Mr. California, Jonathan Lethem, gives us an excerpt from his upcoming book about the movie, They Live.

• Christopher Hitchens, Jonathan Franzen, and Patti Smith are among the finalists for the 2010 Los Angeles Times Book Prizes.

• Jami Attenberg talks to Wesley Stace.

• William Blake’s grave will be protected.

• James Franco’s banned Oscar song.

• Uzbekistan finally catches on to our Western devil music.