Sunday Salon #34 - 23 November

I wasn't able to do my usual Sunday Salon last week. I was away in Singapore for nearly a week, and while I was able to manage a few blog postings, catching up with ones others had made was almost beyond my resources.

Here are the postings I've made since my last Sunday Salon summary two weeks ago.

• Review: MYSTERIOUS PLEASURES, Martin Edwards (editor)
  Published in 2003, this book is a celebration of 50 years of the Crime Writers Association (the people who give the Daggers out). All the writers, 23 of them, are either foundation members of CWA, past presidents, or award winners.
• ACRC #5: The Secret of Chimneys
  The next in the Agatha Christie Reading Challenge.
• Spotlight on Ian Rankin - EXIT MUSIC
  I came across a youtube video interview with Ian Rankin about why Rebus had to retire, so I have published my own mini-review and also found another video interview.
• Love Books, Give them away
  Why not give a book for Christmas and help authors and publishers out? There's a link also to an interesting animated cartoon published by UNESCO about libraries.
• Sources of widgets and ideas for Blogger blogs
  I've added a "rating" widget to my blog and this posting talks about where most of my widgets/gadgets come from, and how to keep informed about things to improve your blog.
  So if you like my Sunday Salon postings (or if you hate them), come in an give this one a rating. It's quicker than having to write a comment, you don't have to log in, and it lets me know what you think.
  
• Back from Singapore
  What happened to the pile of books I took with me.
• The Carnival Moves On - #26
  The Carnival of Criminal Minds pitches its tent DownUnder again.
• Review: A HOLLY, JOLLY MURDER, Joan Hess
  A cozy, Druidic murder.
• The faces of crime fiction
  Interesting cartoon from Svenska Deckarakademin depicting famous sleuths.
• Review: A MAN LAY DEAD, Ngaio Marsh
  New Zealand author's first novel is still up there with the best of the Golden Age cozies.
• Review: ACRC#4: THE MAN IN THE BROWN SUIT, Agatha Christie
  I've completed #4 in the Agatha Christie Reading Challenge.
• Keeping Records of your reading
  What records do you keep? This post links to a poll that I've been running for the last 2 weeks.
  12 people responded to the poll with the following results
  9 - use their blog
  7 - store records on Library Thing
  1 - uses Shelfari
  2 - use another online library
  5 - use a notebook
  4 - use a database
  4 - use a spreadsheet
  1 - uses a text document
  Nobody participated who did not keep records
• How's This for a Reading List?
  Submissions for the 2009 Edgar Awards close on November 30. Scores of crime fiction books, short stories, TV episodes, and true crime books have been nominated so far.
• Off to Singapore tomorrow
  Get your priorities right when you travel. Decide what books you will take.
• Forgotten Books: THE HILLS IS LONELY, Lillian Beckwith
  Another of my contributions to Pattinase's Friday's Forgotten Books. Lillian Beckwith retired to a croft in the Hebrides and began writing a series of very readable semi-autobiographical books.
• Alternative title for Reginald Hill novel may confuse
  THE PRICE OF BUTCHER'S MEAT has already been released under another name!
• November 11, Remembrance Day
  Armistice Day is observed world wide. This year it is 90 years since the end of World War One.
• Review: WHAT THE DEAD KNOW, Laura Lippman
  This multi-award winner has a cleverly woven plot, but when all is finally revealed, it is hard to understand why you didn't see the answer right from the very beginning.
• Weekly Geeks #24 - Fun Facts about an author, Michael Robotham
  I never pass up a chance to talk about my favourite Australian author.
  

Currently Reading

• now - THE 19TH WIFE, David Ebershoff - and struggling I might add.
  
• next - OVERKILL, Vanda Symon.
• also listening to - CORDUROY MANSIONS, Alexander McCall Smith, ready for ch. 51.
• in the car - THE PROBLEM AT POLLENSA BAY and other stories, Agatha Christie.

The poll for the coming week: What helps you select your next book to read?
Do pop in and vote. I've set it up so you can choose more than one option.

Breaking News:

• Australian author David Malouf, wins the first Australia-Asia Literary Award.
• NPR top 5 in crime fiction 2008
• MWA 2009 Dual Grand Masters: James Lee Burke & Sue Grafton
• Costa Book Award Shortlists
• Interview with Peter Robinson
• Amazon Editor's Picks for 2008
• Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award
• Peter Temple nominated for 2008 Martin Beck prize
• CrimeFest 2009 in Bristol UK
• Publishers' Weekly best books of the Year

Thanks for reading my post. Enjoy your Sunday and I look forward to reading your Sunday Salon posts.