Sara Gruen reads at Third Place Books at 1 pm, and at the Central Library at 7 pm. Gruen is the author of Water for Elephants, which is a novel that many people loved but which I thought was treacly and manipulative. Her new novel, Ape House, is about a family of bonobo apes who learn how to use sign language and become TV stars. I think I'll give her a second chance based on that plot alone.

Ravenna Third Place is hosting Science on Tap tonight. I can't imagine a better evening than drinking a couple gallons of beer and getting a lecture that provides a "tour of familiar and alien landscapes on Mars." This sounds like a kickass time.

And Alan Khazei reads at the Sorrento Hotel tonight. Khazei, the author of Big Citizenship: How Pragmatic Idealism Can Bring Out the Best in America, will discuss the title of his book with "Reuven Carlyle, Tim Burgess, Joel Connelly, James Kelly, Gaurab Bansal and special guests." What, Tim Burgess and Joel Connelly aren't special enough?

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.