For fiction writers, the Man Booker Prize is like the Academy Awards — actually, since this prize is only open to citizens of the Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland, make that the BAFTA’s. Once summertime roles around, anyone whose novel was published that year eagerly sits by their phone in anticipation of the call letting them know they’ve been nominated for the prestigious literary accolade. Being nominated is good for publicity, but that extra £50,000 ($82,000) prize isn’t something to shake a stick at. Just ask last year’s winner Aravind Adiga whose novel The White Tiger has currently sold over half a million copies.

For those of you who may enjoy a few new additions to your summer reading list, here’s a cheat sheet to help you navigate the thirteen nominees. Read More »

Friedrich Nietzsche once wrote that “Sleeping is no mean art: for its sake one must stay awake all day.” It’s been a narrative-packed few years for Sarah Shun-lien Bynum with the publication of 2004′s National Book Award finalist Madeleine is Sleeping and this year’s critically acclaimed Ms. Hempel Chronicles. Between writing observant tales of childhood and observing her own child, she doesn’t have much time for shut-eye, but Flavorwire got this exclusive look what’s floating around in the author’s head, right before it hits the pillow.

After the jump, she gives us an itemized tour of her bedside table, including her current reads.

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Barack and roll: Now that speculation about Barack Obama’s cabinet is pretty much over, people have begun mulling over the next best thing: his inauguration concert. And the rumored line-up is pretty sweet, including Leona Lewis, Beyonce and Jay-Z. We say hip-hop (or maybe “hip-hope”?) at the White House bodes for a good four years. [NME]

Jay-Z to tour with Coldplay: And speaking of Jay-Z, he’s set to join Coldplay on a tour in the UK next year, after years of sporadic collaborations. Despite some rumors about Coldplay breaking up, their new EP, Prospekt’s March, came out yesterday and includes a Jay-Z-enhanced version of “Lost.” [Pitchfork]

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Van Sant on the bus for Kool-Aid Test: Indie filmmaker GUS VAN SANT has signed on to direct THE ELECTRIC KOOL-AID ACID TEST, based on TOM WOLFE’s trippy book about the drug-addled rise of the hippie movement. FOX SEARCHLIGHT will produce the film, and DUSTIN LANCE BLACK will write the screenplay.

Black and Van Sant worked together on the much-hyped MILK, a biopic about California’s first openly gay elected official that stars SEAN PENN. It opens November 26th. [Reuters]

Adiga in agent controversy after winning Booker: After winning the MAN BOOKER PRIZE earlier this month, ARAVIND ADIGA severed ties with his literary agent, WILLIAM MORRIS AGENCY, for no apparent reason this week. Sınce Tuesday, however, the author of THE WHITE TIGER now has British agent DAVID GODWIN fighting for him, who represented other Indian greats like ARUNDHATI ROY and KIRAN DESAI. [Calcutta Telegraph]

Updike has no mercy for Morrison: JOHN UPDIKE published a scathing review of TONI MORRISON’s new novel, A MERCY, in this week’s NEW YORKER. Known for critical sound and fury (hating on William Faulkner, for example), Updike’s opinions themselves are now getting criticized by the press.  [Gawker]

Kindle joins Oprah’s book club: OPRAH endorsed the AMAZON KINDLE last week on her Web site, which means the gadget is bound to see a spike in sales. Good news for the authors whose books are available through the device. Oprah’s own Kindle includes books by DAVID WROBLEWSKI, SUZANNE SOMERS and WENDY CHANT. [Information Week]

McEwan debuts London opera: IAN MCEWAN’S opera FOR YOU premiered yesterday in London. The Booker Prize-winning novelist focused the opera on themes of sex, obsession and adultery, saying that they suited the medium. He collaborated with composer MICHAEL BERKELEY, a long-time friend. [BBC]

- Iza Wojciechowska