Joyce Carol Oates at Seattle Arts and Lectures Tonight

Joyce Carol Oates: elegant, genius, prolific, a little bit spooky. Whether reading her delicately crafted yet deeply searing short stories about growing up—which you can still do as an adult&mdahs;or her lengthy, complex novels about relationships, status, and even celebrity, her diverse themes and subtle phrasing create some of the most memorable books you'll ever experience.

The National Book Award winner, Pulitzer Prize nominee, and Princeton creative writing professor will visit Benaroya Hall tonight as part of the Austin Arts and Lectures Series to share her uniquely bleak yet beautiful perspective on the world. Her latest, A Widow's Story: A Memoir, recounts her experiences after her husband and Ontario Review co-editor Ray Smith died in 2008. Now remarried, Oates will likely address her experience as a widow tonight, showcasing her characteristic insight and innovative perspective.

We've seen Oates speak before and can guarantee that tonight's talk will be thoughtful, original, and perhaps even funnier than you would expect. We highly recommend making the effort to become more familiar with her and her stories.

TONIGHT // Benaroya Hall, S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium // 7:30 p.m. // $15+