Nicholas Laughlin's blog etc.

Zadie Smith's White Teeth & Charlotte Williams's Sugar and Slate have both been shortlisted in the British "state of the nation" books poll.

"These were among titles earmarked by a panel of librarians and booksellers for a poll to find 'books which say the most about contemporary England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland'. Thousands of customers in high street bookstores are expected to vote. The verdict will be announced on World Book Day next March, when every pupil in Britain will be given a £1 book token."

Anything to help sales.