DOUGLAS BRINKLEY
Further proof that the American way is the only way: Brinkley signs Wheels for the World: Henry Ford, His Company, and a Century of Progress. University Bookstore, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
HENRY GRAYSON
Though the press release makes it sound like a clouded argument for polygamy, Grayson's Mindful Loving--and its suggestions for "new frameworks" for relationships, and "a new view of intimacy"--is an assuredly wholesome endeavor. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.
LINDA GREENMUN, REBECCA LOUDON, CARLOS MARTINEZ, JOHN SANGSTER
The poets of Seattle's Floating Bridge Press come together for a busy evening of words among the deaf-eared masses of First Thursday's art walk. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7 pm, free.
MIKE O'CONNOR
A noble translator, O'Connor presents Where the World Does Not Follow, a collection of Buddhist poetry from China. Open Books: A Poem Emporium, 2414 N 45th St, 633-0811, 7:30 pm, free.
POETS AGAINST THE WAR: A SPECIAL READING
As if the pen were mightier than the power-mad, the Poets Against the War Internet phenomenon (now a published anthology) brings the likes of Sherman Alexie, Linda Bierds, Richard Kenney, and Emily Warn to an open mic this evening for a strong tongue-lashing. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 8 pm, free.
FRIDAY 5/2
GLENN DAVID KETCHUM
Landscape photographer Ketchum signs the books of his bibliography, packed to the brim with photos just ripe for your dentist's waiting room. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 5 pm, free.
SALLY SHAYWITZ
A book specifically designed for dyslexics? Fucking comic gold. Shaywitz signs the sadistic tome titled Overcoming Dyslexia. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 6 pm, free.
SATURDAY 5/3
ROBIN HEMLEY
With Invented Eden: The Elusive, Disputed History of the Tasaday, Bellingham's Hemley shines a spotlight on the "primitive people" hoax that took place in the Philippines of the early '70s. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 4 pm, free.
BRYAN JOHNSTON, J. P. PATCHES, BOB NEWMAN
J. P. Patches (!) and Gertrude (!) spoil your illusions of timeless youth with an early-morning signing of J. P. Patches: Northwest Icon. University Bookstore, 634-3400, 11 am, free.
KAMAL LARSUEL-ULBRICHT
Local film critic and 3BlackChicks.com cofounder Larsuel-Ulbricht discusses 3 Black Chicks Review Flicks, her sista-soaked "film guide with flava!" that addresses such prevalent topics as the "late-night booty-call flick," "The Black Factor," and "The Brotha Rule." Barnes & Noble, 600 Pine St, suite 107, 264-0156, 2 pm, free.
ALIX OLSON
Charismatic slam poet and "radical dyke" poster girl Olson performs in support of her recent spoken-word record Built Like That. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave NW, 9 pm, $10-$13.
A POETICS OF PEACE
A wispily worded tutorial on the process of inner and outer peace, as led by Michael Meade. Nippon Kan Theater, 628 S Washington, 935-3665, 6:30 pm, free.
RAINBOW BOOKFEST
A rainbow of color (I will be representing "indigo") composes this unfortunately titled festival of "minority writers," featuring Shawn Wong, Kathya Alexander, Peter Bacho, and Bharti Kirchner, to name a few of the few. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave, 624-6600, 9 am, free.
KIM STAFFORD
In keeping with the revelatory rumination on the works of his father in Early Morning, Stafford returns with The Muses Among Us, a work that percolates the writer's process. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
FREDERICK SU, GARY WORTHINGTON
Authors from here writing about places over there: a "multicultural literary evening" with Su and Worthington's works on Vietnam and India, respectively. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030, 7 pm, free.
SUNDAY 5/4
SINI ANDERSON, TARA HARDY, OR-A-TRIX
In a benefit for the eternally deserving Rock 'n' Roll Camp for Girls, Sister Spit member Anderson presents a new multimedia performance with sisters-in-script Tara Hardy and Or-A-Trix. Vera Project, 1916 Fourth Ave, 956-8372, 8 pm, $6-$7.
JANISSE RAY
Ray gets all high-and-mighty, Sweet Home Alabama style, with Ecology of a Cracker Childhood, a memoir documenting the rural Georgia of her childhood. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 4 pm, free.
JOHN STEVENS
Though martial arts master Stevens could probably cripple you with one blow, he won't. This is an important distinction, as Stevens practices "the way of peace" that is aikido--"the most spiritual of the martial arts." What say we test him on it? Third Place Books, 366-3333, 5 pm, free.
MONDAY 5/5
ROBERT FULLER
Fuller, a former Oberlin College president, confronts the demons of hierarchy in America with Somebodies and Nobodies, an examination of what he calls "rankism." Town Hall, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
NORA OKJA KELLER
In the first of this month's National Asian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month (who knew?) readings, Keller discusses Fox Girl, her novel about the Korean American sex trade. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 5 pm, free.
CHANG-RAE LEE
Apparently the folks at the Seattle Public Library are getting a comfortable kickback from Lee's publisher, as they've begun their iron-fisted campaign to ensure that "all of Seattle read[s] the same book"--namely, A Gesture Life. Theatre Off Jackson, 409 Seventh Ave S, 386-4184, 7:30 pm, free.
TUESDAY 5/6
DIANA ABU-JABER
Ten years is a long time. A decade even. And it took this cavernous expanse of time for Portland's Abu-Jaber to come up with a sophomore effort: this year's Crescent, a novel that had better be pretty damn good. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
GARY FERGUSON
Woodsman Ferguson spends a few months in the isolated stretches of Yellowstone National Park, among grizzly bears, wolf packs, and other yahoos out in the middle of nowhere. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 5:30 pm, free. Also Wed at 7 pm, University of Washington, Kane Hall, 634-3400, free.
SIMON WINCHESTER
A butterfly in Malaysia causes the violent eruption of Krakatoa, which causes Islamic fundamentalism--former Oxford geologist Winchester's improbable conjecture makes up Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded. University Bookstore, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
WEDNESDAY 5/7
* REBECCA BROWN
See Stranger Suggests. Bailey/Coy Books, 414 Broadway E, 323-8842, 7 pm, free.
LOREN GOODMAN
Celebrated debut collection of satirically insightful poems in tow, Goodman visits from his home base in Japan with Famous Americans. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
FENTON JOHNSON
Lapsed Catholic Johnson takes a look at faith from within the well-known institutions of Christianity and Buddhism in the U.S. in Keeping Faith: a Skeptic's Journey. University United Methodist Temple, 1415 NE 43rd St, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
* SUBTEXT POETRY READING
The latest installment of the excellent Subtext reading series, featuring the experimental poetry of Rae Armantrout and David Bromige. Richard Hugo House, 322-7030, 7:30 pm, free.
POETRY/OPEN MICS
POETRY SALON--Featuring Koon Woon and Kitty Todorovich. Wed May 7 at 7 pm. Panama Hotel Tea and Coffee House, Sixth Ave S and S Main St, 515-4000, free.
POETSWEST--Featuring Mark Rubin and Cathy Ruiz. Sun May 4 at 7 pm. Penny Cafe, 1707 NW Market St, 682-1268, free.
RED SKY POETRY THEATER--Featuring Carrington McDuffie. Sun May 4 at 7:30 pm. Globe Cafe, 1531 14th Ave, 547-4585, free.
SEATTLE POETRY SLAM--Seattle's national poetry slam qualification this week! Fri May 2 at 9 pm. Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1624 12th Ave, 725-1650, free.
TAKE A POEM INTO YOUR HEART--Featuring Cathy Ruiz. Thurs May 1 at 7 pm. Lottie Motts, 4900 Rainier Ave S, 725-8199, free.
