Bookslut reviews Shoplifting From American Apparel.  Tao Lin calls this review ‘damning’  via his Twitter.

• Everything is totally cool between the heirs of J.R.R. Tolkien and HarperCollins.  (Thanks Vulture)

• New Yorker weighs in on Times Square vs. The High Line

• Sarkozy had more in common with Napoleon than you thought. (Thanks The Awl)

• Chicago Subtext asks: “What book would Oprah never, ever pick as a book club selection? Why?”  I sat long and hard on this one, and came up with my pick: Mein Kampf.  Why:  Because people don’t like Hitler.

• The Faster Times bashes clothing that goes under the title of “Harvard Yard” or “Harvard meets Hipster”.

• “I’ve been accused, at times, of being Elvis Costello’s biggest fan” – Joanna Smith Rakoff (author of A Fortunate Age) puts together a Gen. X heavy playlist that you can’t really argue with.  (Thanks Paper Cuts)

• The continue “Pondering Proust” over at Lit. Kicks.

• J.M. Coetzee’s Disgrace is being turned into a film? (Thanks The Millions)

• Pitchfork interview John Darnielle about the upcoming Mountain Goats album, The Life of the World to Come.