Confessions of an Idiosyncratic Mind: Smatterings

Picks of the Week

Harry Dolan: Bad Things Happen
BAD THINGS HAPPEN is a nifty debut, cleverly told and unfurled from the very first line: "The shovel has to meet certain requirements" on through meeting "the man who calls himself David Loogan." There are reasons for concealment, just as there are reasons the editor of a mystery magazine bearing little resemblance to EQMM or AHMM might bring him into the fold, thus catalyzing a series of murderous events. The twists come quickly and the dialogue is sharp and if it falls apart slightly at the end, no matter - I want to read much more from Dolan from now on.
Ian MacKenzie: City of Strangers: A Novel
MacKenzie's debut novel reminded me a lot of Paul Auster's NEW YORK TRILOGY, whether it was intended or not, in terms of his choice of words, the thrust of the narrative and the existential nature of the main character (whose first name, incidentally, is Paul) caught up in a snowballing sequence of strange and violent events in and around New York City. MacKenzie straddles the line between thriller and internal examination of a man's failings, and his ability to do so establishes him as a young writer of serious talent and future.
Megan Abbott: Bury Me Deep
In a word: amazing. In more words: Megan Abbott, who has never delivered anything less than an excellent novel, exceeds expectations and takes a very bold and very necessary step forward both in the quality of the prose, the development of her characters and especially in portraying how obsession seeps into the very soul of people, transforming them into their worst nightmares all too easily. Just read this book. And then tell many others to do so as well.
Ninni Holmqvist: The Unit
Understandably, echoes of THE HANDMAID'S TALE are hard to ignore in this dystopic examination of a society where fertility is so high a priority that older, single, marginal women are shut away in secret locales to live out the rest of their lives in seemingly perfect harmony - at least, until the "donations" begin. But Holmqvist's marvelous book doesn't browbeat her thesis into the reader and smartly expands her ideas to look at the plight of all marginalized folk, women and men alike, and how the promise of comforts can be the most horrifying of all. Prepare to be disturbed, but prepare further to think about the ramifications.
Paula Froelich: Mercury in Retrograde
This is possibly the most perfect novel for today's economically challenged times. Why? Because it has plenty of glitz and glamor and blind items, as befitting a narrative by the deputy editor of Page Six, but Froelich isn't arch or snarky or acid-tongued in the slightest. Her trio of protagonists land in all manner of embarrassing situations but they aren't played for mean-spirited laughs. The New York here is something of a fantasy-land, but not so far off the mark that it's completely unbelievable. Most of all it's clear Froelich remains sincere and optimistic about her chosen city, and has retained her sense of fun. So no need to check your brain at the door, but sometimes it just needs to chill out and relax.

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 with Jenny Siler and Keith Dixon.

At Things I'd Rather Be Doing, Charles Ardai is this week's interview guest.

Every day brings a new awards shortlist, and today's is the Gumshoe Awards, courtesy Mystery Ink. The nominees are a diverse and eclectic bunch, to be sure.

Patrick Anderson had never reviewed Laura Lippman's work before, but something tells me he has some major catching up to do after his thoughts on WHAT THE DEAD KNOW.

Peter Osnos has some great thoughts on the future of book reviews in newspapers, and Warren Buffett has brilliant insights into the future of newspapers.

The Brown Daily Herald has a great writeup of the university's recent "Pulp Uncovered" Festival (link via.)

USA Today talks to Harry Bernstein, the 96 year old author of a memoir of his past and the divide between Christians and Jews.

UK SF Book News has a lengthy interview with Richard Morgan on the eve of publication of his newest novel, BLACK MAN.

The Bat Segundo show went a bit crazy with content over the weekend, supplying interviews of Martin Amis, Jane Ganahl, Ron Jeremy and Annalee Newitz & Charlie Anders.

The Independent picks up on Muriel Gray's comments after the Orange Broadband Prize was longlisted.

And finally, Dana Kaye has some great points about the complexities of reviewing. Which is also why I hope she reviews more widely.

Comments

A big WOW for Patrick Anderson's review of Laura Lippman's brilliant new novel. That review absolutely blew me away. He praises the book so much that it would almost seem extreme, if it weren't all so well-deserved.

Anderson drives me up the wall sometimes, but when he's on his game, he can really do some damn fine work.

Posted by: David J. Montgomery | March 20, 2007 at 10:38 AM

Why do you continue to offer credence to that despicable Ed Champion fellow? Yes, I realize he pays my bills. And I thank you for pointing out my podcasts, even though I am generally quite inebriated when I record these foolish intros. It has been proven without a shadow of a doubt that Champion is a fundamentally worthless writer. As Mary Dell has indicated, he is incapable of irony. As King Wenclas and May Barber had proven, he cannot write to an audience.

I don't know why you're so obsessed with Ed Champion's efforts, although I'm pleased to see that the blogosphere is now ignoring him. Because it's about time that this douchebag be revealed for the charlatan he is.

Posted by: Bat Segundo | March 20, 2007 at 02:31 PM

Patrick Anderson's review of Laura's book dovetails beautifully into the discussion of respect for wonderful work.

Posted by: David Thayer | March 20, 2007 at 08:10 PM

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March 20, 2007

Smatterings

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