THURSDAY 4/24
JELLO BIAFRA
Former inspirational frontman of the Dead Kennedys (and current cackling old ninny) Biafra preaches to the ever-dwindling choir about how everything that’s ever happened in the world is all wrong. University of Puget Sound, 879-3100, Tacoma, 253-879-3419, 8 pm, $10.
* EDWARD HIRSCH
John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation president and esteemed poet Hirsch tackles all that light, frivolous poetic junk like the Bible and the aftermath of the Holocaust in Lay Back the Darkness. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
CARRIE HOWARD
Howard signs her heaving Hallmark card to the matriarchal bonds of women in A Cup of Comfort for Mothers & Daughters. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.
ROBERT AND ELLEN KAPLAN
The means and methods of god-play are microscoped in the Kaplans’ The Art of the Infinite, a study of the various classifications of mathematical “truths.” University of Washington, Kane Hall, Room 110, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
PETER PEREIRA, CLAUDIA MAURO
Publishing poets Pereira and Mauro, with stakes in Floating Bridge Press and Whit Press, respectively, present an evening of their own award-winning works. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030, 7:30 pm, free.
FRIDAY 4/25
DANIEL AMEN
Dr. Amen (doesn’t that sound like a nonsecular professional wrestler or something? “When I’m finished with you, you’ll wish you’d paid closer attention to Psalms 3:15!” Ahem.) discusses his latest self-help volume for all those twitchy kids, Healing ADD. Trust him, he’s a doctor. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 6 pm, free.
HARI KUNZRU
Kunzru’s debut, this year’s The Impressionist, carries with it some heavy prepublication buzz–and considering the reported advance of $1.8 million for his first novel, it had better deliver the fucking goods. University Bookstore, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
* AZAR NAFISI
See Stranger Suggests. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
SATURDAY 4/26
RAYMOND E. FEIST
Feist ushers in yet another fantasy franchise–the proposed Conclave of Shadows series–with some drivel about a strange people in a strange land, appropriately blandly titled Talon of the Silver Hawk. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 3 pm, free. [Note: Boy, Zac, you can be so mean. What if Raymond reads this preview and comes to our office? I will waste no time pointing you out to him. –Charles Mudede, books editor]
DENNIS HENSLEY
Wit upon self-conscious wit: In Screening Party, Hensley and his ever-so-clever friends produce 300 pages of droll discourse on the topic of Hollywood. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
MELTING DOWN THE MELTING POT
One of those “in light of current events” (why can’t people just say the word “war”?) sorts of functions, with a rainbow of spoken-word performers rapping about their feelings. Ravenna Third Place Books, 6504 20th Ave NE, 525-2347, 6 pm, free.
JULIA ROSS
You’re fat because you’re unhappy because you’re fat: “nutritional psychologist” Ross discusses the real causes of emotional overeating in The Mood Cure. University Bookstore, 634-3400, 3 pm, free.
SUNDAY 4/27
* COLLOQUE WHEEL
Colloque Wheel, the monthly reading series at Victrola, presents an evening of predominantly familiar faces, including Tatyana Mishel, Jay Jaworski, Kevin Daniels, Amanda Kelly, and Pete Sheehy. Victrola Coffee & Art, 411 15th Ave E, 325-6520, 7 pm, free.
DAN PETERS
Yakima Community College professor (man, tough break) Peters reflects on his debut poetry collection, The Reservoir. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 3 pm, free.
* TITLEWAVE READING SERIES
This week featuring Austin slam import Karyna McGlynn, Monkey Puzzle coeditor Kreg Hasegawa, Dennis Wilken, and improv saxophonist Wally Shoup. Titlewave Fine Used Books, 7 Mercer St, 324-6379, 7:30 pm, free.MONDAY 4/28
SUBHANKAR BANERJEE
Wildlife photographer Banerjee signs Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, his collection of photographs depicting polar bears in snowstorms. University of Washington, Kane Hall, Room 110, 634-3400, 7 pm, free. [Note: Zac, I’m surprised you didn’t make fun of this reading. Why the sudden kindness? Do you have feelings for polar bears? –Charles Mudede, books editor]
ALAN BAUER
Travel-guide enthusiasts take note: Bauer (yes, the Alan Bauer) signs his highly anticipated debut, Best Loop Hikes in Washington. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.
BILL McKIBBEN
McKibben offers us all some helpful advice on the subject of special consistency with his latest, Enough: Staying Human in an Engineered Age. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
TUESDAY 4/29
* SIR CHRISTOPHER FRAYLING
Frayling, a professor of cultural history at London’s Royal College of Art, discusses his outsider’s perspective on the historical significance of the Hollywood Western. University of Washington, Kane Hall, Room 220, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
TAMARA MADISON-SHAW
Poet and former Seattleite Madison-Shaw returns with her award-winning spoken-word record, 2002’s Naked Voice. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
* WORK
The Zine Archives and Publishing Project presents an evening of heartfelt Xerox, with a how-to zine workshop and performances by such small-print luminaries as Moe Bowstern (Xtra Tuf), Tara Hardy, David Roche (On Subbing), and Yvonne (MamaZine), among others. Richard Hugo House, 322-7030, 5 pm, free.
WEDNESDAY 4/30
ANN BRASHARES
Brashares returns with another denim-worn offering, The Second Summer of the Sisterhood, the sequel to her popular young adult novel The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. University Bookstore, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
HUGO HOUSE POETKIDS
The participants (aged 12-15) in Richard Hugo House’s youth poetry program present their gutwrenching works of heartbreak, anguish, and Clearasil. Starbucks, 328 15th Ave, 322-7030, 4:30 pm, free. [Note: Zac, you have feelings for polar bears but none for American kids. I wonder what Homeland Security might have to say about this. –Charles Mudede, books editor]
* IAN JACK, SUSAN ELDERKIN, ANDREW O’HAGAN, ALAN WARNER
Editor Jack presents three youthful contributors from this year’s Granta 81, a literary anthology of work by British writers under the age of 40. University of Washington, Kane Hall, Room 110, 7 pm, free.
JAMES TOBIN
Tobin celebrates the 100th anniversary of the flight of the brothers Wright in his brief history, To Conquer the Air. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.
SCREENWRITER’S SALON
The reading of George Wing’s new comedy, which is currently shrouded in Hollywood secrecy. Richard Hugo House, 322-7030, 7:30 pm, free.
POETRY/OPEN MICS
ELLIOTT BAY OPEN MIC NIGHT–Hosted by P. Dawg. Wed April 30 at 7:30 pm. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, free.
HOMELAND–Words. So many words. Tuesdays at 7 pm. Caffe Vita, 1005 E Pike St, 709-4440, free.
POETSWEST–Featuring John Burgess, Christopher J. Jarmick, and Joannie Kervan Stangeland. Thurs April 24 at 7 pm. Also Sun April 27 at 7 pm, featuring Kim Hamilton and Lee Rahfeldt. Lux Cafe, 2226 First Ave, 682-1268, free.
RED SKY POETRY THEATER–Featuring Buddy Wakefield. Sun April 27 at 7:30 pm. Globe Cafe, 1531 14th Ave, 547-4585, 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. Bad Juju Lounge, 1518 11th Ave, 709-9951, $4.
THROUGH TRAFFIC, MOLLY!–Featuring Ronnie Porter and Vanessa Sooy. Mon April 28 at 7 pm. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030, free.