Literary Musings: New York Times Book Review - 4/22/07

Playing catch up this week. Wonder how much the full page ad in the Book Review costs. Carol Higgins Clark, David Baldacci, Irene Nemirovsky, Alexander McCall Smith were so honored, as were Bose sound systems, the Sony eBook reader, and Baumen Rare Books.

Black & White by Dani Shapiro, and Easter Everywhere by Darcey Steinke both got BIG reviews. It’s interesting to analyze the author’s photos. Darcey Steinke’s is certainly arresting. Big tattoo, bad hair and a somber gaze. I really liked it. Carol Higgins Clark and Dani Shapiro each have a shadow of a smile. The photo of Leo Lerman raising his sunglasses is very cool. Alexander McCall looks like a nice guy—a “pleasant chap” photo, someone to share a few beers with, as it were.

Poet Ed Dorn is shown in profile looking at his image in plaster. Coal Black Horse author Robert Olmstead looks serious but approachable. It must be hard to photograph the author to show his writing. In the Crime section, Laura Lippman has a glamour shot. She has a breakout standalone novel that is getting good reviews and has edged into the best seller list. Couldn’t happen to a nicer lady.

Moving on to the Best Seller List, Mary Higgins Clark is #1, not unusual. Saw her going into the Agents and Editors Cocktail party on Wednesday, to present the Mary Higgins Clark award. It goes to a woman (usually) who writes suspense without gore, sex and bad language. Christopher Buckley making the list again. Funny man. This week’s list is a real mixed bag, from Islam (The Reluctant Fundamentalist) to Chick Lit (Shopaholic & Baby) to Danielle Steel to school shootings (Jodi Picoult). Kids, go buy a book, because there’s absolutely something for everyone this week.

The Paperback Best Seller List is headed by Cormac McCarthy, the man who doesn’t give interviews. The Road sounds like a riveting read, and I do plan to grab it soon. Mary Higgins Clark is #2 on the paperback list. My God, how the money rolls in. Janet Evanovich is #3 with Hot Stuff. She was a panelist at Wednesday’s Symposium (more about that later this week) as was Lee Child, #8 with The Hard Way. He is a funny and genuinely nice man, as it Harlan Coben, with Promise Me, #9. Harlan was also a panelist. Well, they bring the big guns out for the Edgar Symposium.

Tomorrow another Sunday Times comes out. That’s why I have to scramble, gone for 3 days and the whole week disappears.

Spring has sprung, the grass has riz, I wonder where the flowers is.

Grapeshot