Books
Seattle Poetry Slam Local poets share their verse and spoken word compositions. 21 and over. Rebar, 1114 Howell StreetSeattle, WA $5 Tuesday, November 25, 2014, 8 – 11:30pm
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Indies First Day Yes, this is a naked appeal for shopping, a call for you spend money, a bricks-and-mortar, Cap Hill alternative to Black Friday and Cyber Monday. (Will Google and Amazon in the future claim their own days of the week?) Indies First is a movement launched by the American Booksellers Association, endorsed by Sherman Alexie, and today hosted by Seattle’s favorite bookstore. It’s a marathon event with local authors plugging their books, possibly signing them, and also recommending other titles. That means history picks from Paula Becker (of HistoryLink.org), food tips from Langdon Cook (The Mushroom Hunters), favorite comic books from David Lasky (The Carter Family: Don’t Forget This Song), bird books from Lyanda Lynn Haupt (Crow Planet), and poetry volumes from Karen Finneyfrock. Then at 5:30, Alexie himself will arrive to unload an entire bookshelf full of sharp opinions-sports, politics, and more from the city’s preeminent man of letters. Come prepared to do some damage to your credit card, and remember that the in-house cafe makes swell sandwiches and coffee. You’ll be here all day. (10 a.m.-6:30 p.m.) BRIAN MILLER Elliott Bay Book Co., 1521 10th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 Free Saturday, November 29, 2014
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Sub Pop USA Long before Sub Pop was arguably the most massive-and influential-independent record label in America, it was just another music zine, photocopied and stapled by the hands of a young Bruce Pavitt, an Evergreen college student who by 1980 was also programming a weekly radio showcase of underground music. As the proprietor of his own micro-media empire, he collected 45s from weirdo bands and SASEs from fans who recognized his preternatural ability to hear greatness through the fuzz. Pavitt-along with his sidekick Calvin Johnson-created a total of nine Sub Pop zines, three of which came with mix-tapes that featured the New Wave and punk music that would later be supplanted by grunge. The next chapter of Pavitt’s career came after moving to Seattle, where he authored a monthly Sub Pop column for The Rocket, in which he annotated a local music scene that was coalescing into a national force. Those columns and zines are packaged, along with some insightful, lucid essays from the likes of Johnson, Larry Reid, Charles R. Cross, and Ann Powers, in Sub Pop USA: The Subterranean Music Anthology, 1980-1988 (Bazillion Points, $34.95), a comprehensive anthology of our ‘80s underground. It’s an amazing artifact filled with early illustrations by Lynda Barry, Charles Burns, and Jad Fair, and full of radical ideas that deserve a resurgence. (Johnson, a founder of Beat Happening, will play a live set at tonight’s book launch, with Pavitt and several contributors to Sub Pop USA also on hand.) MARK BAUMGARTEN Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery, 1201 S. Vale St. Free Saturday, November 29, 2014, 6 – 7pm
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Andrew Durkin You have to dodge a few straw men, but Durkin’s Decomposition: A Music Manifesto (Pantheon, $28.95) is otherwise an impressive and absorbing examination of familiar assumptions about music. (“We are convinced that the quality of a musical work cannot derive, even if only partially, from its context”-oh, are we?) Basically a compendium of the ways thinking and talking about music are complicated, problematized, and compromised, Durkin’s book probes deeply into the idea of collaboration; the hidden agents that influence composition and performance (especially social environment and audience reception); the impact of technology, from player pianos to CDs; the fetish for authenticity (“Did the music [of Milli Vanilli] suddenly sound different once the Grammy was revoked?”); the physiology of hearing and perception; the quandaries raised by recordings and musical notation; the commodification of music in the digital era; and the tangled web of copyright law in the age of Napster. All this is in the service of, as Durkin puts it in his afterword, “demythologizing music without demeaning it,” and it’s backed by a Wikipedian knowledge of the art, from Milton Babbitt to Gilbert O’Sullivan, Nicolas Listenius to Beth Fleenor. His own field is jazz, and this book-tour stop promises not only a discussion of his book, but a performance by the Quadraphonnes. GAVIN BORCHERT Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101 $5 Tuesday, December 2, 2014, 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, December 2, 2014, 8 – 11:30pm
Stacey R. Campbell
Arrgh! is her new kiddie adventure tome. University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98105 Fr Wednesday, December 3, 2014, 7 – 8pm
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Cary Elwes The actor recalls the filming of The Princess Bride in his new account As You Wish, which he’ll discuss with the Times’ Nicole Brodeur. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101 $5 Wednesday, December 3, 2014, 7:30 – 8:30pm
Pam Binder She’ll discuss Christmas in the Highlands. University Book Store (Bellevue), 990 102nd Ave. N.E., Bellevue, WA 98004 Free Thursday, December 4, 2014, 6 – 7pm
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Garth Stein The local novelist follows the declining fortunes of a timber dynasty in A Sudden Light. University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98105 Free Thursday, December 4, 2014, 7 – 8pm
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Richard Ford His latest novel Let Me Be Frank With You picks up the saga of Frank Bascombe, now a semi-retired realtor living in post-Hurricane Sandy New Jersey. Seattle Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., Seattle, WA 98104 Free Thursday, December 4, 2014, 7 – 8pm
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Edward O. Wilson Sorry, but this event with the author of The Meaning of Human Existence is sold out. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101 $5 Thursday, December 4, 2014, 7:30 – 8:30pm
Linda Carroll She’ll talk about her Love Cycles: The Five Essential Stages of Lasting. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way N.E., Seattle, 98115 Free Friday, December 5, 2014, 6:30 – 7:30pm
Shelly Oria She reads from her story collection New York 1, Tel Aviv 0. Joining her will be local scribe Kristen Millares Young. Elliott Bay Book Co., 1521 10th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 Free Friday, December 5, 2014, 7 – 8pm
Dong-Won Kim The visiting Johns Hopkins prof gives a talk called “New Worlds of Science: The Heritage of East Asia.” Seattle Asian Art Museum, 1400 E. Prospect St. (Volunteer Park), Seattle, WA 98112 $5-$10 Saturday, December 6, 2014, 9:30 – 10:30am
Jeremy Greenberg He’s written the humor guide Stink Outside the Box: Life Advice from Kitty. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way N.E., Seattle, 98115 Free Saturday, December 6, 2014, 6:30 – 7:30pm
Waverly Fitzgerald Her canine detective story is The Chihuahua Always Sniffs Twice. Joining her is fellow local mystery writer Curtis Colbert. Elliott Bay Book Co., 1521 10th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 Free Saturday, December 6, 2014, 7 – 8pm
Fred Poyner IV The WSU historian talks about The First Sculptor of Seattle: The Life and Art of James A. Wehn. Seattle Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., Seattle, WA 98104 Free Sunday, December 7, 2014, 1 – 2pm
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Mary Randlett The veteran Northwest photographer is joined by Frances McCue, who wrote the text for Mary Randlett Portraits. Seattle Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., Seattle, WA 98104 Free Sunday, December 7, 2014, 2 – 3pm
Terry Martin
The Light You Find collects her latest poetry. Also appearing is poet Elissa Ball. Elliott Bay Book Co., 1521 10th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 Free Sunday, December 7, 2014, 3 – 4pm
Tom Kelly & Beverley West Their two new books are, respectively, Hovering Above a Homicide and Finding My Way Back to 1950s Paris. Eagle Harbor Books, 157 Winslow Way E., Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 Free Sunday, December 7, 2014, 3 – 4pm
Diane Sanfilippo The author of Mediterranean Paleo Cooking is joined by Brittany Angell (Every Last Crumb). Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way N.E., Seattle, 98115 Free Sunday, December 7, 2014, 5 – 6pm
Copper Canyon Press Poetry Party Several poets associated with the Port Townsend publisher will read and sign their works. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 Free Sunday, December 7, 2014, 7 – 8pm
Fabio Viviani He shares recipes from Fabio’s American Home Kitchen: More Than 125 Recipes With an Italian Accent. University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98105 Free Monday, December 8, 2014, 2 – 3pm
Christina Dodd
Virtue Falls is her new murder mystery. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way N.E., Seattle, 98115 Free Monday, December 8, 2014, 7 – 8pm
Poetry Reading Contributors to St. Peter’s B List: Contemporary Poems Inspired by the Saints read selected works. Elliott Bay Book Co., 1521 10th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 Free Monday, December 8, 2014, 7 – 8pm
Jana Harris She collects frontier-themed poetry in You Haven’t Asked About My Wedding or What I Wore. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way N.E., Seattle, 98115 Free Tuesday, December 9, 2014, 7 – 8pm
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John Marzluff Everyone’s favorite local ornithologist, he shares from Welcome to Subirdia: Sharing Our Neighborhood with Wrens, Robins, Woodpeckers and Other Wildlife. Elliott Bay Book Co., 1521 10th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 Free Tuesday, December 9, 2014, 7 – 8pm
Tim Federle He’s the author of Hickory Daiquiri Dock: Cocktails with a Nursery Rhyme Twist. University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98105 Free Tuesday, December 9, 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 9, 2014, 8 – 11:30pm
Dawn Wells Wow. Gilligan’s Island debuted on TV 50 years ago, and the iconic actress is only now sharing tales from the set in What Would Mary Ann Do?
University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98105 Free Wednesday, December 10, 2014, 7 – 8pm
Phillip Margolin
Woman With a Gun is his latest crime thriller. Also: Seattle Mystery Bookshop, noon, Thurs., Dec. 11. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way N.E., Seattle, 98115 Free Wednesday, December 10, 2014, 7 – 8pm
Seattle Lit Fix Local writers Ryan Boudinot, Sonora Jha, Daemond Arrindell, and Jennifer D. Munro read at this 21-and-over event. JewelBox Theater at the Rendezvous, 2322 Second Ave., Seattle, WA 98121 Free Wednesday, December 10, 2014, 7 – 8pm
James Stark He collects his short stories in Woodfiber Dreams, Coming of Age Tales. University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98105 Free Thursday, December 11, 2014, 7 – 8pm
Lynn Brunelle Her memoir is Mama Gone Geek: Calling on My Inner Science Nerd to Help Navigate the Ups and Downs of Parenthood. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way N.E., Seattle, 98115 Free Thursday, December 11, 2014, 7 – 8pm
Robin K. Wright He and Kathryn Bunn-Marcuse (also appearing) edited In the Spirit of the Ancestors: Contemporary Northwest Coast Art at the Burke Museum. Seattle Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., Seattle, WA 98104 Free Thursday, December 11, 2014, 7 – 8pm
Angela Glover Blackwell He’ll discuss Uncommon Common Ground: Race and America’s Future. Seattle Town Hall, 1119 8th Avenue, Seattle WA 98101 $5 Thursday, December 11, 2014, 7:30 – 8:30pm
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Robbie Rogers In his new memoir Coming Out to Play, he struggles to reconcile pro soccer with sexual orientation. Elliott Bay Book Co., 1521 10th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 Free Thursday, December 11, 2014, 11pm – 12am
Tom Brenner His children’s holiday book is And Then Comes Christmas. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way N.E., Seattle, 98115 Free Friday, December 12, 2014, 10 – 11am
Amin Ghaziani The urban planner considers gentrification and more in There Goes the Gayborhood?
Elliott Bay Book Co., 1521 10th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 Free Friday, December 12, 2014, 3 – 4pm
UW Literary Fiction Writing Program Readings Students share their work. University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98105 Free Friday, December 12, 2014, 6:30 – 7:30pm
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
