THURSDAY 11/28
I have a closet full of goat photos.
FRIDAY 11/29
ISMAIL MERCHANT
Celebrated film producer/director Merchant (A Room with a View, Remains of the Day), most literarily noted for a series of cookbooks on Indian cuisine, signs My Passage from India, a memoir regarding his journey from Bollywood to Hollywood. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
SATURDAY 11/30
DEB CALETTI
University of Washington graduate Caletti discusses The Queen of Everything, a coming-of-age thriller for young adults. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 2 pm, free. Also, University Bookstore, 4326 University Way, 634-3400, Mon Dec 2 at 7 pm, free.
MYTHS OF GLUTTONY
The long-ignored beauty of America’s consumer culture is finally given due recognition this November 30 with readings by Jamie Keeling, Brian Goedde, Megan Purn, Willie Smith, and Mark Svenvold. Little Theatre, 610 19th Ave E, 675-2055, 3 pm, $3.
DANIEL QUINN
Quinn, author of such heralded and provocative works as Ishmael and After Dachau, returns with a soft-handed new supernatural thriller tracing the efforts of a private investigator on the hunt for the three false gods of the Old Testament. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 4:30 pm, free. Also, Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3333, Sun Dec 1 at 5:30 pm, free.
MARK SVENVOLD
Former Seattleite Svenvold returns to consume turkey and spin yarns. In his first book of prose, Svenvold paints the tale of a turn-of-the-century train robber turned sideshow mummy in Elmer McCurdy: The Misadventures in Life and Afterlife of an American Outlaw. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
SUNDAY 12/1
CHRIS CHESTER
Never allow a sick or wounded animal into your home. No good will ever come of it. Case in point: See the above-listed Mr. Chester–author of Providence of a Sparrow, and by reports an obsessive, reclusive avian madman. University Bookstore, 634-3400, 2 pm, free.
MADELINE DeFREES & JOAN SWIFT
With the posthumous release of Seattle poet Freda Quenneville’s Child of the Ocmulgee, former colleagues DeFrees and Swift pay tribute–reading from the new collection in her sadly vacant place. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 2 pm, free.
GAYLE NORDHALM & LEE HARRIS
With two feline-focused children’s books, Nordhalm and Harris tear into Southcenter for an afternoon of juice boxes and nap times. Waldenbooks, Southcenter, 248-0886, 1 pm, free.
MONDAY 12/2
DOROTHY JONES
Commie nostalgia seems to be gaining new footing here in America (just ask our books editor), but the history of the American Red is a long and rocky road. Jones’ When Shadows Fell is a fictional testament to the struggle of McCarthy-era pinkos, to the tune of interpersonal conflict. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.
TUESDAY 12/3
ROBERT BATEMAN
The University of Washington continues exploration of ornithological obsessives with feathered illustrations by internationally acclaimed wildlife artist Bateman in Birds. University of Washington Campus, Kane Hall, Roethke Auditorium, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
CAROL LEE FLINDERS
Self-appointed sociologist Flinders links the concepts of a hunter-gatherer society in some vain attempt to draw a connection between this and the intrinsic human value of “wholeness,” in The Values of Belonging. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 6 pm, free.
JOHN RIDLEY
Ridley, who began his career as a standup comic, has become an acclaimed noir writer, achieving early success in both film (the screenplays for U Turn and Three Kings) and literature (the novels Stray Dogs, Love Is a Racket, and Everybody Smokes in Hell). This time around Ridley hawks The Drift, his lurid tale of rail-riding in the Pacific Northwest. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 7:30 pm, free. Also Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 117 Cherry St, 587-5737, Wed Dec 4 at noon, free.
WEDNESDAY 12/4
PETER CULLEY & DANIEL COMISKEY
Regional poets Culley and Comiskey appear for another edition of Hugo House’s outstanding Subtext series. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030.
SUZANNE PAOLA
Body Toxic (regarded by the New York Times as a Notable Book of the Year) author Paola is goin’ south for this evening’s poetry reading, in route from her home in Bellingham with selections from her latest, The Lives of the Saints. University Bookstore, 634-3400, 2 pm, free.
ERIC SCIGLIANO
In “another perfect gift in this gift giving season” (!), Seattle Weekly‘s Scigliano sells his tarnished soul for a slideshow–Scigliano serves as essayist for Seattle from the Air, a collection of aerial photographs that document our fair city. Note the conspicuous lack of imagery from South Seattle. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.
POETRY/OPEN MICS
* CATHARTICISM–Poetry, music, performance, and chaos, with host Ricky Rebel. Wednesdays at 8 pm. Coffee Messiah, 1554 E Olive Way, 861-8233, free.
JET CITY POETRY SLAM–New venue combining poetry, performance, and the cruel dynamics of reality TV. Tuesdays at 8 pm. Central Saloon, 207 First Ave S, 427-2300, $3.
HOMELAND–Words. So many words. Tuesdays at 7 pm. Caffe Vita, 1005 E Pike, 709-4440.
OUT OF TUNE–Poetry and music free-for-all hosted by Jon Hogan. Thursdays at 8:30 pm, signup at 8 pm. The 15th, 7515 15th Ave NW, 706-4973, free.
POETSWEST–Featuring Anne Marie Hackenberger, Lisa Noble, David Thornbrugh. Sun Dec 1 at 7 pm. Wit’s End Book Store, 4262 Fremont N, 682-1268, free.
reBIRTH–All-ages open-mic brouhaha. Sundays at 7 pm. French and European Artistic and Cultural Center, 623 Broadway E, 726-4843, free.
RED SKY POETRY THEATRE–The granddiddy of open mics. Sundays at 7 pm. Globe Cafe, 1531 14th Ave, 633-5647, free.
SCRATCHING POST–Poetry open mic, all ages. Thursdays at 8 pm, signup at 7:30 pm. Mr. Spot’s Chai House, 5463 Leary Ave NW, 297-2424, free.
SEATTLE POETRY SLAM–Open mic and slam with Karen Finneyfrock. Wednesdays at 8 pm. Sit & Spin, 2219 Fourth Ave, 441-9484, $4.