From the "speculative criticism" department: TS Eliot and Ken Dodd. (For some reason, that page fails to link to its accompanying comments thread).

• From the "criticism in the age of the internet" department: Lev Grossman seeks controversy, gets it.

• Caleb Crain's personal bibliography of piracy, which offers a valuable tip: do not attempt to address pirates as "gentlemen of fortune belonging to the sea".

• Harry Potter reads Truman Capote, apparently.

• Reading while hiking (that's with audiobooks, the comfortable alternative to walking into a tree).

• Another advantage of translated thrillers: the film arrives quicker.