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 has more on this.
Speaking of genre wars, Ursula LeGuin pretty much puts the boot to Ruth Franklin's snobbery. (via.)
John Sutherland discovers Lee Child and Jack Reacher. The results are quite interesting.
Claudia La Rocco is a big John Burdett fan after reading his latest, BANGKOK HAUNTS.
Tim Rutten feels similarly about Michael Robotham after closing the pages on THE NIGHT FERRY.
The #1 Ladies Detective Agency movie is a go, with Jill Scott to star as Precious Ramotswe and Anika Noni Rose as Mma Makutsi.
The movie version of JAR CITY gets a stellar review from Variety.
I have read Rachel Donadio's upcoming NYTBR back page essay on critical reactions to THE SATANIC VERSES three times and I still do not understand what the point is. That people were critical of the book back in 1989? That there is some tenuous significance tied in with his knighthood? It feels like a collated blog post without the links and the narrative thread.
A never-before-published Lew Archer excerpt? Awesome.
Summer reading selections courtesy the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Laura Lippman is guest-blogging at Powell's all week. She promises recipes and more than delivers.
The LA Weekly meets Natsuo Kirino, Japan's so-called Queen of Crime and just a damn good writer however she's classified.
The Village Voice's Carol Cooper explores the dark territory of Jean-Claude Izzo's Marseilles trilogy.
Nancy Pickard has joined the blogosphere.
And in podcasts, Maud's BEA interview of Shalom Auslander, Berkeley Breathed on the Bat Segundo show, and a special guest talks with Austin Grossman.
Is Jill Scott's figure traditional enough? I'd hate to think they'll slim down Precious for mass consumption.
Posted by: Clea Simon | July 05, 2007 at 11:20 AM
Holy hell, I have such a crush on Ursula le Guin right now.
And thanks for pointing out the Powell's blog which I had someone managed to live without reading before but now doubt that I can. I'm going to have to get up pre-dawn to feel caught up.
And Robotham's book is rather damn brilliant and engaging. Didn't think books could still do that to me....
Posted by: Jennifer Jordan | July 05, 2007 at 12:19 PM
"lowering himself to commit genre"
Lord, could I love UKLeG any more? Hint: no.
Posted by: Angelle | July 05, 2007 at 01:04 PM
Bless Ms. Le Guin for dripping her little grey cells all about to create such uncommon sense for the rest of us to enjoy!
Posted by: Beeg | July 05, 2007 at 04:40 PM