This Week in Lit: Confronting Death, Navigating Nazi Berlin and Cowboy Poets

We’ve got some variety this week—though the abundance of local talent is what’s really catching my eye! Everything from local historians expounding on our city (and others), to cowboy poets, to the geographical history of Seattle, and the power of the written word. Embrace some love for your city and check out some lit events this week.

Erik Larson at Microsoft Auditorium, Seattle Public Central Library:
We’re starting this week off with Seattle historian (and best-selling author) Erik Larson—the celebrated author of Thunderstruck and The Devil in the White City is back with his new book (with the longest title ever), In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler’s Berlin. In Garden, the newly appointed ambassador to Germany lands in Berlin where Hitler and the Nazi government have just been installed into power. The story then unfolds amidst all the chaos, betrayal and insanity of the Third Reich—with the backdrop of a very different capitol city. Free admission is based on a first-come, first-serve basis…you better start running.

Tuesday, 7 p.m. // Microsoft Auditorium, Seattle Public Central Library // Free

Baxter Black at Elliott Bay Book Co.:
Baxter Black reminds us that “The world is run by those who show up”, so you better get your butts over to his reading at Elliott Bay to really soak up the witty, lively lyrics of this NPR cowboy poet. Baxter will be reading from his new book, Lessons from a Desperado Poet, his ode to making the most of life—always with humor and passion. Not only is this man a literary gem, but he’s also a large-animal veterinarian. I guess tackling beasts and beastly ideas are similar? Regardless…he has an awesome mustache.

Tuesday, 7 p.m. // Elliott Bay Book Co. // Free

Michael Brown and Richard Morrill at Microsoft Auditorium, Seattle Central Library:
This geographically savvy duo hits the Central Library stage at lunchtime for a tour of the political, economic, social, and cultural developments that have shaped our lovely city. This event is co-presented by Seattle Public Library, University of Washington Press, and Elliott Bay Book Company (all the big hitters), with the hopes of educating Seattlites with their new book Seattle Geographies. These two UW geography professors help illustrate Seattle’s past and present with maps, charts, and other nifty visualization tools—and incite interest in what may be in the city’s future. Not a shabby way to spend your lunch hour, and never a bad idea to delve into the past of the city you live in.

Wednesday, 12 p.m. // Microsoft Auditorium, Seattle Public Central Library // Free

David Shields at Elliott Bay Book Co.:
This University of Washington professor has made a mammoth mark in the literary world with a plethora of works that are admired, loved, and even obsessed over. Last year’s Reality Hunger: A Manifesto is already considered vital fodder for writers, and it’s glimpse into the future of literature, voracious and stylish. This latest anthology, The Inevitable: Contemporary Writers Confront Death includes work from Jonathan Safran Foer, Annie Dillard and others—and though the subject is serious, the essays are said to be inspired. And it’s never a bad idea to support the work of internally celebrated, but locally loved talent, eh?

Wednesday, 7 p.m. // Elliott Bay Book Co. // Free

Melissa Fay Greene and David Guterson at Ethiopian Community Mutual Association:
Melissa Fay Greene is not only a celebrated narrative journalist, but her book Praying for Sheetrock was selected by New York University journalism school as one of the top 100 journalism works in the 20th century, definitely kind of an honor. Her new book, No Biking in the House without a Helmet focuses on her family—her children, adopted children (from Ethiopia), their struggles, and joys and weird nesses. Though many families share some universal experiences, No Biking focuses on what makes each family unique. This event is co-presented by the Ethiopian Community Mutual Association, Town Hall and Elliott Bay Book Company. Seattle author David Guterson will also be on hand to discuss his own experiences with his adopted child from Ethiopia—could be a fascinating glimpse of a newly-connected kind of world.

Thursday, 7 p.m. // Ethiopian Community Mutual Association // $5 at door, or at brownpapertickets.com