wanted to extend a hearty congratulations to two of my favorite people in the mystery world, Bonnie Claeson & Joe Gugliemelli — who will be next year’s …

Quickly, because that seems to be the order of things today, if not this week:

P.D. James is a woman of many names and many books; she talks to the Globe & Mail’s Elizabeth Renzetti about …

NYTBR: Now somehow I completely whiffed on linking to Marilyn Stasio’s column last week, which featured reviews of the latest by Michael Connelly, Reginald Hill, Gregory Blake Smith and Rita Mae …

As announced this afternoon by John Grisham, of all people:

Fiction
E.L. Doctorow, The March (Random House)
Mary Gaitskill, Veronica (Pantheon)
Christopher Sorrentino, Trance (Farrar, Straus & …

And all I can say is, this guy’s going to be grinning for days, if not weeks, over the news.

NYTBR: Boy oh boy, it’s all about Joan Didion this week, what with Rachel Donadio’s lengthy interview and Robert Pinsky’s slightly less lengthy review of her memoir, THE YEAR OF …

One of the things I wanted to talk about earlier this week before the news of the Dagger nominations hit was Stephen King’s THE COLORADO KID. And Patrick Anderson’s take in Monday’s …

At least on a rudimentary scale:

It’s been all things Ruth Rendell this week as her newest standalone THIRTEEN STEPS DOWN hits US stores everywhere. She was interviewed in the New York Times, …

I’ve been to enough panels to expect that for the most part, there isn’t a lot of variance. The moderator keeps the discussion going; the panelist answer basic questions and mention their …

Various shortlists for the Southern California Booksellers Association’s annual prizes have been announced, and on the mystery side it’s quite a packed field:

Jan Burke, BLOODLINES …

How can the year be only two months away from finishing? Didn’t we just get started with 2005? I’d be confused but I guess I can still blame this on the Cold That Will Not Die….

And …

Now, when I went surfing onto the NYT site and found the review of Michael Wex’s new book BORN TO KVETCH, you could have knocked me over with a feather. For the man, you see, is a genius. The …

A few days ago Laila Lalami prepared herself to interview Salman Rushdie (the end result will run in the Oregonian next week.) She had a list of rules for herself:

Do not mention the f-word. The man …

For some bizarre reason I have been remiss in linking to the growing disaster that is HMV’s imminent buyout of Ottakar’s, which would unite that bookshop chain with Waterstone’s and …

First up, the new column, which features reviews of the latest by Walter Mosley, Theresa Schwegel, Martin Limon, Morag Joss & Christopher Lehmann-Haupt.

Next, the Sunday Pages:

NYTBR: James Agee …

Duane Swierczynski relates how a few choice words of wisdom from an editor pal completely changed his burgeoning writing career around:

[He] was basically telling me to play to my strengths …

Normally when I’m working on something, I prefer to either be creating — writing a first draft, brainstorming a new idea — or editing. But at the moment I’m in the middle of …

I’ve somehow neglected to mention Anne Frasier’s blog in this space (especially as back in the day, her romances — written under her real name, Theresa Weir — were among my …

NYTBR: Frank Rich loooooooves Zadie Smith so much that he spends oodles of space heaping hosannas on her new novel ON BEAUTY; Arthur Schlesinger wonders why the public has dimmed its memory on …

As this was the first time I’ve ever attended an event at the New York Public Library, I wasn’t sure what to expect — but it did come as a surprise to take the elevator …

I suppose it’s only fitting I post this as I prepare to attend the NYPL’s “Nancy Drew Revisited” talk tonight with Melanie Rehak and Laura Lippman, but then it’s been All …

One of the things that arose after Bouchercon was a discussion on panels — or more accurately, how some people are more gifted at moderating them than others. But an intrepid group of folks, …

The Scostman has this huge-ass profile of Neil Strauss, who is definitely someone I Just Don’t Get. Let’s see..Courtney Love…Jenna Jameson…himself…uh, what?

The Glasgow …

NYTBR: I find Marilyn Stasio’s column especially interesting not just because of the book she’s reviewing, but b/c it includes Ed McBain’s last author photo, which strikes me as one …

And the finalists are…

John Banville, THE SEA

Julian Barnes, ARTHUR AND GEORGE

Sebastian Barry, A LONG LONG WAY

Kazuo Ishiguro, NEVER LET ME GO …

Aside from the Update, when was the last time I pulled one of these them thar things together? I can’t even remember…

If you’ve arrived from the Christian Science Monitor’s …

Yeah, this was supposed to run yesterday, but that’s what real life does…

So while everyone was away partying at BCon (or doing the equivalent elsewhere) my latest review ran at the Sun …

Well OK, technically summer doesn’t end till September 20 but I mean, people are back at school, back at work, the traffic on Sunday evenings isn’t quite as insane as it once was, …

Kate Atkinson, the marvellous author of the inaugural Litblog Co-Op pick CASE HISTORIES, will be stopping by the LBC site on Monday, August 29 to talk about the book the take your questions. Should be …

NYTBR: I gotta ask — is the Book Review on crack this week? There’s Jeff McGregor’s rant about how much profiles suck, Charles Taylor’s rant about how much bookstores these …

I’ve just finished a riveting new noir novel, The Devil’s Own Rag Doll. Scheduled to come out in October, it’s set in WWII-era Detroit and they don’t come any grittier or more atmospheric. The …

The Cleveland Plain Dealer’s the latest paper to catch up with Superwoman (at least, in the media’s minds) Kate White, in the midst of touring for her latest Bailey Weggins mystery. …

Ed links an article in yesterday’s Boston Globe that covers a rather dangerous and fun topic: literary hoaxes:

[T]he long and distinguished history of literary hoaxes shows that the …

So in the midst of guest-blogging fervor, I completely overlooked the whole Booker Prize Longlist thing. Though if you’re reading most of my litblog brethren, you already know that it’s …

Today would be an excellent day for being cranky: it’s hot out, I’m fasting (well, for the morning, anyway, we’ll see how long this lasts) and did I mention it’s hot out? But I …

The Manchester Evening News chats with Jeffery Deaver, crime writer and dedicated foodie.

Clea Simon reports on the latest effort by James Lee Burke for the Boston Globe.

Patrick Anderson shines a …

So as some of you fine folks have pointed out, publicly and privately, I’ve been messing around with the templates around here a little bit. Hope you like this version, and that it’s …

Sally Gardner suffers from extreme dyslexia, but as she tells the Guardian, she didn’t let that stop her from writing novels.

The Independent’s Mark Timlin rounds up new crime fiction …

And where has the summer gone, anyway? I suppose because each blisteringly hot day melts into another and another that I’m kind of surprised it’s almost August.

Anyway, the latest …

Now this is a topic to have some fun with. We start over at Paul Guyot’s place, as he talks about how a character is assumed to have depth by having a quirk or gimmick that no one else has, like …

Meetings, lunches, deadlines — well, you get the drift. There should be something up earlier this afternoon but in the meantime, flights of randomness:

Kathy Reichs seems to be everywhere in …

Though I doubt it will address the latest allegations and tidbits, David Pirie has written a new documentary about the “real” Arthur Conan Doyle, and he tells the Scotsman all about it. …

One would think, in this age of short attention spans and constrained lives, that people would be more receptive to the short story — or any shorter piece — than they are. But a new outfit …

So say you write a spoof of the presidential administration and send it into a contest. Then it wins. Then controversy ensues. What to do?

Allan Laing, writing for the Glasgow Herald, rounds up …

And before I get to all the links and stuff, a huge congratulations to Mark Billingham, winner of the very first Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award (given to the UK public’s …

Meetings, real work, blah blah blah. And would the temperature please drop a little bit? Please?

Think Pottermania has made everyone happy? Uh, not if you’re Ottakars, which blames a 6-7% drop …

It is so, so difficult to find book news today that isn’t Potter-related. Which isn’t so bad, I suppose, if it gets people to hang out in bookstores more often, but I wonder if it would be …

Though I suppose, in a few months’ time, I will probably stop resisting and read the book in a couple of gulps, but this was a scene in a nearby bookstore:

I walk in and see piles of Harry VI …

Ah, you gotta love bomb scares. Especially ones where people stand around, looking confused, unsure if they are allowed to get into the building or not. Best line overheard, uttered by one of the NYPD …

There once was a girl named Helena. A young lass, a smart one, toiling day in and day out at a Major League Publishing House (think of the initials “R” and “H.”) The problem …

I’m not sure how I feel about this, frankly — a new version of Inspector Morse sans John Thaw, who has the misfortune of being dead? Well, no matter what I think, filming is now underway. …

James Hynes, whose latest novel KINGS OF INFINITE SPACE has been bugging me to read it for a while now, writes about his recent reading — for the very first time — of ANNA KARENINA. Aside …

After reading this article about what bookshops, retailers and others will do just to get people to buy Harry VI, I have that song from DUCK SOUP in my head…

And speaking of Pottermania, Owen …

Normally I reserve enthusiastic praise around here for books, but after seeing PRIMO, Antony Sher’s one-man show adapted from Primo Levi’s Holocaust memoir “If This Was a Man” …

The debate continues. The Litblog Co-Op (of which I am a proud member) releases its Minority Opinion on the inaugural selection, CASE HISTORIES and discusses, in part, some of the controversy …

Is it weird that I’m actually happy to be back at work? Maybe because by the time the fireworks rolled around, I just wanted to get the hell home. Or maybe it’s the run of mediocre books …

Delayed, of course, because who’s actually in town this weekend? Hardly anyone I know, that’s for sure.  So enjoy the fireworks, the BBQ grills and just the general “not at …

The Telegraph went a little hogwild with crime fiction over the last few days, what with roundups by Susanna Yager as well as David Isaacson and Jake Kerridge. Also, Susan Hill is interviewed about …

For whatever reason, the train wreck that is the dissolution of Terry McMillan’s marriage fascinates me greatly. Oh my lord. And you know the soap opera’s going to continue for months to …

This week, it seems, is all about John Twelve Hawks’ THE TRAVELER. Remember that book? The one with the ridiculous marketing campaign and mundo hype? Well, Janet Maslin loves it. I mean …

Of course, now I have that damn song in my head, but if you’re going to torture your brain, why not with Cole Porter?

Anyway. Damn heat. Let’s move to the links, shall we?

NYTBR: So …

Maybe it’s because I have been so insanely busy that I’ve managed to acquaint myself with antibiotics again, a joyful exercise I can recommend to absolutely no one. Or maybe because I …

Looks like Andrew Vachss has managed to be super-prescient in his new novel TWO TRAINS RUNNING, which deals with late 1950s Southern crime and corruption — a topic that’s made headlines …

What would you write if nobody knew it was you who wrote it? That was the question that gripped Marc Parent a few years ago, and the result is an intriguing new collection just out from Random House …

Kermit (but call him Kim) Roosevelt’s debut novel IN THE SHADOW OF THE LAW is getting a ton of attention. Not just because of his background and pedigree, but because he’s written a legal …

The International Festival of Authors has announced their lineup for this fall and as Rebecca Caldwell reports, it skews very young. Look for the session with Jonathan Safran Foer to fill up quickly. …

There’s been a fascinating discussion all weekend over at Mark’s that began when he posted a lengthy excerpt from James Wood’s most critical review of Nicole Krauss’s THE …

The Octagon Library at the University of London is doing a most unpopular thing: disposing of rare books, some that might even fetch good money on the open market…

Nancy Pate, the Orlando …

So I think I’m going to steal TMFTML’s tag line and declare that this blog, too, is keeping summer hours for the next little while. Truth is, when I’m not working or writing, …

Because what other explanation can be given for Chrissie Hynde’s bizarro fangirl act?

Rock legend Chrissie Hynde is such a huge fan of British author Martin Amis, she got drunk and …

Rebecca Caldwell reports that the Chapters on Bloor & Bay, once the chain’s flagship store, is being replaced by Winners. Well, duh. It always struck me as odd that I could bookstore-hop …

To go along with the Old Peculier Shortlist (see today’s earlier post) Yorkshire Today’s Sarah Freeman catches up with sponsor Simon Theakston, who explains why he’s so passionate …

I think it’s fair to say that this past week — my very first as a Young Professional in the City — has been all about endurance (or maybe it’s to do with the nasty cough I …

I am hesitant to usurp Sarah’s role as chief “book critic” around these here parts.  For one thing, the thought of writing an actual review stirs up enough stress to trigger a case of Biblically …

To me, like most writers of my experience level, editors are mysterious beings.  I look at them like I looked at girls when I was fourteen, with an unsettling mixture of lust and loathing through …

NYTBR: So it goes without saying that the most talked about review of the weekend was Curtis Sittenfeld’s snobbish takedown of Melissa Bank’s new novel THE WONDER SPOT.  So …

Uh, hi. I’m sorry, do I have some sort of “blog” or thereabouts? I think I’ve rather forgotten what with this whole moving to another country business. Never mind unpacking an …

For those of you who are wondering who I am and what I’m doing here, I’m guest hosting this blog for today at Sarah’s invitation. See her post, below. And thanks for the warm …

Writing “The Resilient Writer: Tales of Rejection and Triumph from 23 Top Authors” (Persea Books) involved lining up more than 23 famous writers to interview. I expected a lot more …

Please do check out the Litblog Co-Op site later today as Reagan Arthur, senior editor at Little Brown, will discuss her role in bringing Kate Atkinson’s CASE HISTORIES to publication in the US. …

If you’re going to interview a famous author, as the Telegraph does here with Umberto Eco, can you not open with him doing vocal exercises. Now I’m going to have this image of Eco saying …

If you live in the UK and you want cold, hard facts about current news, where do you go, the library? Uh, no. Not when there are tabloids to read…

How do the cops, especially police chief Bill …

NYTBR: Marilyn Stasio leads off her column with a glowing review of the latest Inspector Brunetti novel by Donna Leon, then looks at new releases by Chris Knopf and Maureen Jennings before explaining …

Although the current debate about the Litblog Co-Op seems to center around whether Kate Atkinson’s CASE HISTORIES is “too well-known” a novel to be picked, it’s important to …

A novel, or a short story? Sometimes we want to read one or the other, but as Philip Hensher explains, the line between the two forms is blurring more and more.

New York-based “prosecutor …