Sundry links from around the Web:

• Lorrie Moore reviews the new Donald Barthelme biography (you can hear her thoughts here).
• The late John Updike had an early look at the John Cheever biography.
• Apparently, one of the century’s great correspondents was Samuel Beckett, the man who said ˜every word is like an unnecessary stain on silence and nothingness.’
• More layoffs at Borders. This time, the retailing giant cuts 742 jobs (nearly 3% of its workforce), most of them managerial positions at its superstores.
• Meanwhile, competitor Barnes & Noble buys e-book retailer Fictionwise.com for $15.7-million.
• A surefire pick-me-up: Author Tobias Wolff, onstage with John Darnielle (aka The Mountain Goats) in New York City. Wait for the chorus, when the grandfatherly Wolff chimes in.