Books
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 “I’ve always suffered fools well, which is why I sleep so soundly at night.” Ford didn’t write that-well, not directly-since the words belong to failed writer-turned-realtor Frank Bascombe, now making his fourth appearance since 1986’s The Sportswriter. Let Me Be Frank With You (Ecco, $27.99) is likely the last go-round for Frank, now 68 and retired, moved back to central Jersey, and counting his luck for having avoided Hurricane Sandy at his old beachfront home. In more than one sense, Frank is appraising the wreckage around him in these four linked stories. Guiltily, yet trying to maintain what he calls his “Default Self,” he goes to meet the unlucky guy who bought his last home-now knocked sideways on the sand, a total loss. He’s visited by a stranger with a sad tale about his present digs. He in turn visits his ex, afflicted with Parkinson’s, and an old dying buddy with secrets to share. Frank wants none of their candor; he still has the writer’s habit of keeping life experience-mostly sad, at this point in the game-at arm’s length, just as he does his adult kids. Frank doesn’t lack empathy or powers of observation (here we’re really talking about Ford). Rather, he insists on limits to his tears or engagement with the world, with Ford serving as his editor to the soft end. What’s his Default Self? “The self I’d like others to understand me to be, and at heart believe myself to be”-honest, optimistic, unembellished, and nice. What Frank mutters to himself is quite different, of course, and therein lies the appeal of Ford’s book. BRIAN MILLER 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
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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, 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
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
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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
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
