FRIDAY 11/1

LAURA KASTNER & JENNIFER WYATT

Kastner and Wyatt's The Launching Years: Strategies for Parenting from Senior to College Life capitalizes on the abundance of pathologically overprotective parents in desperate fear of letting their babies become names on shopping lists. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3333, 6 pm, free.

ALEXANDRA STODDARD

Patience has paid off for interior designer and "Personal Happiness Movement" pioneer Stoddard, as Martha Stewart's pastel, multi-tiered throne has finally been emptied--allowing for due recognition. Barnes & Noble, 600 Pine St, 264-0156, 5 pm, free.

SATURDAY 11/2



MICHAEL COLLINS

See Stranger Suggests. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

SUNDAY 11/3



MELISSA WALKER

More literary escapism for stymied office drones by means of Melissa Walker--who has managed to make a comfortable living out of fresh air and campfires, traversing the back roads of contemplative solitude, all while her audience slaves in disaffection. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 3 pm, free, also University of Washington, Kane Hall, room 130, Wed Nov 6 at 7:30 pm, free.

RICHARD WRIGHT & JOHN WILLIAM KULM

Poets Wright and Kulm read from the recent works As Though Praying and The Five Stages of Quitting Farming, respectively. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.

MONDAY 11/4



JONATHAN CARROLL

A surreal tapestry of metaphysics unites the unwilling participants of The Wooden Sea author's latest, White Apples. University Bookstore, 4326 University Way, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.

* CHARLES MUDEDE, PETER QUARTERMAIN

A 30-year veteran of the University of British Columbia's poetry department, Quartermain reads along with Charles Mudede, the editor of this here calendar, who insists that I make this particular capsule exceptionally long. Mudede will be reading a recent piece entitled "Twilight of the Good Times." Is that long enough, Charles? All right, how about now? Good. Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030, 7:30 pm, $5.

TIM O'BRIEN

The breadcrumb trail behind the overwhelming majority of O'Brien's works leads straight back to the nexus of 1969, terminally dwelling on tales of war and remembrance. Benaroya Hall, Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall, 200 University St, 621-2230, 7:30 pm, $10.

HOWARD RHEINGOLD

Smart Mobs author takes his ear off the tracks long enough to discuss the prospective social revolutions yet to come. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

WORLD OF ISLAM

The Seattle Arts and Lectures committee presents Wednesday University, an extended education program open to the public, with courses meant to foster "intellectual stimulation" (Rrraaoooowww!). This fall's focus continues with its second installment, as explored by University of Washington faculty member Jere L. Bacharach and his study of them wacky Islamic fundamentalists. Henry Art Gallery, 15th Ave NE & NE 41st St, 543-2280, 7:30 pm, $70. Through Dec 14.

TUESDAY 11/5



RICHARD B. WRIGHT

Told in a series of journal entries and letters between 1934 and 1939, Wright's Clara Callan is the gloomy tale of a solitary Ontarian schoolteacher's long-distance relationship with her sister. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free, also Third Place Books, 366-3333, Wed Nov 6 at 7 pm, free.

WEDNESDAY 11/6



BRUCE FEILER

NPR commentator and best-selling author of Walking the Bible makes another expedition (hopefully not on foot this time), arriving in our fair city as part of National Jewish Book Month. Temple De Hirsch Sinai, 1441 16th Ave, 323-8486, 7 pm, free.

JIM FRICKE

Let's ignore for a moment that Fricke composed Yes Yes Y'all, his tome to the first decade of hiphop, with a no-doubt lofty paycheck from the ever-questionable Experience Music Project. Instead, think of this as an amazing opportunity to view rare performances and interviews with many of the book's subjects--with tonight's compelling multimedia presentation. University Bookstore, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.

* PAUL GOLDBERGER

Pulitzer Prize-winning former architecture critic for the New York Times presents a revelatory lecture entitled After the World Trade Center, an all-encompassing look at the potential difficulties inherent in the rebuilding process of New York. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave, 652-4255, 7 pm, $15-$50.

SANDRA SILBERSTEIN

In War of Words, linguist Silberstein beats a comatose horse as she discusses the manipulative diction and phraseology of the war on terror. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.