Friday's Literary Grab Bag

Exit The Work Week Immediately

The end of the week marks the beginning of a new life. But even as office duty melts into the sweet bliss of weekend merriment, we are reminded of life’s true calling cards. Life begets more life. And with that comes sickness, health, food, society, tattoos and noir. We exaggerate, you say? In that case we banish you to life’s ultimate punishment: a weekend with your dysfunctional family. Or Jonathan Tropper’s new novel. Carrying on, Virgina Woolf understood tragedy and inspiration, which is why she reminds the Wall Street Journal of swine flu. The Thoughtful Bakery, an eatery in England, banks on bartering. Read their story in Intelligent Life. Arthur Ransome wrote children’s books. He was also a Bolshevik. You can show your cause by getting a tattoo of your favorite literary quote. The Guardian has more. Finally, a Portland duo has turned their comic book romance into a lucrative book deal. Think you got what it takes to do the same? — Kevin Murphy

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