What would Jane Austen do? Be surprised, quite probably, at her continued status as a moral guide. (Via.) No advice on zombies.

• Hugh MacDiarmid vs the spell-checker.

• "A toothpick pretending to be a tree": James Marcus on The Original of Laura.

• Bookride on Stieg Larsson's second-hand prospects.

• Competitive speed-reading with Jenny Davidson.

• Culture and life expectancy.