Books
Naomi Novik Her twist on the classic fairy tale, Uprooted, is about a wizard named Dragon, who requests something strange in return for protecting a small village. University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98105 Free Monday, March 30, 2015, 5:30pm
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Barney Frank Some critics are complaining about the lack of dish, gossip, and sex in Frank: A Life in Politics From the Great Society to Same-Sex Marriage (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $28). The former Massachusetts congressman doesn’t need such Kardashian shit to sell books. He’s a serious guy who doesn’t want to relive that one long-past scandal about the rent boy, and he’s got a real legislative record-including the Dodd-Frank bill, now under Wall Street/GOP assault-that reflects an insider’s knowledge of how deals are brokered in D.C. One reason he left in 2013, of course, is that it’s so hard to strike a deal with today’s hyperpolarized political climate, with our elected representatives in constant cable-shouting/fundraising mode. His memoir is packed full of pragmatic political lessons. He’s a centrist-not the same as a moderate-and an incrementalist. And he’s not a fan of feel-good parades and Democrats flying their freak flags high. “If you care deeply about an issue,” he writes, “and are engaged in group activity on its behalf that is fun and inspiring and heightens your sense of solidarity with others, you are almost certainly not doing your cause any good.” Try putting that on a banner or protest sign. Tonight, local writer Eric Liu will lob onstage questions at the famously smart, prickly pol. BRIAN MILLER University Temple United Methodist Church, 1415 N.E. 43rd St., Seattle, WA 98105 $27 Monday, March 30, 2015, 7pm
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Kazuo Ishiguro I haven’t yet cracked its spine, but the highly anticipated The Buried Giant (Knopf, $26.95) is going in my bag to read on a coming vacation flight to Montana (the first time I’ll ever wish that were a longer flight). The British novelist had his first great success with 1989’s The Remains of the Day, which earned a Booker Prize and inspired a very successful film adaptation. More recently, his Never Let Me Go had a sci-fi aspect to it; and now after a 10-year gestation, The Buried Giant is a somewhat mythical story, set in England’s legendary, dragon-filled past, in the time after King Arthur. There, an older couple embarks upon a dangerous foot journey to find their long-lost adult son. Equally, the quest of Axl and Beatrice leads them through their own marital memories and nervous anticipation of death and the afterlife. Their path necessarily puts one in mind of Tolkien, though the magic and spells and curses (one causing amnesia) are grounded in mortal decay and some historical fact. The land is divided between Saxon invaders and British natives, and the embers of past conflict threaten to burst into flame. Still, realism only runs so far: Sir Gawain makes an appearance, and Querig the dragon does eventually arrive. (Also note a $40 ticketed breakfast event with the author, 8:30 a.m. Tuesday at Ravenna Third Place.) BRIAN MILLER Seattle Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., Seattle, WA 98104 Free Monday, March 30, 2015, 7pm
Peter V. Brett
The Skull Throne is the latest in his Demon Cycle series. University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98105 Free Monday, March 30, 2015, 7pm
John Hargrove The star of the documentary Blackfish and former SeaWorld employee provides more depth to the film in his book, Beneath The Surface. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101 $5 Monday, March 30, 2015, 7:30pm
Robin Oliveira She reads in celebration of I Always Loved You’s paperback release. Elliott Bay Book Co., 1521 10th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 Free Tuesday, March 31, 2015, 7pm
Laurence J. Brahm The economist and activist lawyer discusses his new book Fusion Economics. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101 $5 Tuesday, March 31, 2015, 7:30pm
Seattle Poetry Slam Local poets share their verse and spoken word compositions. 21 and over. Rebar, 1114 Howell StreetSeattle, WA $5 Tuesday, March 31, 2015, 8 – 11:30pm
James Stark
Love in the Time of Cholesterol is a collection of short fiction that explores America in the decades of the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s. University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98105 Free Wednesday, April 1, 2015, 7pm
Thomas McGuane
Crow Fair is his new collection of short stories set in Montana. Elliott Bay Book Co., 1521 10th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 Free Wednesday, April 1, 2015, 7pm
Eric Greitens
Resilience is a new book from the Navy SEAL and humanitarian. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101 $5 Wednesday, April 1, 2015, 7:30pm
NORWESCON A science fiction and fantasy convention with guests of honor George R. R. Martin, Julie Dillon, and Amy Mainzer. Doubletree Sea Tac Airport, 18740 International BlvdSeattle, WA 98188 $70 Thursday, April 2, 2015, 8am
Emily Nagoski The woman behind the popular sex blog “The Dirty Normal” brings us Come as You Are.
University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98105 Free Thursday, April 2, 2015, 7pm
Jim Moore The poet discusses his new humorous collection, Underground, with Seattle poet Martha Silano. Elliott Bay Book Co., 1521 10th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 Free Thursday, April 2, 2015, 7pm
David Boaz
The Libertarian Mind is an updated edition of Libertarianism: A Primer on libertarian philosophy. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101 $5 Thursday, April 2, 2015, 7:30pm
Scott D. Sampson The host of PBS’s Dinosaur Train discusses his book How to Raise a Wild Child: The Art and Science of Falling in Love with Nature. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101 $5 Thursday, April 2, 2015, 7:30pm
Judith Roche and margareta waterman The two poets read from new collections All Fire, All Water and denouement. Elliott Bay Book Co., 1521 10th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 Free Friday, April 3, 2015, 7pm
Rae Armantrout The Pulitzer Prize-winning poet reads from her new collection, Itself.
Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 See website for details. Friday, April 3, 2015, 7pm
Rita Wirkala
Las aguas del Kalahari is the newest book from professor of medieval Spanish literature at UW. Seattle Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., Seattle, WA 98104 Free Saturday, April 4, 2015, 12:30pm
Karin Watson In Heart Tending: Creating Rituals that Nurture You and Those You Love, the early childhood teacher of over 45 years shares her wisdom. University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98105 Free Saturday, April 4, 2015, 3pm
David William Dahlberg He discusses life with OCD in his new personal account, Life in a Whirlwind of Numbers. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way N.E., Seattle, 98115 Free Saturday, April 4, 2015, 6:30pm
Laura Da’ She draws on her Shawnee ancestry in her debut poetry collection Tributaries. Elliott Bay Book Co., 1521 10th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 Free Monday, April 6, 2015, 7pm
Peter Ward
A New History of Life offers a new narrative of evolution based on new research in biology, chemistry, paleontology, and astrobiology. University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98105 Free Monday, April 6, 2015, 7pm
Jeremy Pataky
Overwinter is a debut poetry collection based on the author’s own migration in Alaska. University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98105 Free Tuesday, April 7, 2015, 7pm
Jon Ronson Author of The Men Who Stare at Goats and The Psychopath Test discusses his new book, So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way N.E., Seattle, 98115 Free Tuesday, April 7, 2015, 7 – 8pm
Tommy Wallach The singer/songwriter’s debut novel, We All Looked Up, is inspired by Kurt Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle. Elliott Bay Book Co., 1521 10th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 Free Tuesday, April 7, 2015, 7pm
Seattle Poetry Slam Local poets share their verse and spoken word compositions. 21 and over. Rebar, 1114 Howell StreetSeattle, WA $5 Tuesday, April 7, 2015, 8 – 11:30pm
Cat Rambo
Beasts of Tabat is the local award-winning short story writer’s first novel. University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98105 Free Wednesday, April 8, 2015, 7pm
Cal Winslow
E.P. Thompson and the Making of the New Left is a collection of his mentor E.P. Thompson’s essays with his added commentary. Elliott Bay Book Co., 1521 10th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 Free Thursday, April 9, 2015, 7pm
Henry Carroll The photographer discusses his new tutorial, Read This if You Want to Take Great Photographs. University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98105 Free Thursday, April 9, 2015, 7pm
Thor Hanson His latest, Triumph of Seeds, combines science and history tell an adventure story. (Also at Town Hall, 7:30 p.m. Town Hall.) Ravenna Third Place Books, 6504 20th Ave. N.E., Seattle, WA 98115 Free Thursday, April 9, 2015, 7pm
Epic Reads Tour Four authors discuss their latest: Heather Brewer (The Cemetery Boys), Victoria Aveyard (Red Queen), Danielle Paige (The Wicked Will Rise), and Sara Raasch (Snow Like Ashes). University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98105 Free Friday, April 10, 2015, 7pm
Peter Singer The philosopher discusses his new book and movement, The Most Good You Can Do: How Effective Altruism Is Changing Ideas About Living Ethically. Varsity Theatre, 4329 University Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98105 Free Friday, April 10, 2015, 7pm
Where The Mountains End Tour Three award-winning queer authors discuss and read from their work: Amber Dawn (Where The Words End and My Body Begins), Vivek Shraya (She of the Mountains), and Leah Horlick (For Your Own Good). Elliott Bay Book Co., 1521 10th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 Free Friday, April 10, 2015, 7pm
Seattle Poetry Slam Local poets share their verse and spoken word compositions. 21 and over. Rebar, 1114 Howell StreetSeattle, WA $5 Tuesday, April 14, 2015, 8 – 11:30pm
David Shields He discusses the concept of collage in his co-written book, Life Is Short-Art Is Shorter.
Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 $12 Thursday, April 16, 2015, 7pm
Kate Dyer-Seeley Kate Dyer-Seeley signs her new book Slayed on the Slopes. Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 117 Cherry St., Seattle, WA 98104 Free Saturday, April 18, 2015, 12pm
Dan Clowes The creator of Ghost World tours to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Eightball. Get there early if you want your copy signed. Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery, 1201 S. Vale St. Free Saturday, April 18, 2015, 6pm
Seattle Poetry Slam Local poets share their verse and spoken word compositions. 21 and over. Rebar, 1114 Howell StreetSeattle, WA $5 Tuesday, April 21, 2015, 8 – 11:30pm
