Literary Calendar: October 16-22, 2006

20 Friday

7 P.M. Laura Zigman reads from and signs her new novel, Piece of Work , at Politics and Prose Bookstore, 202-364-1919.

21 Saturday

Noon. Wangari Maathai , the Kenyan political activist and environmentalist who won the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize, signs her new memoir, Unbowed , at American University, Campus Store (Butler Pavilion, 3rd floor), 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 202-885-6320.

22 Sunday

2:30 P.M. Jonathan Balcombe , an animal behavior research consultant for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, discusses and signs Pleasurable Kingdom: Animals and the Nature of Feeling Good at the Silver Spring Library, 8901 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring, Md., 240-773-9420.

Special Notices

The Brandeis University National Women's Committee , Greater Washington Chapter, will hold its 25th anniversary Book & Author Luncheon on Wednesday, Oct. 25, at 9:30 a.m. at the Lakewood Country Club, 13901 Glen Mill Rd., Rockville, Md., featuring Ellyn Bache, Kay Greenberg, George Pelecanos and Noreen Wald. Admission is $75 for nonmembers. For details, contact Estelle Jacobs at 301-656-1923 or i.jacobs@att.net ; to RSVP, contact Sandy Shapiro at 301-340-0376 or lshap@erols.com .

The Fairfax City Branch of the American Association of University Women will hold its annual Book and Author Luncheon on Saturday, Nov. 4, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Fairfax Country Club, 5110 Ox Rd. in Fairfax, Va. The five books spotlighted at this event fall under the theme "relationships with both food and celebrities." Tickets are $35. For details, call 703-455-9262. To RSVP (by Nov. 1) send a check to Sonja Palomaki at 7014 Ebbtide Ln., Burke, Va. 22015.

The George Mason Regional Library , located at 7001 Little River Tnpk. in Annandale, Va., will hold its annual Friends Book Sale Oct. 19-22. Hours are: Thursday, Oct. 19, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 20, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 21, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 22, noon to 5 p.m. Call 703-256-3800 for details.

The Friends of the Palisades Public Library will hold its annual used book sale Saturday, Oct. 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the library's second floor, 4901 V St. NW. Call 202-416-7651 for details.

The Literacy Council of Montgomery County will hold an orientation session for volunteers interested in helping adults learn to read, write and speak English on Monday, Oct. 23, at 7:30 p.m. at the Wheaton Public Library, 11701 Georgia Ave. Wheaton, Md. Call 301-942-9292 or e-mail info@literacycouncilmcmd.org for details.

The Literacy Council of Northern Virginia will hold a basic literacy tutor training workshop for volunteers interested in helping adults learn to read, write and speak English over the course of three consecutive Saturdays, Nov. 4, 11 and 18, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. each day (must attend all sessions) at the James Lee Community Center, 2855 Annandale Rd., Falls Church, Va. A $35 fee (to cover cost of materials and instruction) applies; call 703-237-0866 or visit http://www.lcnv.org/ for details and to register.

The Literacy Volunteers of America , Prince William County chapter, will hold a training session for volunteers interested in helping adults improve their reading and writing skills on Saturday, Nov. 4, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a follow-up workshop on Saturday, Nov. 18, from 9 a.m. to noon. For details and to register, call 703-670-5702 or e-mail lvapw@aol.com .