David Sedaris at Powell's Cedar Hills Crossing

Today’s Featured Book Event:

David Sedaris Reading (Powells Books at Cedar Hills Crossing, @6:00pm): “David Sedaris’s ability to transform the mortification of everyday life into wildly entertaining art” (Christian Science Monitor) is elevated to wilder and more entertaining heights than ever in his bestselling When You Are Engulfed in Flames (Back Bay), now in paperback!

Other Book Event’s Today:

Sage Cohen Poetry Reading (Barnes & Noble Vancouver, @7:00pm): Local poet and teacher Sage Cohen will celebrate her new release Writing the Life Poetic, and she’s bringing some folks who appear in her book with her, namely Lane Browning, Dale Conant, Sara Guest, Christopher Luna, Toni Partington, Shawn Sorensen and Steve Williams.

Willa Schneberg Poetry Reading (Milwaukie Ledding Library, @7:00pm): Willa Schneberg’s poetry has been welcomed by many well-recognized literary journals including the Exquisite Corpse, American Poetry Review, Michigan Quarterly Review and Southern Poetry Review. She has won two Oregon Literary Fellowships and several other awards. Willa Schneberg finds “a great relief when [I] encounter the work of a poet who evokes optimism even when the subject matter includes themes of hate, war, poverty and oppression. The otherwise unpalatable bites of world and personal history we may digest willingly, when laced with a sauce of humor, wisdom and a rich, often erotic sensuality.” Ms. Schneberg’s poetry consistently displays these qualities and is based on wide and varied life experiences. She has worked as an art therapist in Israel and as a medical liaison officer in Cambodia. She is also a photographer, clay sculptor and a social worker in private practice.

Pathos Release Celebration (PSU Smith Student Union, Room 355, @7:00pm): Pathos will be releasing its last issue of the year on Wednesday, June 10th in the PSU ballroom. Come hear author Monica Drake read alongside student writers, enjoy the music and literary stylings of the Thomas Pynchon Fake Book and gorge on free, delicious Lebanese food.

Phillip Margolin Reading (Murder By The Book, @7:00pm): Phil will be introducing his latest novel starring Portland defense attorney Amanda Jaffe, Fugitive (hc, $26.99). Amanda gets global when she is tapped to defend a man accused of murdering a Congressman. His defense is complicated by the fact that her client is fleeing the murderous intentions of the dictator of a small nation. Amanda shows the same smarts she displayed in Wild Justice and Proof Positive. (Phil is the recipient of the 2008 Spotted Owl Award for last year’s Executive Privilege.)

Book Bags Women’s Book Group (Powells Books at Cedar Hills Crossing, @7:00pm): This month we meet to discuss Stones from the River by Ursula Hegi. Join us!

Joe Meno & Joshua Mohr Reading (Powells City of Books, @7:30pm): With wit and humor, acclaimed author and playwright Meno presents a revealing look at anxiety and ambiguity in The Great Perhaps (Norton). In Some Things That Meant the World to Me (Two Dollar Radio), his poetic and finely crafted first novel, Mohr has created a remarkable and unforgettable character.

Please check your community Libraries schedule using these links: Washington County, Multnomah County, Clackamas County. For other book events this week, please check the list.