We’ve been working over time at BGB HQ to put together this list of things to do over the Thanksgiving holiday besides associating with your in-laws. We’ve cobbled together this outstanding collection of essays, interviews, podcasts, book-related craft projects, video clips, new blogs to check out, and other stupendous miscellany for your holiday enjoyment. You’ll be able to go hours without speaking to anyone. Just remember to break out that laptop early and often. Thank us later.

The NY Times has a nice piece on two new Allen Ginsburg books out in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Howl. The article includes a picture of Ginsberg taken by William S. Burroughs.

The Times backs it up with a great article about Tennessee Williams written by director John Waters. I’ll cop to not knowing anything about Williams’ personal life prior to this article in which Waters credits Williams with saving his life - twice

The NYT also reviews the new book by Courtney Love called Dirty Blonde. They don’t hate it. How is that Courtney Love has never been in a John Waters movie?

KCRW podcasts an interview with Zadie Smith. KCRW may be the best radio station in the US. Which isn’t saying much, but still.

Boing Boing points the way to a Steve Allen interview with Jack Kerouac, who begins a reading of On the Road with “I wrote the book because we’re all gonna die.”

The Onion AV Club interviews Chuck Klosterman.

Lifehacker links to craft projects for that book that you’re not going to finish. May as well turn it into an iPod carrying case.

Bookninja has the scoop on the lost William Faulkner screenplay for a vampire movie. No, really.

Seen Reading has been nominated for the best new blog for the 2006 Canadian Blog Awards. Julie Wilson writes short vignettes about the people she spots reading on her daily commute.

McSweeney’s presents: Fragments from If I Did It! The Musical.

At Salon, Laura Miller says the new book Wizard of the Crow by Ngugi wa Thiong’o is “a cross between a Pynchon novel and “A Confederacy of Dunces,” reincarnated on African soil.” Wait. Who in the what now?

Lastly, I’d like to direct your attention to some outstanding Canadian blogs. These blogs each achieved their “outstanding” status by demonstrating the good taste to link to our site. A few weeks ago our post on a 1001 Books to Read Before You Die found its way to the great White North and onto these wonderful sites. (OK, I’m just sucking up now in the hopes that I can use them as character references when I finally decide to move to Vancouver). [editor's note: update on 11/24 - now with 50% more Canadians!] Please take the time to visit:

Maybe they can tell us what happens on Thanksgiving in Canada (they do have one). They presumably don’t have a Macy’s Parade or Pilgrims, right?