TOM DOUGLAS
The fancy local chef signs Tom's Big Dinners. University Book Store Downtown, 1225 Fourth Ave, 545-9230, noon, free.
CATHERINE TEXIER
Victorine is a novel about a family. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.
* JUDITH BUTLER
Best known for her groundbreaking work in queer theory (including the massively influential Gender Trouble), Judith Butler has recently turned her attention to the more austere territory of ethics in extremity. In her 2000 book Antigone's Claim, she considered the implications of a young girl's rebellion against the state, and with the publication of Precarious Life: The Power of Mourning and Violence, this venture into ethics is becoming even more immediately political. Tonight's talk will address such solemn and timely topics as "grieveable and ungrieveable lives," and the notion of ethical war. Gowen Hall Room 301, University of Washington, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
PHIL CONDON
Clay Center is about loneliness and Vietnam. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
WILLIAM CRAFT BRUMFIELD
The author of Lost Russia, The Origins of Modernism, and other books discusses his new book, A History of Russian Architecture. Seattle Asian Art Museum, Volunteer Park, 1400 E Prospect St, 654-3100, 7 pm, free.
JOANNA TROLLOPE
Brother and Sister is a novel that, according to Washington Post Book World, "takes on almost Shakespearean dimensions." Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
MARY POTTER ENGEL
The author of A Woman of Salt reads from her story collection, Strangers and Sojourners. Zeitgeist Art & Coffee, 171 S Jackson St, 425-369-3298, 7:30 pm, free.
FRIDAY 5/14
JODI PICOULT
My Sister's Keeper is a novel in which there's an organ transplant. University Book Store, 634-3400, 7 pm, free. (Also appearing on 5/15 at Third Place Books, 366-3333, 6 pm, free.)
DANIEL JONES
Jones is the editor of The Bastard on the Couch. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 6 pm, free.
'CRANKY' ISSUE TWO READING
Come get the highly anticipated second issue of Cranky, and hear its contributors read. Jewel Box Theater, 2320 Second Ave, 441-5823, 7 pm, $2.
JIM HARRISON
True North is a novel. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
SATURDAY 5/15
DOUGLAS UNGER
Looking for War and Other Stories is "macabre," says Sandra Cisneros. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 5 pm, free.
JENNIE SHORTRIDGE
Riding with the Queen is a novel about a washed-up girl rocker. Queen Anne Books, 1811 Queen Anne Ave N, 283-5624, 7 pm, free.
MARK BIBBINS, D. A. POWELL
Sky Lounge is a collection of poems. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
SUNDAY 5/16
LEE CHILD
The Enemy is a thriller. Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 117 Cherry St, 587-5737, 1 pm, free. (Also on 5/16 at Third Place Books, 366-3333, 5 pm, free.)
LAURA KALPAKIAN
The Memoir Club is a novel. Ravenna Third Place, 6504 20th Ave NE, 525-2347, 2 pm, free.
DEBORAH DAVIS
The editor of (and some of the contributors to) You Look Too Young to Be a Mom: Teen Mothers Speak Out on Love, Learning, and Success read. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 2 pm, free.
MICHELE GLAZER
Aggregate of Disturbances, a poetry collection, is award-winning. Open Books, 2414 N 45th St, 633-0811, 3 pm, free.
MONDAY 5/17
STEVE ALMOND
The fiction writer reads from his kind of memoirish book Candyfreak: A Journey Through the Chocolate Underbelly of America. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 6 pm, free. (Also on 5/18 at Third Place Books, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.)
WARREN ETHEREDGE, JEFF SHANNON
The film buffs will have a conversation about "the way disability is portrayed in cinema." University Book Store, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
LIONEL SHRIVER
We Need to Talk About Kevin is about the parental aftermath of a school shooting. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 7 pm, free. (Also on 5/18 at University Book Store, 634-3400, 4 pm, free, and on 5/18 at Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.)
TRANSLATING THE TRANSLATOR
This Raven Chronicles event is called "Lingua Franca: Translators & the Art of Translations." Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 323-4316, 7:30 pm, free, donation suggested.
DAVID SHIELDS
The author of Black Planet, Dead Languages, and other books reads from Body Politic: The Great American Sports Machine. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 8 pm, free.
TUESDAY 5/18
LOUISE MARLEY
The Child Goddess is science fiction. University Book Store, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
* DAVID LEAVITT
See Stranger Suggests, page 27. Bailey/Coy Books, 414 Broadway Ave E, 323-8842, 7 pm, free.
WEDNESDAY 5/19
ARIEL GORE
The not-president's daughter reads from Whatever, Mom: Hip Mama's Guide to Raising a Teenager. University Book Store, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
* MARJORIE PERLOFF
The contemporary poetry scholar and critic gives a lecture about something insanely smart, no doubt. (As of press time, I have no info.) Kane Hall, Room 110, University of Washington, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
KYLE SMITH
Love Monkey is by a book reviewer for People magazine. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.
JAMES KELMAN
You Have to Be Careful in the Land of the Free is by the Booker Prize-winning author of How Late It Was, How Late. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
ANNE MICHAELS
Fugitive Pieces, Michaels' best-selling novel, is about a Jewish boy saved from the Nazis, who goes to Canada. Benaroya Hall, Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall, Third Ave and Union St, 1-888-621-2230, 7:30 pm, free.
POETRY/OPEN MICS
HOMELAND--Words. So many words. Tuesdays at 7 pm. Caffe Vita, 1005 E Pike St, 709-4440, free.
IT'S ABOUT TIME--Featured readers and an open mic. Thurs May 13: Merna Ann Hecht, Don Roberts, Christine Eisen, John Akins. Ravenna Third Place Books, 6504 20th Ave NE, 525-2347, 7:30 pm, free.
OPEN MIKE NIGHT--Musicians, poets, whoever. Thursdays at 8 pm. 15th Avenue Alehouse, 7515 15th Ave NW, free.
POETSWEST--Featuring Thomas Erdmann Jr., Lisa Noble, Cathy Ruiz. Sun May 16 at 7 pm. Penny Cafe, 1707 NW Market St, 682-1268, free.
POETSWEST--Featured readers: Diana Brement, John Burgess, Shirley Willard on Mon May 17 at 7 pm. Ravenna Third Place Books, 6504 20th Ave NE, 525-2347, free.
RED SKY POETRY THEATER--Featured readers and an open mic. Sundays at 7 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. Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 568-0728, $5.
