Jesmyn Ward, Nikky Finney, and Stephen Greenblatt became the only people that will be able to say that they won anything from the NBA in 2011.  The Washington Post has a nice Twitter timeline of the National Book Award happenings, and The New York Times has a rundown as well.

• John Hodgman explains what Occupy Wall Street, Herman Cain, and the musical Cats have in common.

• Martin Amis talks of Don DeLillo’s “prophetic soul.” (Thanks Gabrielle Gantz for the tip)

• Ann Beattie talks to Michael Silverblatt on the newest episode of Bookworm.

• Jonathan Lethem on the literary world being like high school.

• Pictures from a Kurt Vile and Widowspeak show.

• Somebody steps up and says the Lou Reed/Metallica album is “excellent.” 

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