Thursday 10/12

JACQUELINE WINSPEAR
Messenger of Truth is a novel about a British private investigator named Maisie Dobbs. Third Place Books (Lake Forest Park), 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3333. Free. 7 pm.

MADHUR JAFFREY
Jaffrey reads from and talks about Climbing the Mango Trees: A Memoir of Childhood in India. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400. Free. 7 pm.

Friday 10/13

GILLIAN FLYNN
Sharp Objects is about murder and annoying mothers in Southern Missouri. Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 117 Cherry St, 587-5737. Free. Noon.

SHIRA NAYMAN
Awake in the Dark is a collection of stories with titles like "The Porcelain Monkey" and "Dark Urgings of the Blood." Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600. Free. 5:30 pm.

EMILY WU
Feather in the Storm is an account of growing up in China's cultural revolution. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400. Free. 7 pm.

recommended DOROTHY ALLISON & BENT WRITING INSTITUTE
The author of Bastard Out of Carolina and other acclaimed books shares the stage with 30 students of the Bent Writing Institute. According to press materials, "This Showcase is a rare opportunity to hear not only one of the most talented writers of our time give voice to underrepresented life experiences, but also to hear an array of emerging and acclaimed queer artists attest to the complex intersections of living at the margins of margins." Bent is also offering a writing workshop with Allison on Saturday, Oct. 14. Details can be found at www.bentwriting.com. Seattle First United Methodist Church, 811 Fifth Ave, 860-3035 for info. $17. 7:30 pm.

FINISHING LINE PRESS POETRY
The poets Laura Gamache, Carlos Martinez, Donna Frisk, and Jane Alynn read recent work. Ravenna Third Place, 6504 20th Ave NE, 525-2347. Free. 7:30 pm.

recommended TELLING CHILDHOOD
The first of two days of literary programming on the subject of childhood. Today's events include Deb Caletti reading about a trip to the Grand Canyon, Rebecca Brown on the subject of remembering, and Greil Marcus on "Obsessive Memories." Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030. $60 for full pass or $25 per night. 7:30 pm.

Saturday 10/14

STEVE BREWER
Monkey Man is a mystery. Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 117 Cherry St, 587-5737. Free. Noon.

recommended ALAIN DE BOTTON
The author of How Proust Can Change Your Life and other books reads from and talks about his latest, The Architecture of Happiness, which is about buildings. Seattle Public Library, 1000 4th Ave. Free. 2 pm.

R. POOLE-CARTER
What Remains is a murder mystery set on a Post-Civil War plantation. Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 117 Cherry St, 587-5737. Free. 3 pm.

DYLAN SCHAFFER
Life, Death & Bialys (A Father/Son Baking Story) is a memoir the major themes of which are death and breadmaking. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600. Free. 7:30 pm.

recommended TELLING CHILDHOOD
Today is the second day of literary programming on the subject of childhood. Original commissioned pieces include Ryan Boudinot's "Why I Like Rock" and Stacey Levine's "The Race Has Now Been Cancelled." Plus, some stuff from funny man David Rakoff and Charles D'Ambrosio reading from a novel-in-progress called Worthless. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030. $60 for full pass or $25 per night. 7:30 pm.

Sunday 10/15

MARĂŤA de LOURDES VICTORIA MUGUIRA
Les Dejo el Mar is an historical novel set in the 19th century in Veracruz, Mexico. Seattle Public Library, 1000 4th Ave. Free. 3 pm.

recommended MOTH STORY TOUR, THE
A local incarnation of "New York's hottest and hippest literary ticket" (The Wall Street Journal), this event features writers Sherman Alexie, Dan Savage, and Jonathan Ames—as well as a retired pickpocket, an NYPD lieutenant, and a filmmaker—telling 10-minute personal anecdotes without notes. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave, 1 800 838 3006. $12/$10 for Town Hall Members. 7:30 pm.

Monday 10/16

JAN BURKE
The first sentence Kidnapped, a suspense novel, is: "Cleo Smith firmly believed that neatness counted, especially if you were going to get away with murder." Third Place Books (Lake Forest Park), 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3333. Free. 7 pm.

recommended JOSEPH STIGLITZ
The winner of the Nobel Prize for economics in 2001 talks about his book Shaping Globalization: Making it Work. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave, 441-5910 for info. www.world-affairs.org. $15/$10 WAC Members. 7 pm.

KIM BARNES, CLAIRE DAVIS, BHARTI KIRCHNER
They read their contributions to the convolutedly titled Kiss Tomorrow Hello: Notes from the Midlife Underground by Twenty-Five Women Over Forty. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400. Free. 7 pm.

JEANETTE ALLEE
The poet reads "Eunuchs on their Lunch Hour." Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030. Free. 7:30 pm.

recommended NOMI PRINS
The "former Wall Street insider" reads from Jacked: How "Conservatives" are Picking Your Pocket (Whether You Voted for Them or Not). "This is the first book I have read that sees the effects of Republican incompetence and meanness through the eyes of ordinary Americans," says Howard Dean. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600. Free. 7:30 pm.

Tuesday 10/17

ELIZABETH GEORGE
The novelist reads from What Came Before He Shot Her. She also reads at Third Place Books this evening. Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 117 Cherry St, 587-5737. Free. Noon.

ANNAMAYYA
Two translators read from and talk about 15th-century poet Annamayya's temple poetry (God on the Hill: Tempe Poems from Tirupati). Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600. Free. 7:30 pm.

ROBERT K BRIGHAM
He reads from Is Iraq Another Vietnam? Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave, 634-3400 for info. $5. 7:30 pm.

SEAN CARROLL
He talks about The Making of the Fittest: DNA and the Ultimate Forensic Record of Evolution. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400. Free. 7:30 pm.

Wednesday 10/18

recommended ANDY SUMMERS
The guitar player for The Police reads from his memoir. EMP, 325 Fifth Ave N, 367-5483. $5. 6 pm.

MARIO LIVIO
The astrophysicist talks about The Equation That Couldn't Be Solved: How Mathematical Genius Discovered the Language of Symmetry. Kane Hall, Room 130, UW Campus, 616-1825. 6:30 pm.

CANDICE MILLARD
River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey is about an expedition to South America. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400. Free. 7 pm.

JON KATZ
A Good Dog is about a dog the author loved in "especially powerful ways." Third Place Books (Lake Forest Park), 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3333. Free. 7 pm.

MAUREEN OGLE
A random sentence from Ambitious Brew: The Story of American Beer: "And nothing thrilled American brewers as much as beer mania during the spring and summer of 1933." Red Hook Brewery Woodinville, 14300 NE 145th St, 425-483-3232. Free. 7 pm.

RALPH ANGEL, SHOLEH WOLPE
Angel reads poems by Federico GarcĂ­a Lorca and Wolpe reads from her forthcoming book of translations of the work of Iranian poet Forugh Farrokhzad. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030. Free. 7 pm.

ROSEMARY SULLIVAN
Villa Air-Bel: World War II, Escape, and a House in Marseille begins: "It was slightly after 4 a.m. on the morning of September 25, 1940, when Lisa Fittko opened the door of the inn in the seaport town..." Ballard Library, 5614 22nd Ave NW, 634-3400 for info. Free. 7 pm.

DAN BOGEN
Luster is a collection of poems. Open Books, 2414 N 45th St, 633-0811. Free. 7:30 pm.

FLORA A. FORBES
She reads from Will You Die with Me? My Life and the Black Panther Party. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600. Free. 7:30 pm.

Open Mic

IT'S ABOUT TIME Featured readers and an open mic. Second Thursday of every month at 7:30 pm. at Ravenna Third Place, 6504 20th Ave NE, 525-2347. free. Second Thurs, 7:30 pm. 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.