Bad enough that Tom Stoppard was pulled away from the script so that the man who gave us American Pie could write His Dark Materials, but the Times reports that “references to the church are likely to banished from the film” — apparently, with the full support of Pullman, who was paid “a large amount” for the rights. (via Publisher’s Lunch)

• The sexiest litblogger in the City of Angels serves up hot compare and contrast on the Holmes front (Sherlock, that is).
• Jenn-W (yo!) gets press with the Jewish Ledger, talking ’bouts Simsbury (not Rocks or Maxis), autobio elements, and the forthcoming film ‘doption dapplin’ down with In Her Shoes. Dig?
• Emily Auerbach sez that Jane Austen is underappreciated as a writer. Does A-bach gets awayz from the burbs? Because here in these cits, hot young bespectacles cants get enough of Pride and Prejudice; hence, prejudicial to Auntie Jane’s books more so than V-Woolf. Get busy, Ems. You’re out to lunch.
• Dakota Fanning’s the kidlit child star. First Alice, then Charlotte’s Web. An Olsen Twin in the making?
• Mira Nair and Jhumpa Lahiri. BUZZ!
• Tintin’s got an amusing explan about his Fountain o’ Youth. Well, Holmes, pass the Courvosier!

Bud reports that the next issue of The Missouri Review will have three previously unpublished stories from William Gaddis. All three stories date from well before The Recognitions.