• Who knew that bookstores were the place for exclusive pretzels? (via Jennifer Howard, who has been turning in some fine guest blogging at Bookslut this week)
• When writing a literary biography, be sure to befriend your subject’s ex-spouses.
• Romancing the Tome has some hot pics of The Golden Age, the sequel 1998’s amazing film Elizabeth. The sequel, thankfully, will also be written by Michael Hirst and directed by Shekhar Kapur. And, of course, it’s Blanchettlicious*, with Clive Owen appearing as Sir Walter Raleigh.
• I never thought I’d see the day when Michiko Kakutani was compared with Darth Vader. I’m guessing that nutty Brockman guy is steeling himself up for a holiday party.
• The Washington Post‘s Jabari Asim argues that what McEwan did is no less different from LL Cool J sampling James Brown.
• C. Max Magee asked me to particpate in his impressive “A Year in Reading” project and my contribution can be found here. My top ten list for 2006 will appear after Xmas.
• The Written Nerd writes about the current state of NYC bookstores. Prognosis: nicht so guht.
• Is literary paradise in Australia lost? (via MAO)
• Sarah offers some further speculation on Bertelsmann’s precarious financial status. An $11.2 billion debt. I’d hate to be on the receiving end of that dunning. Even if Random House isn’t purchased by Google, I’m wondering who else but Google would be willing to take a hit with that kind of debt, if Bertlesmann decides to shop off Random House.
• I wish I could go to this, but I’ll be in San Francisco. MetaxuCafe is having a gathering on December 19. Check it out if you’re in New York.
• 10 Zen Monkeys looks into the Amanda Congdon-ABC partnership.

* — It is my hope to introduce “Blanchettlicious” into common vernacular. The term signifies someone “exuding smart and sexy” and I’m hoping it can replace such general monosyllabic terms such as “hot” that fail to do justice to the sublime complexities of women.