Booknews Saturday

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George Pelecanos, who has a new website to coincide with the release of ‘The Turnaround,’ tells All Things Girl that he was inspired by Richard Price’s ‘Clockers’ and ‘The Last Good Kiss’ by James Crumley.

Elsewhere, author Min Jin Lee (‘Free Food for Millionaires’) cites ‘Middlemarch’ by George Eliot and Edith Wharton’s ‘House of Mirth’ as major influences.

The Romance Writers of America conference is wrapping up in San Francisco; bloggers are keeping readers posted and talking to the Today Show.

Women on the Web, a site run by celebrity women of a certain age, has launched its book section, including a classic pick -- Edith Wharton’s ‘The Age of Innocence’ and a some summer favorites (Candice Bergen likes ‘The Story of Edgar Sawtelle.’)

Stephenie Meyer’s e-book of ‘Breaking Dawn’ was released 24 hours later than the print counterpart, frustrating some and annoying others. But it didn’t phase the fans who turned out to pick up the hardcover.

Gawker has its Montauk Monster; the University of Maryland has a loose hybrid Savannah Cat.

Carolyn Kellogg

photo by moriza via flickr