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James Franco to Publish His First Novel on Amazon

America’s favorite jack-of-all-trades is at it again.

Google

Google Doodle Celebrates Mark Twain’s 176th Birthday

The doodle depicts the famous fence whitewashing scene from Twain’s classic 1876 novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.

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Was Jane Austen Murdered?

According to one author, someone may have poisoned her with arsenic.

Laurie Rubin / Getty

Tumblr of the Week: The Books They Gave Me

This week’s Tumblr features stories and vignettes from contributors who recount books given to them by lovers, past and present.

Reuters

A Nobel Prize for Bob Dylan? Some Would Bet On It

Bob Dylan as a Nobel Prize winner likely isn’t a common conversation in mainstream America.

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Scientists Back Up Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein Moon’ Claim

Even back in the 19th century, people wanted to know how authors got their ideas. Except, back then, not everyone believed the answers.

REUTERS/Susumu Toshiyuki

At Last, Monkeys Are Recreating Shakespeare

A programmer has finally found a way to answer the age-old question: would an infinite number of monkeys pounding on an infinite number of typewriters be able to produce Shakespeare’s works? The answer: yes, as long as they’re virtual monkeys.

Harper Collins

Should Parents Fear ‘Bumble-Ardy’, Maurice Sendak’s New Book?

A new children’s book, written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak, the author of Where the Wild Things Are, is about an occasionally demented-looking (but fun-loving!) pig’s blowout birthday bash. It seems to have a few parents grumbling.

Google.com

Google Doodle Honors Writer Jorge Luis Borges and His ‘Forking Paths’

Say you’re one of history’s very best speculative fiction writers. You could do worse than to snag a Google Doodle for your 112th posthumous birthday.

Thomas Peter / Reuters

Reading While Eating for August 15: Power Trip

Monday’s links talk powerful animals, powerful people and even powerful movie scenes.