Today 1-31: William Stafford Commemorative Reading at Central Library

Today’s Featured Book Event:

William Stafford Commemorative Birthday Event–Readings & Presentations (Central Library, @2:00pm): Central Library hosts readings and presentations commemorating Oregon’s late poet.

Featured Participants: Joel Nightingale Berning presents William Stafford as a Minister. Mr. Berning is a third-year Master of Divinity student at Union Theological Seminary in New York City; Kate Gray published her first full-length book of poems, Another Sunset We Survive, in 2007, and was a finalist for the Oregon Book Award; Carlos Reyes is a noted poet, writer and translator whose latest book of poetry, The Book of Shadows: New and Selected Poems, was published in 2009; Penelope Scambly Schott has published several books, including A is for Anne: Mistress Hutchinson Disturbs the Commonwealth, which won the 2008 Oregon Book Award for Poetry; Joseph A. Soldati, host for the program, has published poems and essays. Recent among his published books is Apocalypse Clam.

Other Book Events Today:

Molly Best Tinsley (Murder by the Book, @1:00pm): Drop by and chat with Oregon author Molly Tinsley, author of Satan’s Chamber. Set in Washington,D.C. and The Sudan, Molly’s debut novel is a dynamic international thriller.

William Stafford Celebratory Reading (Hillsboro Main Library, @2:00pm): Join poets and poetry lovers for an afteroon celebration of William Statfford and his work. Readers include the following local poets: Mark Thalman, Barbara Drake, Marie Buckley, Sue Einowski, Ellen Louis Hart, and Holly Springfield. Bring your favorite William Stafford poem to share and read with the group, as time allows. Cake and coffee/tea will be provided.

Moonstruck Literary Series (Moonstruck Chocolate-Lake Oswego, @6:30pm): The program features local poets Christopher Luna, accompanied by Julio Appling; Dennis McBride; David Rutiezer; and guitarist Peter Zisa. Books and CDs available. Hosted by Joan Maiers Free and open to the public. Arrive early to order chocolates and beverages for enjoying poetry and music. Donations of any size accepted for Haitian relief efforts.

Portland Poetry Slam featuring “Mighty” Mike McGee (Backspace, @7:30pm): This is one slam you have to come to. If you have any friends that you always have to explain “why you like this poetry stuff?” this is the show to bring them to. “Mighty” Mike McGee is an international spoken word artist, writer, performer, speaker, slam poet and comic. He has performed in thousands of venues all over North America, and was one of the first Americans ever to perform poetry at the University la Sorbonne in Paris, France.

You can find other events on your community Libraries schedule using these links: Washington County, Multnomah County, Clackamas County, and the rest of this weeks Portland book events here.

Image credit Lewis & Clark College.