Ellen Hopkins contributes to the LA Review of Books’ feature on Banned Books Week.

• At Gothamist, Jen Carlson chats with Steve Albini.

• Amanda Petrusich reviews the Mike McGonigal-assembled compilation This May Be My Last Time Singing. (We interviewed McGonigal earlier this year.

• Brooklyn likes Kate Beaton; Kate Beaton likes 826NYC. Everyone wins, really.

• Thea Lenarduzzi on modernists Mina Loy and Helen Hope Mirrlees.

• Christopher Weingarten looks at Portishead’s hip-hop connections.