Thursday 10/5

SKYE MOODY
Washed Up: The Curious Journeys of Flotsam and Jetsam is about things that Moody's found in the ocean. Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 117 Cherry St, 587-5737. Free. Noon.

recommended JOE MENO, TODD TAYLOR, TODD DILLS, MICKY HESS
The author of Hairstyles of the Damned reads from his new book The Boy Detective Fails. A bunch of other authors join him. Capitol Hill Library, 425 Harvard Ave E, 684-4715. Free. 6 pm.

recommended JOHN MOE
The NPR commentator and resident of this fair city reads from Conservatize Me: How I Tried to Become a Righty with the Help of Richard Nixon, Sean Hannity, Toby Keith, and Beef Jerky. Queen Anne Books, 1811 Queen Anne Ave N, 283-5624. Free. 6:30 pm.

JANE HAMILTON
When Madeline Was Young is a novel about an "ordinary family with an extraordinary crisis." Briefly: newlyweds, bike accident, cerebral regression. Third Place Books (Lake Forest Park), 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3333. Free. 7 pm.

KEVIN CRAFT, LINDA ANDREWS
Craft reads from Solar Prominence, a collection of poetry. Andrews was the recipient of the 1998 Washington State Governor's Award for Poetry. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400. Free. 7 pm.

recommended TED RALL
He's won the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award twice and been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. He also contributes to this here newspaper. His new book is called Silk Road to Ruin: Is Central Asia the New Middle East? Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600. 7:30 pm.

Friday 10/6

recommended JESS WALTER
Zero is a book of political satire involving the aftermath 9/11 and a president who praises the country's "resilientness." Third Place Books (Lake Forest Park), 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3333. Free. 6:30 pm.

WILLIAM RODGERS, JOSEPH DUPRIS, KATHLEEN HILL
The professors and scholars talk about their book The Si'lailo Way: Indians, Salmon, and Law on the Columbia River. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400. Free. 7 pm.

recommended THOM HARTMANN
The popular Air America host reads from his new book Screwed: The Undeclared War Against the Middle Class. If you can't make it, he reads tomorrow during the day at University Bookstore. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave, 624-6600 for info. $5. 7:30 pm.

Saturday 10/7

KAT RICHARDSON
Greywalker is a mystery novel involving Pioneer Square and the undead. Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 117 Cherry St, 587-5737. Free. Noon.

recommended THOM HARTMANN
This is the second reading in two days by the popular Air America host. His new book is called Screwed: The Undeclared War Against the Middle Class. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400. Free. 1 pm.

recommended SHAHRNUSH PARSIPUR
The exiled Iranian writer reads from and discusses her work—in Farsi. It will be translated for you by someone. Artist Shirin Neshat, whose film installation "Tooba" is currently on view at SAAM, credits Parsipur as a primary source. Seattle Asian Art Museum, 1400 E Prospect St (Volunteer Park), 624-6600 for info. Free. 3:30 pm.

recommended TAHA MUHAMMAD ALI, PETER COLE
All the way from Nazareth is... Jesus Christ! No, just kidding. It's internationally-acclaimed Palestinian poet Taha Muhammad Ali. He's here with with translator (and poet) Peter Cole to read from So What: New & Selected Poems, published by Copper Canyon Press. Part of one of the poems, at random: "Neither music/fame, nor wealth,/not even poetry itself,/could provide consolation/for life's brevity,/or the fact that King Lear/is a mere eighty pages long and comes to an end,/and for the thought that one might suffer greatly/on account of a rebellious child." St. Mark's Cathedral, 1245 10th Ave E, 624-6600 for info. Free. 7:30 pm.

Sunday 10/8

recommended STEVE HENDRICKS
The Unquiet Grave: The FBI and the Struggle for the Soul of Indian Country revolves around the murder of activist Anna Mae Aquash in 1976. It's "a riveting anti-detective story," says Howard Zinn. "Few people know about this disturbing episode in our country's recent past." Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600. Free. 2 pm.

SUSAN RICH
Cures Include Travel is a book of poems about people in South Africa, Gaza, and elsewhere. Open Books, 2414 N 45th St, 633-0811. Free. 3 pm.

Monday 10/9

COLIN COTTERILL
Disco for the Departed is a novel starring a Laotian detective. Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 117 Cherry St, 587-5737. Free. Noon.

BART D. EHRMAN
The historian of early Christianity talks about Lost Gospels of Judas Iscariot: A New Look at Betrayer and Betrayed. University Temple United Methodist Church, 1415 NE 43rd, 634-3400 for info. $5 suggested donation. 7 pm.

CARLEEN CROSS
The Seattle author talks about Fleeing Fundamentalism: A Minister's Wife Examines Faith. First Baptist Church, 1111 Harvard Ave, 624-6600 for info. Free. 7 pm.

DIANE SETTERFIELD
The Thirteenth Tale is a gothic novel about two women. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400. Free. 7 pm.

recommended ROBERT SCHEER
The seasoned journalist reads from Playing President: My Close Encounters with Nixon, Carter, Bush I, Reagan, and Clinton—and How They Did Not Prepare Me for George W. Bush. "Robert Scheer is one of the best journalists of our time," says the best journalist of our time, Joan Didion. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600. Free. 7:30 pm.

recommended ALLISON COBB, JEN COLEMAN
"Holy shit! This looks like the greatest reading ever. I'm seriously considering altering my vacation plans to attend it," says Stranger intern Andrew Bleeker. Press release, take it away: "The Amazing Cephalopod is pleased to welcome Brooklyn poets Allison Cobb and Jen Coleman for a rare Seattle performance. On their first visit three years ago, they brought Seattle poems about giant squids, cockroaches, and a Milkweed-pod 'God.' With their combined interests in historical investigations, creative translations, found texts, philosophical treatises, religious tracts, chickens, scientific texts, cosmic erotica, etc., who knows what they'll bring to town this time." Plus, it's happening in a bar. Barca, 1510 11th Ave, 325-8263. Free. 8 pm.

Tuesday 10/10

JANET FITCH
The author of White Oleander reads from her new novel, Paint It Black, about a runaway and her dead boyfriend. Ballard Library, 5614 22nd Ave NW, 634-3400 for info. Free. 3 pm.

CRAIG LESLEY
Burning Fence is Lesley's memoir about his distant father, his asshole stepfather, his adopted son, and himself. Third Place Books (Lake Forest Park), 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3333. Free. 7 pm.

JANET FITCH
For the second time today—see above—the bestselling novelist reads from her new book Paint It Black. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400. Free. 7 pm.

WILLIAM COPE MOYERS
The son of Bill Moyers reads from his memoir Broken: My Story of Addiction and Recovery. Drugs, alcohol, stuff like that. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600. Free. 7 pm.

recommended JAMES E. McGREEVEY
James "I am a gay American" McGreevey, the former governor of New Jersey, reads from his autobiography The Confession. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600. Free. 7:30 pm.

recommended MICHAEL LEWIS
The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game is about football and the left tackle prodigy Michael Oher. The book was excerpted in the New York Times Magazine two weeks ago. For that reason, I'm putting a star next to this, even though I barely know what a "left tackle" is. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave, 624-6600 for tickets/info. $5. 7:30 pm.

Wednesday 10/11

MARTHA POWERS
Death Angel is a thriller. Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 117 Cherry St, 587-5737. Free. Noon.

ANNA QUINDLEN
You've probably heard of her. Her new novel, Rise & Shine, involves two sisters, a morning talk show, and a politician. Seattle Public Library, 1000 4th Ave, 634-3400 for info. Free. 7 pm.

MARJORIE PIVAR
She reads from Fourth Uncle in the Mountain: The Remarkable Legacy of a Buddhist Itinerant Doctor in Vietnam. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400. Free. 7 pm.

MICHAEL PATRICK MacDONALD
Easter Rising: An Irish American Coming Up from Under is about being raised in poverty-stricken South Boston. Conor Byrne, 5140 Ballard Ave NW, 634-3400 for info. Free. 7 pm.

E. O. WILSON
The Pulitzer Prize-winning entomologist talks about his book The Creation: An Appeal to Save Life on Earth. University Temple United Methodist Church, 1415 NE 43rd, 634-3400 for info. $5. 7:30 pm.

recommended JOHN HODGMAN
The man who plays the "resident expert" on the Daily Show and a PC on commercials for Apple computers reads from his bestselling book The Areas of My Expertise: Which Include: Matters Historical, Matters Literary, Matters Cryptozoological, Hobo Matters, Food, Drink, & Cheese (a Kind of Food), Squirrels & Lobsters & Eels, Haircuts, Utopia, What Will Happen in the Future, and Most Other Subjects, which is now out in paperback. See Stranger Suggests. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600. Free. 7:30 pm.

Open Mic

MELLOW MONDAYS Poetry, a little music, and happy hour prices for poets and their friends. at Bai Pai Thai, 2316 NE 65th St Ste 101, 527-4800. Free. 8 pm. POETSWEST Featured readers and an open mic. Saturdays at 4 pm. at Ballard Library, 5614 22nd Ave NW, 682-1268 for info. Free. 4 pm. SCRATCHING POST Poetry open mic, all ages. Thursdays at 8 pm, signup at 7:30 pm. at Mr. Spots Chai House, 5463 Leary Ave NW, 297-2424. Free. Thurs, 8 pm. SEATTLE POETRY SLAM Every Tuesday at 8 pm. at Mirabeau Room, 529 Queen Anne Ave N, 217-2800. $5. Tues, 8 pm. SEATTLE SPIT Featured readers and an open mic. First Thursday of every month at 8 pm. at The Wild Rose, 1021 E Pike St, 324-9210. Free. First Thurs, 8 pm.