The Death of the Author – Gilbert Adair

Short Story September – Week Three – Novella One It’s time to break a taboo or two. Firstly,  I’m counting novellas as part of my Short Story September reading.  Secondly, at the start of this review, I’m going to give away the ending! As I have discovered to my disappointment, death is merely the displaced name for [...]

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EIBF: My Events (all 31 of them!) by Paul Johnston

The final word on the 2009 Edinburgh Book Festival is reserved for someone who makes Lizzy’s excesses appear modest. The dedication of Paul Johnston, award-winning crime author, who chairs events covering a broad spectrum of publishing (crime, literary fiction, international fiction, non-fiction) is admirable. He says “living in Greece, I have to make to make [...]

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TSS: EIBF 2009: The final weekend

One month on and I was back in Edinburgh.  More on that later but yesterday confirmed my worst suspicions.   I discovered why the book festival is in the second half of August.  It is deliberately timed to coincide with monsoon season (or has been for the last 3 years) when it is wet and windy. [...]

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Booker 2009: The Glass Room – Simon Mawer

My first sighting of Simon Mawer’s booker-shortlisted The Glass Room was on A Common Reader’s blog back in February.  I fell in love with the cover and bought the book even before I’d read Tom’s effusive praise.  Since then readerly applause has been ringing louder and louder:  KevinfromCanada, Farmlanebooks, and both Wonderang and My Spy [...]

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The Chronicles of Clovis – Saki

Short Story September Week Two Saki, or Hector Hugh Munro in real life, was a satirist of Edwardian society and is today widely considered a master of the short story. According to his sister, he chose his pen-name from the last quatrain of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. Yon rising Moon that looks for us [...]

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BBAW Competition Winners and a few surprises

1) Crime-winning crime (UK Only) This was nice and easy.  There were three books and three entrants so everyone gets something. The Salati Case goes to Dawn.   Sassy Brit gets The Murder Farm and Maxine will receive a package containing The Bethlehem Murders.  All three come with an Edinburgh Book Festival Bag. 2) Book of [...]

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TSS: BBAW giveaways close at 18:00 GMT

Book Blogger Appreciation Week has passed in a flurry. Unfortunately real life had plans of its own this week and I became a lurker rather than a fully fledged participant.  However, I posted my giveaways.  Both of these close at 18:00 today. So if you want a shot at winning some award-winning crime (UK only) [...]

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EIBF 2009: My Event by Suhayl Saadi

Suhayl Saadi does nothing by halves.  First he writes a 680-page behemoth of a novel, Joseph’s Box, then he promotes it by creating an amazing website.  He’s a  busy man as you will see in the following interview regarding his appearance at this year’s Edinburgh International Book Festival. LS: How did you become part of [...]

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2nd BBAW Giveaway – Book of Your Choice

This giveaway couldn’t be simpler.  Pick a book of your choice up to a maximum value of £15 from www.bookdepository.co.uk and tell me about it in comments.  Of course, I’d be extra delighted if it was something I’ve reviewed on the blog. Open worldwide.  Winner to be chosen next Sunday.  Wishing you a happy BBAW! EDIT: Deadline approaching. [...]

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1st BBAW Giveway (UK Only) – Award-winning crime

 Time to get into the swing of things.  This is a fantastic idea and with so much effort behind the scenes.  Thanks to everyone involved.  It would be criminal of me not to join in.  So on that note let’s giveaway some award-winning crime.    I have one copy each of Andrea Maria Schenkel’s German Crime Prize [...]

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