We have a discussion about jobs, a discussion titled "Peace Building and Conflict Resolution," a discussion about Shanghai, a reading from a book of poems by the "Director of Letters and Science at the San Francisco Art Institute from 1993 to 1998" at the Henry, a book about a family that hires a young woman to teach their daughter about reading, and a lecture titled "On the Front Porch of My Mind: Stories and where the stories came from" tonight, plus more.

Peter Hessler reads at Elliott Bay Book Company and Third Place Books today. Hessler is the New Yorker writer who took a driving tour of China and wrote about it in his book Country Driving: A Journey through China from Farm to Factory.

At Smith, this afternoon, Tanya Egan Gibson and Shawn Wong host a discussion titled "How to Write a Novel in Only 30 Years: A Conversation with Two Successful UW Authors."

Jennifer Carroll reads at Queen Anne Books tonight. Caroll owns Bellefleur Lingerie in Fremont. Underneath It All: A Girls' Guide to Buying, Wearing, and Loving Lingerie is her book about underwear for women. There will be chocolate at this reading. This is an ideal setting for a panty raid. Who's with me, fellas?

The full readings calendar, including the next week or so, is here. And if you're planning on staying in and you're looking for personalized book recommendations, feel free to tell me the books you like and ask me what to read next over at Questionland.