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Readings & Events

Erik Larson His novel Thunderstruck brings together murderer Hawley Crippen and inventor Guglielmo Marconi. University Book Store. 7 p.m. Wed. Dec. 6.

John R. Levison Another in their D.S.S. series: “The Holy Spirit in the Dead Sea Scrolls and the New Testament.” Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 652-4255. $15. 7:30 p.m. Wed. Dec. 6.

David Margolick A contributing editor at Vanity Fair, his most recent book is Strange Fruit: The Biography of a Song. Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center, 104 17th Ave. S., www.nextbook.org. $8. 7 p.m. Wed. Dec. 6.

Janis Cooke Newman Her Mary: A Novel imagines the memoirs of Mary Todd Lincoln after her institutionalization. Elliott Bay Book Co. 7 p.m. Wed. Dec. 6.

David Ossman This Firesign Theatre founding member revisits the golden age of radio in his comedy-mystery The Ronald Reagan Murder Case. Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 117 Cherry St., 587-5737. Noon. Wed. Dec. 6.

Jon Riedel and Erin Pettit They’ll present “In Our Own Backyard: Climate Change in the North Cascades.” Seattle REI Meeting Room, 222 Yale Ave. N., 223-1944. Free. 7 p.m. Wed. Dec. 6.

Subtext Hugo House’s monthly experimental writing series continues with readings by Lidia Yuknavitch & James Tierney. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave., 322-7030. Donation. 7:30 p.m. Wed. Dec. 6.

Bruce Bjornstad This geologist offers advice for hikers and explorers in On the Trail of the Ice Age Floods: A Geological Field Guide to the Mid-Columbia Basin.Elliott Bay Book Co. 6:30 p.m. Thurs. Dec. 7.

Andrew Carroll Editor of Operation Homecoming: Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Home Front in the Words of U.S. Troops and Their Families. Museum of Flight, William Allen Theatre, 9404 E. Marginal Way S., 764-5720. 6 p.m. Thurs. Dec. 7.

Central District Forum for Arts & Ideas A panel discussion on the history and ethics of armed resistance, “Patriot or Terrorist? Exploring the Legacy of Nat Turner and John Brown.” Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center, 104 17th Ave. S., 800-838-3006, www.brownpapertickets.com. $5-$7. 7 p.m. Thurs. Dec. 7.

Carleen Cross The local writer undergoes a spiritual crisis in her Fleeing Fundamentalism: A Minister’s Wife Examines Faith. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way N.E., Lake Forest Park, 366-3333. 7 p.m. Thurs. Dec. 7.

Bella DePaulo Addressed to the 40 percent of us (of you, I should say) who are uncoupled is her new book Singled Out: How Singles Are Stereotyped, Stigmatized, and Ignored, and Still Live Happily Ever After. University Book Store. 7 p.m. Thurs. Dec. 7.

Maria Hinojosa The NPR host speaks at observances of Human Rights Day. 684-4500, www.seattle.gov/civilrights/events.htm. Drury Hall, First United Methodist Church, 811 Fifth Ave., 11:30 a.m. Thurs. Dec. 7. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 652-4255, 5:30 p.m. Thurs. Dec. 7.

Linda McCune A slide show from her late husband Don’s book, Trail to the Klondike, retracing the steps of the Klondike gold rush. Haller Lake Community Club, 12579 Densmore Ave. N., 367-5893, www.hallerlake.info. 7 p.m. Thurs. Dec. 7.

David Montgomery A piscine history of Puget Sound in “King of Fish: The Thousand-Year Run of Salmon.” Seattle REI, 222 Yale Ave. N., 382-7007. $6-$8. 7 p.m. Thurs. Dec. 7.

Dylan Schaffer This author of Life, Death & Bialys: A Father/Son Baking Story speaks on “Building a Relationship with Your Difficult Parent.” Herzl-Ner Tamid Conservative Congregation, 3700 E. Mercer Way, Mercer Island, 461-3240 x8784, www.jfseattle.org. 7:30 p.m. Thurs. Dec. 7.

Charles Frazier Following up Cold Mountain a decade later with his sophomore novel, Thirteen Moons. Elliott Bay Book Co. 7:30 p.m. Fri. Dec. 8.

Sunamita Lim The author of Chinese Style: Living in Beauty and Prosperity takes you beyond feng shui. Bellevue Regional Library, 1111 110th Ave. N.E., Bellevue, 425-450-1765. 12:30 p.m. Fri. Dec. 8.

BRANDON SANDERSON, L.E. MODESITT, DAVE FARLAND Three fantasy authors read from their latest. University Book Store. 7 p.m. Fri. Dec. 8.

Casandra Firman This Port Orchard author recounts a Depression-era Christmas, based on her mother’s childhood, in One Christmas In Old Tascosa. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way N.E., Lake Forest Park, 366-3333. 6:30 p.m. Sat. Dec. 9.

Robert Henson His The Rough Guide to Climate Change is an overview of a complex topic. Elliott Bay Book Co. 2 p.m. Sat. Dec. 9.

Whit Mason The story behind the UN’s efforts in Kosovo in Peace at Any Price: How the World Failed Kosovo. Elliott Bay Book Co. 7:30 p.m. Sat. Dec. 9.

Deborah Woodard Food, drink, and readings from her new poetry collection Plato’s Bad Horse. Prag House, 747 16th Ave. E. $5 suggested donation. 7:30 p.m. Sat. Dec. 9.

Jerry Mander, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, Jeanette Armstrong Two editors and a contributor discuss their Paradigm Wars: Indigenous Peoples’ Resistance to Globalization. Elliott Bay Book Co. 2 p.m. Sun. Dec. 10.

Poetry on Buses SEE THE WIRE, SUN. Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., 386-4636. 2 p.m. Sun. Dec. 10.

Jeffrey Goldberg This former Israeli military prison guard recounts his friendship with a Palestinian prisoner in his memoir Prisoners: A Muslim and a Jew Across the Middle East Divide. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 652-4255. $5. 7:30 p.m. Mon. Dec. 11.

Michael Goldstein The Jewish Genealogical Society of Washington State presents this genealogist, speaking on “Not for Israel Only: Using Israeli Archives & Resources for Worldwide Jewish Records.” Jewish Community Center of Greater Seattle, 3801 E. Mercer Way, Mercer Island, 932-3481, www.jgsws.org. $5. 7:30 p.m. Mon. Dec. 11.

BRIAN HERBERT & KEVIN J. ANDERSON Brian, son of Frank, continues the Dune series with Hunters of Dune. University Book Store. 7 p.m. Mon. Dec. 11.

Margaret Starbird & Maxine Hanks A discussion with two contributors to Secrets of Mary Magdalene: The Untold Story of History’s Most Misunderstood Woman.Elliott Bay Book Co. 7:30 p.m. Mon. Dec. 11.

Rachael Ray SEE THE WIRE, TUES. University Book Store. 7 p.m. Tues. Dec. 12.

John West His Darwin’s Conservatives: The Misguided Quest explains just why George F. Will and other pro-Darwinists on the right are wrong. Discovery Institute, 1511 Third Ave., Suite 808, 292-0401 x153. 4:30 p.m. Tues. Dec. 12.

Timothy Egan Mayor Greg Nickels and Council Member Nick Licata, among others, will be on hand to congratulate Egan for his recent National Book Award for The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl. Seattle Public Library, 1000 Fourth Ave. Free. 5:30 p.m. Wed. Dec. 13.

Jodi Magness Another in their D.S.S. series: “The Archaeology of Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls.” Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 652-4255. $15. 7:30 p.m. Wed. Dec. 13.

Layne Maheu This Seattle author reads from his Song of the Crow, a retelling of the Noah’s Ark story from the point of view of one of the vessel’s nonhuman passengers. Cafe Rozella, 9434 Delridge Way S.W., 763-5805, www.caferozella.com. 7 p.m. Wed. Dec. 13.

John Moe The KUOW humorist attempts a red-state makeover in Conservatize Me: How I Tried to Become a Righty With the Help of Richard Nixon, Sean Hannity, Toby Keith, and Beef Jerky. Elliott Bay Book Co. 7:30 p.m. Tues. Dec. 12.

Screenwriters Salon Ask the experts, Geoff Miller and Mark Handley, at this month’s salon. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave., 322-7030. 7:30 p.m. Wed. Dec. 13.

Spoken Word/Open Mike

Michael Spence, David D. Horowitz New work from these poets. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave., 322-7030, www.hugohouse.org. 7:30 p.m. Wed. Dec. 6.

PoetsWest J. Glenn Evans and Michael Johnsen are featured. Newberry Books, 561 N.E. Ravenna Blvd., 682-1268. 4 p.m. Sat. Dec. 9.

Seattle Poetry Slam Danny Sherrard is the featured reader. ToST, 513 N. 36th St., Space E, www.poetryfestival.org/slam. Signup starts at 8 p.m. Tues. Dec. 12.

Jennifer Maier Reading from her newly released debut poetry collection, Dark Alphabet. Elliott Bay Book Co. 7:30p.m. Wed. Dec. 13.

Venue Guide

Elliott Bay Book Co., 101 S. Main St., 624-6600, www.elliottbaybook.com, Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way N.E., 366-3333, www.thirdplacebooks.com, University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., 634-3400, www.bookstore.washington.edu.