Books

Adam Rovner He considers the prehistory of Israel in In the Shadow of Zion. University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98105 Free Monday, January 12, 2015, 7 – 8pm

Sarah van Gelder The editor of Sustainable Happiness: Live Simply, Live Well, Make a Difference is joined by several contributors to that anthology. Elliott Bay Book Co., 1521 10th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 Free Monday, January 12, 2015, 7 – 8pm

David Kukoff His memoir of growing up in L.A. during the ‘60s is Children of the Canyon. University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98105 Free Tuesday, January 13, 2015, 7 – 8pm

Maria Gitin The author recalls her activism during the ‘60s in This Bright Light of Ours: Stories from the Voting Rights Fight. Elliott Bay Book Co., 1521 10th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 Free Tuesday, January 13, 2015, 7 – 8pm

Tim Johnston

Descent is his new Rocky Mountains-set thriller. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way N.E., Seattle, 98115 Free Tuesday, January 13, 2015, 7 – 8pm

Daniel DiSalvo The author of Government Against Itself: Public Union Power and Its Consequences joins in a discussion with UW prof Michael McCann. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101 $5 Tuesday, January 13, 2015, 7:30 – 8:30pm

Seattle Poetry Slam Local poets share their verse and spoken word compositions. 21 and over. Rebar, 1114 Howell StreetSeattle, WA $5 Tuesday, January 13, 2015, 8 – 11:30pm

Jeanne Matthews Her thriller Where the Bones are Buried is set in Berlin. Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 117 Cherry St., Seattle, WA 98104 Free Wednesday, January 14, 2015, 12 – 1pm

Eric Liu At the law school, he’ll discuss his memoir A Chinaman’s Chance: One Family’s Journey and the Chinese American Dream. RSVP required at asianlaw@uw.edu. University of Washington Campus, 15th Ave. N.E. and N.E. 41st St., Seattle, WA 98105 Free Wednesday, January 14, 2015, 3:30 – 4:30pm

Jeannette Franks The former UW gerontologist talks about his To Move or to Stay Put: A Guide for Your Last Decades. University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98105 Free Wednesday, January 14, 2015, 4:30 – 5:30pm

James Penner He’s written Timothy Leary: The Harvard Years: Early Writings on LSD and Psilocybin with Richard Alpert, Huston Smith, Ralph Metzner, and Others. Elliott Bay Book Co., 1521 10th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 Free Wednesday, January 14, 2015, 7 – 8pm

Marin Katusa He’s written The Colder War: How the Global Energy Trade Slipped from America’s Grasp. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101 $5 Wednesday, January 14, 2015, 7 – 8pm

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Steven Brill The Time magazine writer talks about his America’s Bitter Pill: Money, Politics, Backroom Deals, and the Fix to Fix Our Broken Healthcare System. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101 $5 Wednesday, January 14, 2015, 7:30 – 8:30pm

Cathy Madden He’ll discuss Integrative Alexander Technique Practice for Performing Artists: Onstage Synergy. University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98105 Free Thursday, January 15, 2015, 7 – 8pm

Graeme Simsion He considers the travails of parenthood in his novel The Rosie Effect, sequel to The Rosie Project. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way N.E., Seattle, 98115 Free Thursday, January 15, 2015, 7 – 8pm

Tod Marshall & Dara Wier

Bugle and You Good Thing are their new poetry volumes, respectively, Elliott Bay Book Co., 1521 10th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 Free Thursday, January 15, 2015, 7 – 8pm

Lin Kaymer

Who is Mackie Spence? is her locally set new YA novel for girls. Eagle Harbor Books, 157 Winslow Way E., Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 Free Thursday, January 15, 2015, 7:30 – 8:30pm

Thomas Perry

A String of Beads is his latest crime novel. Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 117 Cherry St., Seattle, WA 98104 Free Friday, January 16, 2015, 12 – 1pm

Jason Schmidt

A List of Things That Didn’t Kill Me is his humorous new memoir. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way N.E., Seattle, 98115 Free Friday, January 16, 2015, 6:30 – 7:30pm

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David Shields & Caleb Powell Have you heard about that controversial James Franco movie? No, not The Interview. Apparently he filmed a version of the extended dialogue that is I Think You’re Totally Wrong (Knopf, $25.95) by the two Seattle writers (Shields being the more prolific and renowned, Powell being his former UW student). Their book, subtitled “An Argument,” is the result of a four-day marathon bullshit session spent in a Skykomish cabin together, with topics ranging from parenthood to art, from Ron Paul to Cormac McCarthy. It’s essentially a long, edited transcript of their sparring-in which Shields naturally makes reference to My Dinner With Andre. How’d the movie come about? (No release date is currently set.) Franco was a student of Shields during a visiting stint at North Carolina’s Warren Wilson College; and he subsequently invited his prof (and Powell) down to L.A. to reenact it. (He also appears in the film, natch.) Oh, and there’s still more Franco-Shields news to report: Esquire says Franco now hopes to direct a fictional treatment of Shields’ 1999 Black Planet, about race and sports, a book based partly on his ‘90s reporting on the Sonics in these pages. Whether that movie happens or not remains to be seen, but let’s hope that Shields and Powell have tales to tell from the Francosphere. BRIAN MILLER Elliott Bay Book Co., 1521 10th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 Free Friday, January 16, 2015, 7 – 8pm

Eric Andrews-Katz

Balls and Chain is his new spy spoof. University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98105 Free Friday, January 16, 2015, 7 – 8pm

Pamela Christie Her historical murder mystery tale is Death and the Cyprian Society. Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 117 Cherry St., Seattle, WA 98104 Free Saturday, January 17, 2015, 12 – 1pm

E.A. Channon

Flesh of the Blood is her new fantasy tome. University Book Store (Bellevue), 990 102nd Ave. N.E., Bellevue, WA 98004 Free Saturday, January 17, 2015, 5 – 6pm

Mindy S. Halleck The local author’s thriller Return to Sender is set during the ‘50s. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way N.E., Seattle, 98115 Free Saturday, January 17, 2015, 6:30 – 7:30pm

Nick Baker

Turtle is his memoir of autism. University Book Store (Mill Creek), 15311 Main St., Mill Creek, WA 98012 Free Sunday, January 18, 2015, 2 – 3pm

Carolyn Kizer Memorial Reading Her friends and fellow poets will include Willis Barnstone, Tess Gallagher, Garrett Hongo, and Carol Muske-Dukes. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 Free Sunday, January 18, 2015, 4 – 5pm

David Domke The UW professor and author gives a talk titled “Showdown in Birmingham, 1963: Police Dogs, Fire Hoses, and the Children’s Crusade.” University of Washington Campus, 15th Ave. N.E. and N.E. 41st St., Seattle, WA 98105 $150 series, $40 individual Monday, January 19, 2015, 7 – 8pm

Wes Moore

The Work: My Search for a Life That Matters is his second memoir. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101 $5 Monday, January 19, 2015, 7:30 – 8:30pm

Chad Frisk

Direct Translation Impossible is his memoir of life in Japan, where he taught English. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way N.E., Seattle, 98115 Free Tuesday, January 20, 2015, 7 – 8pm

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Nick Jaina Jaina is what you might call a downer. As a songwriter, the longtime Portland balladeer has a penchant for excavating broken hearts and loneliness. Likewise, in his first book, Get It While Your Can (Perfect Day , $10), Jaina has decided to focus his attention on solving the riddle of suffering-his own personal suffering, at least. As in his songs, Jaina here manages to imbue life’s darker moments with a lightness, employing verbal prowess and deadpan humor. Between personal vignettes-as we follow the author on tour and to a meditation retreat-Jaina imparts some bona fide wisdom and provides one of the most eloquent exegeses of the love song you’ll ever read. MARK BAUMGARTEN Elliott Bay Book Co., 1521 10th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 Free Tuesday, January 20, 2015, 7 – 8pm

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Ron Dakron Tokyo is burning, and Devilfish is laughing. He’s a kaiju, one of those fake-looking rubber monsters running amok-a giant blue manta ray, in this instance-and the very amusing narrator of Dakron’s Hello Devilfish! (Three Rooms Press, $15.95). Devilfish claims to be an enemy not just of Tokyo, where he gleefully topples power lines and elevated trains, munching on their passengers, but also of the novel itself. “Join us in plot-maiming fun!” he exclaims in Manglish, a comic lexicon made up of odd advertising slogans, poorly translated Japanese, LOL-speak, and I Can Has Cheezburger grammar. Destruction is this manta ray’s mantra. Yet the more his sting-tailed protagonist inveighs against Big Lit, local writer Dakron begins to sneak in some structure and literary mischief. Devilfish has an unwanted paramour in pursuit of him: another kaiju he calls Squidra, a giant pink kraken with tentacles and laser beams that shoot from her eyes. So there’s a bit of a love story in Hello Devilfish!, and a chase through the city’s smoldering rubble, an abrupt transformation (hello, Doug!), and flourishes of humor that recall Mark Leyner. Quoth the Devilfish, “I spit on realism and all its cunning henchmen!” Here’s a creature intending not to enter the literary canon but to destroy the library. BRIAN MILLER Ravenna Third Place Books, 6504 20th Ave. N.E., Seattle, WA 98115 Free Tuesday, January 20, 2015, 7 – 8pm

Anya Kamenetz Local parents will be interested in her The Test: Why Our Schools are Obsessed with Standardized Testing-But You Don’t Have to Be. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101 $5 Tuesday, January 20, 2015, 7:30 – 8:30pm

Seattle Poetry Slam Local poets share their verse and spoken word compositions. 21 and over. Rebar, 1114 Howell StreetSeattle, WA $5 Tuesday, January 20, 2015, 8 – 11:30pm

Kate E. Thompson

Bigfoot Hunters Never Lie is his debut novel. University Book Store (Mill Creek), 15311 Main St., Mill Creek, WA 98012 Free Wednesday, January 21, 2015, 7 – 8pm

M.A. Lawson

Viking Bay is his new crime thriller. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way N.E., Seattle, 98115 Free Wednesday, January 21, 2015, 7 – 8pm

Susan Meyers An instructor at Seattle U, she places grief and loss at the center of her debut novel Failing the Trapeze. Elliott Bay Book Co., 1521 10th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 Free Thursday, January 22, 2015, 5 – 6pm

Andrew Keen The eminent cyber-thinker and CNN journalist discusses his The Internet Is Not the Answer. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101 $5 Thursday, January 22, 2015, 6 – 7pm

Amir D. Aczel He’ll discuss his Finding Zero: A Mathematician’s Odyssey to Uncover the Origins of Numbers. Ravenna Third Place Books, 6504 20th Ave. N.E., Seattle, WA 98115 Free Thursday, January 22, 2015, 7 – 8pm

Holly J Hughes

Sailing by Ravens is her memoir of life in Alaska. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way N.E., Seattle, 98115 Free Thursday, January 22, 2015, 7 – 8pm

Karen Gaudette Brewer She shares recipes from Seafood Lover’s Pacific Northwest: Restaurants, Markets, Recipes & Traditions. University Book Store (Mill Creek), 15311 Main St., Mill Creek, WA 98012 Free Thursday, January 22, 2015, 7 – 8pm

Nick DiMartino The local novelist considers whether straight-gay male friendships are possible in Golden Handcuffs. University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98105 Free Thursday, January 22, 2015, 7 – 8pm

Randall Kenan The novelist (A Visitation of Spirits) talks about his craft. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 $5-$12 Thursday, January 22, 2015, 7 – 8pm

Joshua Davis His goes inside a broken educational system in Spare Parts: Four Undocumented Teenagers, One Ugly Robot, and the Battle for the American Dream. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101 $5 Thursday, January 22, 2015, 7:30 – 8:30pm

Tessa Arlen There’s murder at the estate in her Edwardian thriller Death of a Dishonorable Gentleman. Also: Seattle Mystery Bookshop, noon, Sat., Jan. 24. Eagle Harbor Books, 157 Winslow Way E., Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 Free Thursday, January 22, 2015, 7:30 – 8:30pm

Miranda July Everyone’s favorite hipster goddess and filmmaker (Me and You and Everyone We Know, The Future), she’s written her first novel, called The First Bad Man. In it, a neurotic, middle-aged Jewish woman is foolish enough to allow her boss’ daughter to move in with her. Wacky complications ensue. The Neptune, 1303 N.E. 45th St., Seattle, WA 98105 $30 Friday, January 23, 2015, 7:30 – 8:30pm

Christine McKinley Popular on the History Channel, she’s written Physics for Rock Stars: Making the Laws of the Universe Work for You. Elliott Bay Book Co., 1521 10th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 Free Saturday, January 24, 2015, 7 – 8pm

Ardeth DeVries She shares rescue-dog tales from Old Dog Haven: Every Old Dog Has a Story to Tell. Elliott Bay Book Co., 1521 10th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 Free Sunday, January 25, 2015, 3 – 4pm

Julia Quinn Her latest historical romance is The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy. University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98105 Free Sunday, January 25, 2015, 3 – 4pm

Kathryn Keve

Beautiful Bainbridge Island collects her photos in a coffee-table album. Eagle Harbor Books, 157 Winslow Way E., Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 Fr Sunday, January 25, 2015, 3 – 4pm

Joelle Charbonneau Her sci-fil trilogy is called The Testing. University Book Store (Bellevue), 990 102nd Ave. N.E., Bellevue, WA 98004 Free Monday, January 26, 2015, 6 – 7pm

Peter G. Tormey The former Husky footballer discusses his coach in The Thursday Speeches: Lessons in Life, Leadership, and Football from Coach Don James. University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98105 Free Monday, January 26, 2015, 7 – 8pm

Stephen R. Palumbi and Anthony R. Palumbi The father and son team of science writers talk about their The Extreme Life of the Sea. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101 $5 Monday, January 26, 2015, 7:30 – 8:30pm

Eric Avila In Kane Hall, Room 120, the UCLA prof will discuss his The Folklore of the Freeway: Race and Revolt in the Modernist City. Free, but RSVP to grad.washington.edu/lectures. University of Washington Campus, 15th Ave. N.E. and N.E. 41st St., Seattle, WA 98105 Free Tuesday, January 27, 2015, 6:30 – 7:30pm

Richard Van Anderson The retired doctor has written a medical thriller, The Organ Takers. University Book Store (Bellevue), 990 102nd Ave. N.E., Bellevue, WA 98004 Free Tuesday, January 27, 2015, 6:30 – 7:30pm

Marie Matsuki Mokett In the family memoir Where the Dead Pause and the Japanese Say Goodbye: A Journey, the author goes back to Fukushima, site of the recent tsunami and nuclear accident. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way N.E., Seattle, 98115 Free Tuesday, January 27, 2015, 7 – 8pm

Seattle Poetry Slam Local poets share their verse and spoken word compositions. 21 and over. Rebar, 1114 Howell StreetSeattle, WA $5 Tuesday, January 27, 2015, 8 – 11:30pm

Kevan Atteberry

Bunnies!!! is for new readers. University Book Store (Bellevue), 990 102nd Ave. N.E., Bellevue, WA 98004 Free Wednesday, January 28, 2015, 6 – 7pm

Susan Adrian The author of Tunnel Vision is joined by Kendare Blake (Anna Dressed in Blood) and Lish McBride (Hold Me Closer, Necromancer). University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98105 Free Wednesday, January 28, 2015, 7 – 8pm

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Nazila Fathi The Iranian-born author discusses her The Lonely War: One Woman’s Account of the Struggle for Modern Iran. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101 Free Wednesday, January 28, 2015, 7:30 – 8:30pm

Ivor Davis

The Beatles and Me on Tour is his memoir of 1964. University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98105 Free Thursday, January 29, 2015, 1 – 2pm

M.A. Lawsom

Viking Bay is his new crime thriller. University Book Store (Bellevue), 990 102nd Ave. N.E., Bellevue, WA 98004 Free Thursday, January 29, 2015, 6 – 7pm

Jay Asher He’ll read from Thirteen Reasons Why. University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98105 Free Thursday, January 29, 2015, 7 – 8pm

Sharma Shields The Spokane writer’s debut novel is The Sasquatch Hunter’s Almanac. Elliott Bay Book Co., 1521 10th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 Free Thursday, January 29, 2015, 7 – 8pm

Tracy Weber The local writer’s yoga mystery is A Killer Retreat. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way N.E., Seattle, 98115 Free Thursday, January 29, 2015, 7 – 8pm

Tom Graves From the Bay Area writer, Twice Heroes: America’s Nisei Veterans of WWII and Korea is sure to include some local vets. Eagle Harbor Books, 157 Winslow Way E., Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 Free Thursday, January 29, 2015, 7:30 – 8:30pm

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Stewart O’Nan He novelizes the last years of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s life in West of Sunset. Elliott Bay Book Co., 1521 10th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 Free Friday, January 30, 2015, 7 – 8pm

Wayne Pacelle Head of The Humane Society of the United States, he’s written The Bond: Our Kinship With Animals, Our Call to Defend Them. Henry Art Gallery, 4100 15th Ave. N.E., Seattle, WA 98195 $20 Friday, January 30, 2015, 7 – 8pm

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James K. Galbraith He’s the author of The End of Normal: The Great Crisis and the Future of Growth. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101 $5 Friday, January 30, 2015, 7:30 – 8:30pm

Michael Shermer The journalist and ethicist discusses The Moral Arc. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101 $5 Friday, January 30, 2015, 7:30 – 8:30pm

Seattle Poetry Slam Local poets share their verse and spoken word compositions. 21 and over. Rebar, 1114 Howell StreetSeattle, WA $5 Tuesday, February 3, 2015, 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, February 10, 2015, 8 – 11:30pm