READING: This weekend, 2008 Seattle Reads author Dinaw Mengestu is making the rounds to the city's libraries to read from The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears. This novel about immigrant life in D.C. has gotten so much love from so many corners that we're kind of ashamed we haven't read it already. If you don't want to purchase this book, sign up now on the Holds list at the library: we're currently Hold #424.......

Monday FANTASTIC FICTION SALON: Novelist, nonfiction author, and short story writer Terry Bisson has swept every honor in the science fiction field as well as France's Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire. He joins Hugo House's Writing Fantastic Fiction workshop series, where he will teach "Who Likes Short Shorts? We Like Short Shorts!" 7pm // Hugo House // $4 donation ARTS & LECTURES POETRY SERIES: "Poetry is what maintains our capacity for contemplation and difficulty." That's......

We couldn't make Alison Bechdel's evening readings Friday at the University Bookstore or Saturday at The Wild Rose, so we laid in wait at Lake Forrest's Third Place Books and nabbed her for a quick word as she did a drive-by signing. Bechdel had that glazed, tired, 'book tour' look in her eyes, and when asked how she liked Seattle, muttered something appeasing. Then we admitted to being 'a big fan' and melted from embarassment.......

Remember If All of Seattle Read the Same Book, the Seattle Public Library-sponsored event wherein, as you might guess, all of Seattle was encouraged to read the same book? (At the same time, no less.) Well, they changed the name, but this year's go-round is just around the corner. Now it's called Seattle Reads Persepolis, because it's snappy and because this year's book is Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi's graphic novel about growing up in the wake......