Confessions of an Idiosyncratic Mind: More 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.

January 30, 2008

More Smatterings

Wall Street Journal Europe chats with Olen Steinhauer about espionage, the fall of communism and his upcoming novel.

The Toledo Blade has a profile of Marcus Sakey, whose new crime novel AT THE CITY'S EDGE is just out.

Though the DI Joe Faraday series was a calculated gambit on Graham Hurley's part, he tells the Guardian's Chris Wiegand why that gambit has paid off handsomely.

Motoko Rich article one: on Brian Selznick and his Caldecott-winning novel THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET.

Motoko Rich article two: on Daniel Menaker's new venture, which so far only features authors who live in New York City. Coincidence or a low budget in desperate need of puffing up should a ~~fairy godmother~~ corporate sponsor show up? I do wish Menaker well, but I hope the program is more Cavett and Snyder and less Maher and Rose.

Scott Timberg extols the awesomeness that is Lydia Millet.

Margaret Truman Daniel, who later in life became well-known for her mystery novel career, died at the age of 83.

I am so glad Leon Neyfakh reports things like these because I love stoopid publishing tricks like scheduling important meetings during Super Bowl Sunday. Way to rally the troops, especially if there's a no Blackberrying rule in effect.

Canada's oldest bookstore is about to close. Bah.

And finally, you'll never hear Van Halen the same way again.

Posted at 10:30 AM in Literary minded | Permalink

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Comments

Reminds me of the time when the Globe and Mail had a British editor in chief. Rocket Richard died and the whole newsroom went into mourning. While the editor rampaged through the halls yelling 'who is this guy Ri'chard? Why do you all care about this guy Ri'chard? And why do you pronounce his name funny?'

Posted by: Helen Heller | January 30, 2008 at 04:17 PM

I love you for putting up the DLR link. LOVE YOU!

Posted by: Jennifer Jordan | January 31, 2008 at 11:34 AM

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