Portland Book Events: July 13-19

From what I could find (please contact me if you have an event you would like me to add to this or future schedules), the local book events for the week of July 13, 2009 through July 19, 2009 are:

Monday July 13-

Roko Sherry Chayat Reading (Looking Glass Bookstore, @12:00pm): The most comprehensive collection available of Nyogen Senzaki’s brilliant teachings, Eloquent Silence brings new depth and breadth to our knowledge and appreciation of this historic figure. It makes available for the first time his complete commentaries on the Gateless Gate, one of the most important and beloved of all Zen texts, as well as on koans from the Blue Rock Annals and the Book of Equanimity. Amazingly, some of these commentaries were written while Senzaki was detained at an internment camp during WWII. Also included are rare photographs, poems reproduced in Senzaki’s beautiful calligraphy and accompanied by his own translations, and transcriptions of his talks on Zen, esoteric Buddhism, the Lotus Sutra, what it means to be a Buddhist monk, and other subjects. Roko Sherry Chayat has edited Nyogen Senzaki’s words with sensitivity and grace, retaining his wry, probing style yet bringing clarity and accessibility to these remarkably contemporary teachings.

Footprints (Powells Books at Cedar Hills Crossing, @7:00pm): In Footprints (Hadley Rille), 21 authors spin tales of speculative fiction, imagining a future where alien explorers find human traces on the moon after the human species has died out. This event features contributors Brenda Cooper, Jody Sherry, and Chad Grayson.

Fifth Annual Evening with Beowulf and Grendel (Grendel’s Coffee House, @7:30pm): Dick Lewis and David Loftus read from the classic works of English literature.

The Girls’ Guide to Rocking (Powells Books on Hawthorne, @7:30pm): Written by Jessica Hopper, an obsessive music lover who’s spent her life playing, performing, publicizing, and writing about rock ‘n’ roll, The Girls’ Guide to Rocking (Workman Publishing) is a hip, inspirational guide for rad girls who want to make their rock dreams come true.

Naseem Rakha Reading (Powells City of Books, @7:30pm): Dramatic, wrenching, and ultimately uplifting, Naseem Rakha’s The Crying Tree (Broadway Books) is an unforgettable story of love and redemption, the unbreakable bonds of family, and the transformative power of forgiveness. “This complex, layered story of a family’s journey toward justice and forgiveness comes together through spellbinding storytelling,” cheers Publishers Weekly. “[A] testament to Rakha’s ability to create wonderfully realized characters.”

Tin House Writer’s Workshop Readings (Reed College, Cerf Ampitheatre, @8:00pm): Highlights of the Tin House workshop include literary readings, which are open to the public. Admission: $5. For more information, visit the Tin House website.

Tuesday July 14-

Guys Read Open House (Gresham Library, @4:00pm): Come learn about the reading club for guys only. Have a snack and hear about some great books for guys. For more information about the Guys Read Project started by Jon Scieszka, author of “The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales” and “The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs,” visit www.guysread.com.

Peace Corps Journal Reading and Book Giveaway (Central Library, @6:00pm): Every day in the Peace Corps brings a new experience, adventure or lesson. Come listen to journal entries directly from the Peace Corps volunteers who wrote them and pick up your free copy of “A Life Inspired,” a collection of stories written by volunteers (while supplies last). A Peace Corps volunteer who served in Bulgaria will also share her personal experience, answer your questions, and provide tips to guide you through the application process.

About the Panel:
Jenny Ferro
Lesotho, Africa 2002-2006
Primary Education Resource Teacher
Reading: “Peace, Rain, Prosperity”

Vicki Crumpacker
Turkmenistan, Central Asia 2000-2001
Business Advising

Erik Vidstrand
Mauritania, West Africa 1982-1984
Health Extension

Science Fiction Book Group (Powells Books at Cedar Hills Crossing, @7:00pm): This month we meet to discuss The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham. Join us!

Colum McCann Reading (Powells City of Books, @7:30pm): Award-winnining author Colum McCann’s most ambitious work to date, Let the Great World Spin (Random House) offers a dazzling and hauntingly rich vision of the loveliness, pain, and mystery of life in New York City in the 1970s. “[McCann] succeeds in giving us a high-wire performance of style and heart”. (Publishers Weekly).

Tin House Writer’s Workshop Readings (Reed College, Cerf Ampitheatre, @8:00pm): Highlights of the Tin House workshop include literary readings, which are open to the public. Admission: $5. For more information, visit the Tin House website.

Wednesday July 15-

Graphic Novel Book Group (Belmont Library, @6:30pm): Read “20th Century Boys, Vol. 01, Friends” by Naoki Urasawa. Get together and gab about graphic novels. Engage in stimulating conversation, exchange perspectives about characters, plot and art, and get to know your neighbors.

Poetry and Prose for the People presents Tiel Aisha Ansari, M, and Heather Strang (Barnes & Noble Lloyd Center, @7:00pm): Tiel Aisha Ansari is a Sufi, martial artist, and computer programmer living in the Pacific Northwest. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in several print and online venues including Islamica Magazine, Mezzo Cammin, The Lyric, Raintown Review, and the VoiceCatcher anthology from Portland Women Writers. Her poetry has been featured on Prairie Home Companion and MiPoRadio. She is the author of the poetry collection Knocking from Inside, published by Ecstatic Exchange. You can visit her online at knockingfrominside.blogspot.com.

M has served as an Associate Poetry Editor for the online magazine Stirring: A Literary Collection for the past one hundred years or so. More than a few editors have found her poems intriguing, and included them in their journals. She received her B.A. in Literature so long ago, she’s pretty certain her diploma has crumbled to dust. In addition to her work for Stirring, she is an Administrator of an online poetry critique website called Wild Poetry Forum, and serves as Co-Chairperson of the Portland Unit of the Oregon State Poetry Association (OSPA). She is currently working on a poetry manuscript that focuses on the twentieth-century Italian immigrant experience.

Heather Strang is the author of the book, Anatomy of the Heart: Love Poems, and is a professional writer for a host of print and online publications. Her poetry has also appeared in Four and Twenty. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her meditating, creating new recipes and exploring the possibilities of the Universe.

Eric Barnes Reading (Powells Books at Cedar Hills Crossing, @7:00pm): A beach-bag perfect combination of intrigue and deceit, Eric Barnes’s Shimmer (Unbridled Books) is the timely, gripping tale of a worldwide corporate Ponzi scheme.

The Book of William (Powells City of Books, @7:30pm): Paul Collins’ The Book of William (Bloomsbury) is the first popular narrative history of Shakespeare’s First Folio, the world’s most obsessively pursued book. “Collins is the best sort of popular historian: someone who can make the obscurest facts and people absorbing and entertaining,” says Nancy Pearl, author of Book Lust.

Portland Noir v. Seattle Noir Smackdown (Murder By The Book, @7:30pm): Celebrate the release of Portland Noir , a book devoted to fictional short stories of the (way) dark side of Portland. Floyd Skoot, Jess Walter, and Bill Cameron are among the authors whose stories appear in this compilation. In one corner, on behalf of Portland Noir will be editor Kevin Sampsell, and authors Bill Cameron and Kimberly Warner-Cohen.  In the other corner, on behalf of Seattle Noir will be editor Curt Colbert and Seattle heavyweights G. M. Ford and Skye Moody.

Mountain Writers presents Dick Bakken and Marianne Klekacz (The Press Club, @7:30pm): A poetry reading featuring a dynamic pairing of Dick Bakken and Marianne Klekacz.

Dick Bakken lived in Portland ten years, where he taught English and Creative Writing at Portland State University 1966 70, published an internationally reviewed anthology of Bengali poetry in 1967, co-directed the Portland Poetry Center at University of Portland in 1968 70, made a celebrated resignation from PSU on National General Strike Day 1970, originated the USA poetry gathering icon the Portland Poetry Chicken in 1972, co-founded the Portland Poetry Festival in 1973 74, was one of the three speakers at the Governor’s inauguration of William Stafford as Oregon State Poet Laureate in 1975, as well as being sued for $75,000 over dirty words in his anthology of works by children in 1975, and much more. His most recent book–Greatest Hits 1967-2002 -includes six created while living in Portland.

Marianne Klekacz lives and writes in Oregon’s Coast Range Mountains. A native of Oregon, she returned there after a journey that took her from the wilds of Alaska to the deserts of Arizona, to San Francisco, Switzerland, Denmark, England, The Philippines, the Caribbean Islands, and through many of the fifty states. She has been a cowgirl, police woman, race car driver, life guard, and a technical specialist in computers and telecommunications. She helps nurture (with husband Ben) 100 acres of mixed-tree forest. Her first chapbook, Life Science, won the Edna Meudt Memorial Award in 2003. She was awarded a B.A. in English and Writing from Marylhurst University and an M.F.A. in Writing from Pacific University. She will be reading from her first full collection of poems, When Words Fail (Dancing Moon Press, 2009).

Tin House Writer’s Workshop Readings (Reed College, Cerf Ampitheatre, @8:00pm): Highlights of the Tin House workshop include literary readings, which are open to the public. Admission: $5. For more information, visit the Tin House website.

Thursday July 16-

2nd Annual Fancy Nancy Party (A Children’s Place Bookstore, @1:00pm): Fancy Nancy, by Jane O’Connor, is one of our favorite picture books, and we will be celebrating in style. There will be a fancy book reading, eloquent activities, and delectable treats! Come dressed in your fanciest!

Arnold Pander Signing (Floating World Comics, @4-6pm): TASTY BULLET mines the darker side of the worldwide energy drink phenomenon, with an amped up tale of redemption and revenge. A new chapter in manga graphic novels begins on July 10th, when Image Comics releases the long-awaited new graphic novel, TASTY BULLET, from two of the genre’s popular creators – Jonathan Vankin and Arnold Pander.

Arnold Pander will sign copies of TASTY BULLET at Floating World Comics, Thursday July 16th from 4-6pm.

Guys Read Open House (Midland Library, @4:00pm): Come learn about the reading club for guys only. Have a snack and hear about some great books for guys. For more information about the Guys Read Project started by Jon Scieszka, author of “The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales” and “The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs,” visit www.guysread.com.

Lauren Rosewarne Reading (In Other Words Books, @7:00pm): Cheating on the Sisterhood is a feminist analysis of the imbroglio of sexual politics, brute sociobiology, and pop-mediated passion that is conjured up when a married man cheats on his wife with a younger, single woman. Drawing frankly on her own case study as the other woman, Rosewarne shows what happens when all three parties to the classic triangle happen to be feminists, each trotting out a different set of feminist arguments to justify, vilify, and rationalize their actions. Is the other woman a tool of the cheating man’s assertion of gender dominance over both his mate and his mistress, such that she is willy-nilly a traitor to the sisterhood? Most heterosexuals-including most feminist heterosexuals- continue to regard monogamy as the ultimate goal to be sought in contemporary relationships. Once the longed-for sanctuary of monogamy is attained, impulses to infidelity arise unbidden, fueled by pornography, technological change, narcissism, consumerism, and unlimited sexual choice. Cheating on the Sisterhood shows us that contemporary feminism does not automatically endorse or reject any particular choices by the three parties to infidelity. Instead it informs each of the actors of the political implications and sadomasochistic inflections of their choices.

Derek McCormack and Stacey Levine Reading (Powells Books on Hawthorne, @7:30pm): Starring a host of Hollywood’s brightest stars, Derek McCormack’s The Show That Smells (Akashic) is a thrilling tale of hillbillies, high fashion, and horror about a country music singer dying of tuberculosis whose wife tries to save him by selling her soul to the devil. In The Girl with Brown Fur (Akashic), PEN-West Award winner Stacey Levine has invented stories that will thrill readers of literary fiction who hunger for an innovative American voice.

Get Animated! (Powells City of Books, @7:30pm): A clearly written and illustrated guide for the home animator, Tim Maloney’s Get Animated! (Watson-Guptill) shows aspiring animators how to create studio-grade animation on simple home equipment.

Tin House Magazine’s 10th Anniversary (Newmark Theatre, @7:30pm, $12-$15): Celebrate Tin House‘s 10th anniversary with a gathering of some of the country’s most exciting established and emerging writers who’ve been published by the magazine in the past decade. With readings, personal anecdotes, and short interviews, the night promises to be a snapshot of what Tin House offers in each of its issues, quality fiction and poetry with personality to spare.Emceed by Colson Whitehead (Sag Harbor), the event will include these readers/presenters:

Dorothy Allison – Steve Almond – Aimee Bender
Charles D’Ambrosio – Matthew Dickman – Michael Dickman
Ron Hansen – Holly MacArthur – Win McCormack
Lee Montgomery – Peter Rock – Jim Shepard – Rob Spillman

Proceeds from the event will benefit WITS (Writers in the Schools), a program of Literary Arts. Please note: This ticketed event takes place at the Newmark Theater, 1111 SW Broadway. Tickets, $12/$15, are available through Portland Center for the Performing Arts or Ticketmaster.com, or by phone at 1-800-745-3000.

Tin House Writer’s Workshop Readings (Reed College, Cerf Ampitheatre, @8:00pm): Highlights of the Tin House workshop include literary readings, which are open to the public. Admission: $5. For more information, visit the Tin House website.

Friday July 17-

Broadway Books Sidewalk Sale (Broadway Books, @10:00am): Our annual sidewalk sale will be the weekend of July 17th -19th. As always, we’ll have great deals for you out on our sidewalk: A special selection of books for $4 each or 3 for $10, plus some additional merchandise. This year we are also offering all hardcover fiction at 25% off — no limit! This includes general fiction, mysteries & sci-fi, and young adult/middle reader fiction. (Does not apply to special orders; books must be purchased during the three days of the sale.) Be sure to check out the other wonderful merchants on NE Broadway who will be offering all kinds of specials that weekend as well — plus music and food! How good is that! Grab your friends and familly and head to NE Broadway! A portion of our sale proceeds will go to our two ongoing causes: Literary Arts and the NxNE Community Health Center.

Cheeky Pages Romance Book Group (Powells Books at Cedar Hills Crossing, @7:00pm): This month we meet to discuss Rebellion by Nora Roberts. Join us!

Tin House Writer’s Workshop Readings (Reed College, Cerf Ampitheatre, @8:00pm): Highlights of the Tin House workshop include literary readings, which are open to the public. Admission: $5. For more information, visit the Tin House website.

Saturday July 18-

Broadway Books Sidewalk Sale (Broadway Books, @10:00am): Our annual sidewalk sale will be the weekend of July 17th -19th. As always, we’ll have great deals for you out on our sidewalk: A special selection of books for $4 each or 3 for $10, plus some additional merchandise. This year we are also offering all hardcover fiction at 25% off — no limit! This includes general fiction, mysteries & sci-fi, and young adult/middle reader fiction. (Does not apply to special orders; books must be purchased during the three days of the sale.) Be sure to check out the other wonderful merchants on NE Broadway who will be offering all kinds of specials that weekend as well — plus music and food! How good is that! Grab your friends and familly and head to NE Broadway! A portion of our sale proceeds will go to our two ongoing causes: Literary Arts and the NxNE Community Health Center.

Julie Richardson presents Rustic Fruit Desserts (St. John’s Booksellers, @12:00pm): Celebrate independence, abundance, and the DIY spirit wth an inspiring cooking demo!  Julie Richardson will present recipes and techniques from her new book, Rustic Fruit Desserts (coauthored by chef Cory Schreiber).  Filled with luscious recipes for simple classics like buckles and crisps, this beautifully illustrated book begs readers to do it yourselves with the Willamette Valley’s wondrous variety of delicious fruits.  Take a midday break from browsing the St. Johns Farmer’s Market (just 50 feet from the bookstore) to enjoy the cool indoors and gather inspiration for using all that beautiful fruit you just bought!

A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Julie Richardson grew up enjoying the flavors that defined the changing seasons of her Vermont childhood.  Her lively small-batch bakery, Baker & Spice, evolved from her involvement in the Portland and Hillsdale farmers’ markets.  She lives in Portland.

Bridges: An Art Show (Em Space Book Arts Center, @6:00pm): Please join us for the opening of BRIDGES: An Art Show on Saturday, July 18th from 6 to 9pm

Em Space Book Arts Center
407 Southeast Ivon Street
Portland, Oregon 97202
(located at the start of the Springwater Corridor)

Come check out the opening of our first juried show featuring work from some of the best letterpress and silk screen artists from all over the country.

Our fantastic lineup includes: Anagram Press, Blue Cole Press, The Bungaloo, Crooked Letter Press, Michael D’Alessandro, Design Medicine, Enormous Champion, Heroes & Criminals Press, Huldra Press, Anne Keech, Keegan Meegan, Lulu Dee, Miss Cline Press, Perla Anne, The Post Family, Power & Light Press, Alyson Provax, Amy Rabas, Satsuma Press, Beth Schaible, Sensura Studio, Rory Sparks, Starshaped Press, Two Tone Press, Alisa Walton and more!

We’ll also have refreshing summer drinks, tours of our 2,400 square foot studio, and an amazing raffle chock-full of letterpress and silk screen goods. We hope to see you there!

Tin House Writer’s Workshop Readings (Reed College, Cerf Ampitheatre, @8:00pm): Highlights of the Tin House workshop include literary readings, which are open to the public. Admission: $5. For more information, visit the Tin House website.

Sunday July 19-

Broadway Books Sidewalk Sale (Broadway Books, @12:00pm): Our annual sidewalk sale will be the weekend of July 17th -19th. As always, we’ll have great deals for you out on our sidewalk: A special selection of books for $4 each or 3 for $10, plus some additional merchandise. This year we are also offering all hardcover fiction at 25% off — no limit! This includes general fiction, mysteries & sci-fi, and young adult/middle reader fiction. (Does not apply to special orders; books must be purchased during the three days of the sale.) Be sure to check out the other wonderful merchants on NE Broadway who will be offering all kinds of specials that weekend as well — plus music and food! How good is that! Grab your friends and familly and head to NE Broadway! A portion of our sale proceeds will go to our two ongoing causes: Literary Arts and the NxNE Community Health Center.

Things to Know before You Say “Go” (Powells Books on Hawthorne, @4:00pm): Elsbeth Martindale’s Things to Know before You Say “Go” offers individuals a unique and powerful method of examining romantic partnership. The set contains a deck of 76 cards and accompanying book, both printed on recycled materials and packaged in a reusable, earth-friendly box.

Tin House Writer’s Workshop Readings (Reed College, Cerf Ampitheatre, @8:00pm): Highlights of the Tin House workshop include literary readings, which are open to the public. Admission: $5. For more information, visit the Tin House website.

For further events check out the links to the community calendars for Tri-County area Libraries: Washington County, Multnomah County, Clackamas County.