There are many reasons to hate Joshua Ferris: his debut novel, Then We Came to the End, was one of the New York Times’ Top 10 Books of 2007. It was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award in fiction. His book is written in the first person plural (non-Lit majors: think “we” and “us”). It takes place in a Chicago ad agency, for the love of Post-Its: a dark, beautiful comedy about the modern workplace that’s as soft and humane as it is sharp and poignant. It’s a critique of the inanity of modern life, described by Nick Hornby, among others, as “The Office meets Kafka.” A book that should be required reading for anyone who a) needs to laugh or b) spends time in an office. Did I mention Ferris is cute? Or that I read his book within 48 hours, even though I had a million other books to read for work at the time? And I’m sorry, but I’m talking about reasons why I love him, right? Right? Elliott Bay Book Co., 101 S. Main St., 624-6600, www.elliottbaybook.com. 7:30 p.m. KARLA STARR Mon., March 24, 7:30 p.m., 2008