“The effect of this leveling, of standing the utilitarian data of “Front Matter” just before “Fuckers,” or “Dedication” between “Deaf” and “Dicephalic Parapagus,” is that the compilers and The Book of Freaksmingle with, and become, freaks themselves, entry-less entries in their own encyclopedia. ” At The Collagist, Tom DeBeauchamp reviews Jamie Iredell’s The Book of Freaks.

• Spencer Ackerman on Egypt’s “Facebook Revolution” and Occupy Wall Street.

• Gabrielle Gantz reports back from readings from Diana Abu-Jaber and Blake Butler.

• Matthew Perpetua shares his thoughts on R.E.M.’s final single.