Books
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Cary Elwes My feeling about Hollywood memoirs of the post-studio era is this: Only women should write them. Actresses like Carrie Fisher, Lena Dunham, and Angelica Huston have got stories to tell; and a common denominator is survival in a brutally sexist, male-dominated industry. For actors, by contrast, candid tales of sexual conquest and misbehavior will only make you look like more of an asshole. Who wants to know more about Warren Beatty or Jack Nicholson? Not me. Occupying a very different position is the non-bad-boy British actor Elwes, whose As You Wish (Touchstone) is devoted to the filming of 1987’s The Princess Bride. Since an entire generation of new fans has been raised-from VHS to DVD-on that beloved adaptation of the William Goldman children’s tale, Elwes is not about to piss upon his fellow castmates. (Bread, meet butter, etc.) That means flattering anecdotes and new interviews with Robin Wright, Wallace Shawn, Carol Kane, Billy Crystal, Christopher Guest, and Mandy Patinkin. (Jesus, what a great cast.) Goldman lends his acerbic voice, as does director Rob Reiner (gentler, growlier). Elwes arguably never escaped his role as Westley the would-be pirate (Saw was his last notable movie lead), but he has the good sense-and good manners-not to deny it. BRIAN MILLER University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98105 Free Tuesday, December 16, 2014, 7 – 8pm
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Richard McGuire His new graphic novel Here expands on a strip originally published back in 1989 (!) in Raw. Seattle Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., Seattle, WA 98104 Free Tuesday, December 16, 2014, 7 – 8pm
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Roger Shimomura Making a rare but welcome visit from Kansas to his old hometown, the eminent painter was just honored with a retrospective at WSU and a new book, Roger Shimomura: An American Knockoff (UW Press, $24.95), which he’ll be signing tonight. Long associated with Greg Kucera Gallery, Shimomura spent part of his boyhood interned with other Japanese-Americans in the World War II internment Camp Minidoka, in Idaho. His revenge, of sorts, wasn’t against America per se but its pop-cultural imagery: superheroes and Mickey Mouse, Dick Tracy and George Washington-which he then mixed with his own family history and the iconography of Japan (samurai, Hello Kitty, etc.). His paintings playfully yet trenchantly address notions of race, ethnic stereotyping, and representation. His work is unquestionably on the Pop Art spectrum, only with politics and autobiography interlaced. Though he left Seattle in the early ‘60s, he’s unquestionably one of the half-dozen great artists this city has produced. He also provided the illustrations for a poetry collection: Glimpses of a Forever Foreigner: Poetry & Artwork Inspired by Japanese American Experiences (CreateSpace, $18.70), whose local author, Lawrence Matsuda, will also read his verse tonight. BRIAN MILLER Elliott Bay Book Co., 1521 10th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 Free Tuesday, December 16, 2014, 7 – 8pm
Seattle Poetry Slam Local poets share their verse and spoken word compositions. 21 and over. Rebar, 1114 Howell StreetSeattle, WA $5 Tuesday, December 16, 2014, 8 – 11:30pm
Ashley Rodriguez She collects romantic recipes in Date Night In. University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98105 Free Wednesday, December 17, 2014, 7 – 8pm
John McCutcheon In this interdenominational holiday event, the so-called ”Christmas Truce” during WWI is recalled via stories and songs. University Temple United Methodist Church, 1415 N.E. 43rd St., Seattle, WA 98105 Free Thursday, December 18, 2014, 7 – 8pm
Kseniya Melnik
Snow in May collects the Russian-born author’s short stories (all fiction) about life in rural Alaska, where she immigrated and grew up. Elliott Bay Book Co., 1521 10th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 Free Thursday, December 18, 2014, 7 – 8pm
Seattle Poetry Slam Local poets share their verse and spoken word compositions. 21 and over. Rebar, 1114 Howell StreetSeattle, WA $5 Tuesday, December 23, 2014, 8 – 11:30pm
Seattle Poetry Slam Local poets share their verse and spoken word compositions. 21 and over. Rebar, 1114 Howell StreetSeattle, WA $5 Tuesday, December 30, 2014, 8 – 11:30pm
Seattle Poetry Slam Local poets share their verse and spoken word compositions. 21 and over. Rebar, 1114 Howell StreetSeattle, WA $5 Tuesday, January 6, 2015, 8 – 11:30pm
