November 17-23, 2008
Sunday, November 16, 2008
17 MONDAY
7 P.M. Karren Alenier, author of the poetry collection Looking for Divine Transportation and a director of Washington's literary organization, The Word Works, and prize-winning poet Kevin Prufer, author of National Anthem and Fallen from a Chariot as well as the editor of PLEIADES: A Journal of New Writing, read from their work as part of the Café Muse series held at the Friendship Heights Village Center, 4433 S. Park Ave., Chevy Chase, Md., 301-656-2797. Refreshments and classical guitar (courtesy of Michael Davis) open the program, which closes with an open mic.
7 P.M. Writer and activist Terry Tempest Williams, a professor of environmental humanities of the University of Utah, reads from and signs Finding Beauty in a Broken World at Politics and Prose Bookstore, 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-364-1919.
7 P.M. Barbara Lee, U.S. congresswoman from California, discusses and signs her new memoir, Renegade for Peace & Justice: Congresswoman Barbara Lee Speaks for Me, at Busboys and Poets (5th & K), 1025 Fifth St. NW, 202-789-2227.
18 TUESDAYNoon. The Poetry at Noon series at the Library of Congress will host a reading by Jane Gentry Vance, the poet laureate of Kentucky and the author of the collections A Year in Kentucky: A Garland of Poems and Portrait of the Artist As a White Pig, at the Thomas Jefferson Bldg., Whittall Pavilion, 10 First St. SE. She will be joined by three other poets from the Bluegrass State, all winners of the Yale Series of Younger Poets award: Tony Crunk (1995), Davis McCombs (2000) and Maurice Manning (2001). For details, call 202-707-5221.
6:30 P.M. Stephen Hess, a professor of media and public affairs, discusses and signs What Do We Do Now?: A Workbook for the President-Elect at Reiter's Scientific & Professional Books, 1990 K St. NW (entrance on 20th St.), 202-223-3327.
7 P.M. Professor of history H.W. Brands reads from and discusses his new biography, Traitor to His Class: The Privileged Life and Radical Presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, as part of the Smithsonian Resident Associate Program at the National Museum of the American Indian, Rasmusson Theater, Fourth St. & Independence Ave. SW. A book signing follows. Tickets are $25 for nonmembers; call 202-633-3030 or visit http://www.smithsonianassociates.org to RSVP.
7:30 P.M. Steven Roy Goodman, an expert in college and graduate school admissions, and family psychologist Andrea Leiman discuss College Admissions Together: It Takes a Family at the George Mason Regional Library, 7001 Little River Tnpk., Annandale, Va. Call 703-256-3800 to register.
7:30 P.M. Writer and poet Adam Kirsch discusses and signs Benjamin Disraeli, his new biography of the British prime minister (part of the "Jewish Encounters" series) at the D.C. Jewish Community Center, 1529 16th St. NW as part of the "nextbook" series. Tickets are $9 for nonmembers; call 202-777-3251 or visit http://www.washingtondcjcc.org/nextbookfor details and to RSVP.
19 WEDNESDAY10:30 P.M. British children's book author Emily Gravett reads from and discusses her new picture book, Little Mouse's Big Book of Fears, at Politics and Prose Bookstore, 202-364-1919. She will also read at 4 p.m. that afternoon at Barston's Child's Play, 1661 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Md., 301-230-9040.
Noon. Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Edwin Burrows discusses and signs Forgotten Patriots: The Untold Story of American Prisoners During the Revolutionary War at the National Archives, Jefferson Room, 700 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 202-357-5000.
7 P.M. Solveig Eggerz reads from and signs her new historical novel, Seal Woman (set in post-WWII Iceland) at the Shirlington Branch Public Library, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, Va., 703-228-6545. A book signing will follow at 8:30 p.m. across the street at Busboys and Poets (Shirlington), 4251 S. Campbell Ave., Arlington, Va., 703-379-9756. She will also read on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 2 p.m. at Borders Books-Pentagon Centre, 1201 S. Hayes St., Arlington, Va., 703-418-0166.
7 P.M. Newsweek editor Jon Meacham discusses and signs American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House at Politics and Prose Bookstore, 202-364-1919.
7 P.M. The POESIS monthly poetry series presents "Collective Voices," with readings by Sylvia Dianne Beverly (Lady Di), Evette Keene (Billye Okera), and Joy Alford (Sistah Joy), with music compliments of Shep Williams and friends, at Borders Books-Pentagon Centre, 1201 S. Hayes St., Arlington, Va., 703-418-0166.
7:30 P.M. Michell G. Bard discusses and signs 48 Hours of Kristallnacht: Night of Destruction/Dawn of the Holocaust: An Oral History at Barnes & Noble-Rockville, 12089 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Md., 301-881-0237.
20 THURSDAY6 P.M. Leslie Atkins discusses and signs No Strings Attached: The Savvy Guide to Solo Travel at Books-A-Million, 11 Dupont Circle NW, 202-319-1374.
7 P.M. Julia Glass reads from and signs her new novel, I See You Everywhere, at Politics and Prose Bookstore, 202-364-1919.
21 FRIDAY6:30 P.M. Professor and public intellectual Cornell West discusses and signs his new book, Hope on a Tightrope: Words & Wisdom, at Busboys and Poets (D.C.), 2021 14th St. NW, 202-387-7638. He will also speak on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 2 p.m. at the Enoch Pratt Free Library, Central Branch, Wheeler Auditorium, 400 Cathedral St., Baltimore, Md., 410-396-9454.
8 P.M. Novelists Russell Banks, author of Cloudspitter and, most recently, The Reserve, and Richard Russo, author of Bridge of Sighs and the Pulitzer Prize-winning Empire Falls, read from their work at the at the Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol St. SE. A reception and book signing follow. Tickets for this PEN/Faulkner event are $15 each; call 202-544-7077 or visit http://www.penfaulkner.orgto RSVP.
22 SATURDAY3 P.M. Children's author and illustrator Sallie Lowenstein, author of Waiting for Eugene and The Festival of Lights, leads a discussion, "From Memory to Story: How a Childhood in Burma Became a Novel in the Future," on the origins of her new young-adult book, In the Company of Whispers, at Aladdin's Lamp Children's Books, 2499 N. Harrison St., Arlington, Va., 703-241-8281.
7:30 P.M. Civil War scholar Peter Cozzens reads from and discusses his new book, Shenandoah 1862: Stonewall Jackson's Valley Campaign, at the Writer's Center, 4508 Walsh St., Bethesda, Md., 301-654-8664.
23 SUNDAY2 P.M. Benjamin Zucker, president of the Precious Stones Company in New York, presents a lecture, "A Mysterious Wedding Ring: Tracing Personal Jewelry Histories," at the Walters Gallery of Art, Graham Auditorium, 600 N. Charles St., Baltimore, Md. Zucker, known for his personal collection of jewelry, is also the author of a trilogy of illustrated novels revolving around the world of gems, the most recent of which is White. A reception and book signing follow. This event is in conjunction with the museum's current exhibition, "Bedazzled: 5,000 Years of Jewelry." Admission is free, but due to limited space, reservations are suggested; call 410-547-9000, ext. 238 or visit http://www.thewalters.org.
3 P.M. Local journalist Michaele Weissman discusses and signs her new book, God in a Cup: The Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Coffee (she also blogs on the subject at http://michaeleweissmanwrites.com/godinacupofcoffee) at the Shirlington Branch Public Library, 703-228-6545. A coffee tasting and book signing will follow at 4 p.m. across the street at Busboys and Poets (Shirlington), 703-379-9756.
5 P.M. Gilles Keppel, a professor of Middle Eastern studies, discusses and signs Beyond Terror and Martyrdom: The Future of the Middle East, at Politics and Prose Bookstore, 202-364-1919.
6 P.M. Comic artist David Rees discusses and signs Get Your War On: The Definitive Account of the War on Terror, 2001-2008 at Busboys and Poets (5th & K), 202-789-2227.
SPECIAL NOTICEThe National Press Club, located at 529 14th St. NW, is holding its 31st Annual Book Fair on Tuesday, Nov. 18, featuring a wide array of authors -- from historians to children's authors to chefs -- discussing and signing their work, including journalists Helen Thomas and Roger Mudd; Kerry Kennedy, founder of the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights; chef José Andrés, owner of the local tapas bar Jaleo; historian Michael Dobbs; and Justice Antonin Scalia. Tickets are free for club members, $5 for the general public. The event is a fundraiser for the Eric Friedheim National Journalism Library. Visit http://www.press.orgfor details.
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