THURSDAY 5/18

PATRICIA WILLIAMS
The Columbia University law professor gives a lecture called "Civil Rights in an Era of Civil Wrongs." Town Hall Seattle, 1113 Eighth Ave, 634-3400, 6:30 pm, free.

FRANK PARCHMAN
The journalist reads from Echoes of Fury: The 1980 Eruption of Mt. St. Helens and Its Aftermath. Today is the 26th anniversary of the event. University Bookstore, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.

LAURINDA D. BROWN, TRAVIS HUNTER, EDWINA MARTIN-ARNOLD
Black romance writers discuss their books. Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center, 104 17th Ave S, 323-4032, 7 pm, $7–$10.

recommended NICOLE KRAUSS
The author of Man Walks into a Room and The History of Love gets interviewed on stage about her work by... me. This is a Nextbook event. We will talk about Jewish novels. We will also talk about volcanoes and the sex appeal of old people. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave NW, 1-888-621-2230, 7:30 pm, $6–$8.

SIMON SCHAMA
The university professor of art history and history at Columbia (and author of An Embarrassment of Riches, Rembrandt's Eyes, etc.) reads his latest, Rough Crossings: Britain, the Slaves, and the American Revolution. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

recommended GARY SHTEYNGART
The author of The Russian Debutante's Handbook reads from his new novel, Absurdistan, which begins: "I am Misha Borisovich Vainberg, age thirty, a grossly overweight man with small, deeply set blue eyes, a pretty Jewish beak that brings to mind the most distinguished breed of parrot, and lips so delicate you would want to wipe them with the naked back of your hand." Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.

FRIDAY 5/19

JORDAN FISHER SMITH
Nature Noir is about being a park ranger. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 6:30 pm, free. (Also on 5/20 at Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 4 pm, free.)

recommended CRAIG THOMPSON
The graphic novelist (Blankets) is here promoting the rerelease of Good-bye, Chunky Rice (best title ever). University Bookstore, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.

recommended DBC PIERRE
The first two thirds of Vernon God Little was pretty good, but the novel didn't deserve the Booker Prize (which it won). Haven't read the new one, Ludmila's Broken English. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

SATURDAY 5/20

SASHA ABRAMSKY
The journalist reads Conned: How Millions Went to Prison, Lost the Vote, and Helped Send George W. Bush to the White House. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 2 pm, free.

EVERETT AISON
Artrage is a debut novel. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

WENDY BLACKBURN
Beachglass is a novel about AA. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 6:30 pm, free.

SUNDAY 5/21

RICHARD RHODES
The author of The Making of the Atomic Bomb gives a lecture. Town Hall Seattle, 634-3400, 7:30 pm, $5.

RACHEL SHERMAN
The First Hurt is a book of short stories. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 4 pm, free.

MONDAY 5/22

DANIEL GILBERT
A lecture by the author of Stumbling on Happiness. Town Hall Seattle, 634-3400, 7:30 pm, $5.

VALERIE MARTIN
The Unfinished Novel is about creative types. University Bookstore, 634-3400, 7 pm, free. (Also on 5/23 at Third Place Books, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.)

LAYNE MAHEU
Song of the Crow is a debut novel. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

TUESDAY 5/23

MARIAN KEYES
Anybody Out There? is a novel about recovery. Seattle Public Library, Ballard Branch, 5614 22nd Ave NW, 684-4089, 7 pm, free. (Also on 5/24 at Third Place Books, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.)

ANN FESSLER
The Girls Who Went Away is about women who gave up children for adoption before legalized abortion. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

WEDNESDAY 5/24

CHRISTOPHER D. COOK
The journalist reads from Diet for a Dead Planet: Big Business and the Coming Food Crisis. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

ELIZABETH BERG
We Are All Welcome Here is a novel involving polio. University Bookstore, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.