*ALAN KAUFMAN

Kaufman is a poet and editor of the webzine Tattoo Jew. His newly published memoir, Jew Boy, traces his journey from a difficult childhood in the Bronx--where he was raised by a physically abusive mother whose experiences during the Holocaust left her emotionally and psychologically scarred--to a stint with the Israeli army, a season of alcoholic vagrancy in New York, and finally to the streets of San Francisco, where he sobered up and discovered a gift for verse. Tree of Life Judaica & Books, 2201 NE 65th St, 527-1130, 1-3 pm, book-signing, free; Hillel, UW Campus, 4745 17th Ave NE, 527-1130, 7 pm, reading only, free.

NANCY HUSTON

Huston has received praise throughout Europe and Canada for her many novels and works of non-fiction. The Mark of the Angel, which James Welch lauded as "a beautiful, tough, sensual, tragic novel," is her first book to be published in the U.S. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, advance free tickets available at store.

MICHAEL PATRICK MACDONALD

MacDonald's book, All Souls: A Family Story from Southie, is a survivor's memoir set in South Boston. The author was praised in Kirkus Reviews for "his hard-won conception of how ghettoized poverty spawns localized violence, and the dignity he brings to lives snuffed out in chaos." Mount Zion Baptist Church, 1634 19th Ave, 624-6600, 7 pm, free.

NICHOLAS KRISTOF

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist discusses the cultural and economic analyses in his new book, Thunder from the East: Portrait of a Rising Asia. Kane Hall, UW Campus, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.

BEN LONG

More explornogrophy. SUV shill and author of Backtracking: By Foot, Canoe, and Suburu Along the Lewis & Clark Trail reads, signs, and presents a slideshow about his exploits in the American West. Unbelievable. University Bookstore, 4326 University Way NE , 634-3400, 7 pm, free.

PAUL KLEBNIKOV

Godfather of the Kremlin is Klebnikov's portrait of a wealthy Russian businessman and his instrumental role in transforming the former superpower into a nation of instability and impoverishment. University Bookstore, 4326 University Way NE , 634-3400, 7 pm, free.

MICHAEL COLLIER

Poet and director of the Breadloaf Writers' Conference reads from The Ledge. Parrington Commons, 308 Parrington Hall, UW Campus, 543-9865, 7 pm, free.

*GEORGE DAWSON

Dawson, a Texan, learned to read at the age of 98, and now, at 102, he visits Seattle to read from and sign his debut book, the fittingly entitled Life Is So Good. Also present at this heartening event will be Dawson's co-author Richard Glaubman (a teacher from Port Townsend) and Amanda Madorno of the Washington Literacy program (which will receive 15% of the profits from sales of the book this evening). Elliott Bay Book Company, 7:30 pm, advance free tickets available at store.

*PAULINA BORSOOK

Borsook, a former contributor to Wired magazine, will discuss her controversial polemic against the greedy, uncaring universe of dot-coms, Cyberselfish: A Critical Romp Through the Terribly Libertarian Culture of High Tech. University Bookstore, noon, free.

KOTAPRESS FALL 2000 READING

This event is a celebration of the first KotaPress Poetry Anthology, featuring readings by Nancy Talley, Sandra Bailey, Carla Griswold, Tim Hulley, Marika Thompson, Dana Gerringer, and Heidi Sauer. Sunset Hill Community Center, 3003 NW 66th St, 297-1012, 7 pm, $4 suggested donation.

ASHLEY BRYAN

Bryan, an illustrator and author of books for children, lectures on "A Tender Bridge: Black American Poetry, Spiritualists and African Folktales" as part of the Spencer G. Shaw Lecture Series. Student Union Building Auditorium, UW Campus, 634-3400, 8 pm, free.

*NORTHWEST BOOKFEST

The Sixth Annual Northwest Bookfest is, literally speaking, just about the only show in town this weekend. Over 250 authors and 220 exhibitors descend on our book-hungry burg today and tomorrow to stump for the quiet, private joys of reading books purchased at INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORES. For full listings and event information check out the website at www.nwbookfest.org. Stadium Exhibition Center, 1000 Occidental St, 378-1883, 10 am-6 pm, $5 suggested donation.

LIBRARY BOOK SALE

Stock up on low-priced literature at the King County Library System's annual Fall Used Book Sale. Paperbacks go for half a buck, hardbacks for one bone, and don't miss happy hour from 5-6 pm, when you can purchase an entire bag of books for $2. Kamiakin Junior High, 14111 132nd Ave NE, 425-369-3275, 9 am-6 pm, free.

ALAN P. LIGHTMAN

The author of the hugely popular Einstein's Dreams returns with a new novel, The Diagnosis. See Bio Box. Elliott Bay Book Company, 4 pm, advance free tickets available at store.

CLEMENS STARCK

Starck is the featured reader at this edition of the Red Sky Poetry Theatre reading series, followed by an open mic. Globe Cafe, 1531 14th Ave, 633-5647, 7:30 pm, free.

*NORTHWEST BOOKFEST

See Saturday listing. Stadium Exhibition Center, 1000 Occidental St, 378-1883, 10 am-6 pm, $5 suggested donation.

*JIM HARRISON

See Stranger Suggests. Elliott Bay Book Company, 7:30 pm, advance free tickets available at store.

K. M. SOEHNLEIN

Jeremy Quittner of The Advocate says that Soehnlein's debut novel, The World of Normal Boys, "unfolds with a hyperclarity that scrutinizes the complex tangle of emotions--rage, love, repressed desire--that govern suburban relationships." Beyond the Closet Bookstore, 518 E Pike, 322-4609, 7:30 pm, free.

TODD BALF

Balf speaks about his book The Last River: The Tragic Race for Shangri-La. Kane Hall, UW Campus, 7 pm, free.

DANA STABENOW

Mystery writer Stabenow signs her latest thriller, Nothing Gold Can Stay. Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 117 Cherry St, 587-5737, 1:30 pm, free.

COLIN CHISHOLM

Award-winning author Chisholm's new memoir, Through Yup'Ik Eyes: An Adopted Son Explores the Landscape of Family, was called by William Kittredge "a beautiful and persuasive story about the healing graces possible in extended family, intimacy, generosity, and solace." Elliott Bay Book Company, 5 pm, advance free tickets available at store.

*ROGER SIMPSON

Simpson--director of the Journalism and Trauma Program at the University of Washington and co-author of Covering Violence: A Guide to Ethical Reporting About Victims and Trauma--leads a panel discussion on "The Role of the Media in Reporting Violence." Other participants include Jeff Gradney of KING 5 News, Scott North of the Everett Herald, and author Migael Scherer (Still Loved by the Sun: A Rape Survivor's Journal). Kane Hall, UW Campus, 634-3400, 7 pm, advance free tickets available at University Bookstore.

CHRIS KRAUS

Stranger contributor and maven of mastication Rachel Kessler has this to say about Kraus' novels: "Aliens & Anorexia, read in conjunction with I Love Dick, comes apart in a rhapsody of longing; themes and characters are introduced, then altered by association and reappearance." Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030, 7:30 pm, $5 suggested donation.

JOY WILLIAMS

The Quick and the Dead, Williams' first novel in 12 years, was praised by Don DeLillo as "a work of maverick insight and rash and beautiful bursts of language." Elliott Bay Book Company, 7:30 pm, advance free tickets available at store.

*ARMISTEAD MAUPIN

The best-selling author of The Tales of the City series returns with The Night Listener, his first novel in eight years. Bailey/Coy Books, 414 Broadway, 323-8842, 4 pm, free; Kane Hall, UW Campus, 634-3400, 7 pm, advance free tickets available at University Bookstore.

ROBERT SULLIVAN

Sullivan, a contributing editor at Vogue, will read from a new book that chronicles his time among the Makah in Neah Bay, A Whale Hunt: Two Years on the Olympic Peninsula with the Makah and Their Canoe. Seattle Public Library, 1000 Fourth Ave, 624-6600, 7 pm, free.

MADELYN ARNOLD

The author of the coming-of-age novel A Year of Full Moons reads and signs. Beyond the Closet Bookstore, 7:30 pm, free.

JAN HARPER-HAINES

Harper-Haines reads from Cold River Spirits. Barnes and Noble, 2700 NE University Village, 517-4107, 7 pm, free.

PATRICK MCGRATH

Goth-author McGrath (Asylum, The Grotesque, Spider) enters the overworked genre of historical fiction with his new novel, Martha Peake: A Novel of the Revolution, a book that Publishers Weekly rather insipidly called "just the tonic for even the most jaded during this election season." Elliott Bay Book Company, 7:30 pm, advance free tickets available at store.