Newsletter: May 2006

Greetings from the UK. Here at EnCompass we've got a bit of a focus on crime fiction at the moment. Hugely acclaimed author Val McDermid is taking part in an EnCompass interview, so if you've got a question for her you can send it in to our discussion boards by 5th May, or check back and read the interview after 10th May. Meanwhile my Book of the Month choice for May is a spooky tale of crimes committed long ago, and about to be unearthed, The Ghost Writer, by John Harwood. Have a look at my review and send in your comments. And, just to let you know, the forthcoming issue of the British Council's Literature Matters magazine will also fous on crime writing...

The shortlist for the Orange Prize for Fiction was announced last month, and Sarah Waters is the bookmakers' early favourite with her novel The Night Watch. The book marks a change of direction for Waters, who has admitted she found it very hard to write. The story of three women and one man is set in the 1940s, rather than the Victorian England of her three previous novels. But will the judges reward her labours? You can find out by checking back here after 6th June, when the winner is announced.

The long-running saga concerning takeover bids for bookselling chain Ottakars coninues. In the last week of April Tim Waterstone submitted a bid which will now be considered along with that made by his former eponymous company. The result could have a significant impact on the character of bookselling on the British High Street.

By the way, I've started a new thread on our discussion forum asking for your recommendations of interesting book-related blogs. Blogs are increasing in popularity and readership all the time - a few I like include Grumpy Old Bookman, Ready Steady Book, Reading Matters, and So Many Books. The beauty - but also the danger - of them is that they generally all list links to other blogs. So what started out innocently enough as a quick browse, can soon turn into an hour or more of concentrated surfing... Anyway, let me know if you've found any good ones by replying to my discussion thread.

Happy reading,

Susan

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