3-September-08

1. Robert Drewe talked about the joys of growing up with comic books. SMH: Batman and Philosophy: The Dark Knight of the Soul

2. LRB: Michael Wood on The Dark Knight – At the Movies: 'Heath Ledger, who died of a drug overdose at the beginning of this year, was until now best known as the stolid hero of a remake of The Four Feathers (2002) and as the rather more complex figure at the centre of Brokeback Mountain (2005). Nothing we have seen of his career prepares us for what he can do as the Joker. By turns authoritative and wheedling, often speaking casually, with long pauses, as if talking to himself, always acting, aware of circumstance and timing, and very rarely manic (unlike the always manic Nicholson, for example), he creates a character who is attractive and horrifying in exactly the right proportions: attractive because horrifying, perhaps.'

3. The Triple R FM Radiothon is over for the year but you can still subscribe and be in the running for the huge Readings voucher, and more...

4. The New Yorker: 'The Dinner Party' by Joshua Ferris: ' "I can predict everything that will happen from the moment they arrive to the little kiss on the cheek goodbye and I just can't goddamn do it."

"You could stick your tongue down her throat instead of the kiss goodbye," she offered casually as she continued to dice. She was game, his wife. She spoke to him in bad taste freely and he considered it one of her best qualities.'

5. The new Coen Brothers film: Burn After Reading – I never get sick of Frances McDormand