Each week, we offer a roundup of the best literary events in the city. All events are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted. Want to submit an upcoming event for consideration? Go here.

Alexander Maksik (A Marker to Measure Drift)

Friday, August 2, 7 pm, at Books Inc. Alameda (1344 Park St.)

Monday, August 5, 7:30 pm, at the Booksmith (1644 Haight St.)

In this haunting novel, Jacqueline, a young Liberian woman, has taken refuge on an island in the Aegean. Living with no money in a cave accessible only at low tide, she's exposed to the ravages of heat, sun, and hunger, all in an attempt to forget a horrible act of violence committed against her family. As she nears her limit, Jacqueline must decide whether to come to terms with what she's seen or descend fully into madness. 

Alyssa Harad (Coming to My Senses: A Story of Perfume, Pleasure, and an Unlikely Bride)

Thursday, August 1, 7 pm, at Green Apple Books (506 Clement St.)

Unsatisfied with her life and career at age 36, Harad had an unexpected personal awakening when she stumbled on a perfume blog. Immersing herself into the world of scent, she found herself becoming more aware than ever of the smells around her. Her memoir chronicles her journey to accepting the importance of pleasure in life. 

Kevin Hines (Cracked, Not Broken)

Tuesday, August 6, 7 pm, at the Bookshop (80 West Portal Ave.)

Hines, who attempted suicide by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge as a teenager, is one of the few bridge-jumpers to survive the fall. An experimental surgery healed his body, but he was still forced to contend with his personal and psychological demons, even as he tried to find his way out by helping others and becoming a voice in the suicide-prevention movement. For more on Hines, check out this feature. 

Janey Smith and the 851 Reading Series

Sunday, August 4, 2 pm, at City Lights Books (261 Columbus Ave.)

In celebration of City Lights' 60th birthday, the underground 851 reading series is packing up camp for the day, with a reading in Kerouac Alley. The readers include actor-writer Ken Baumann, poet Chelsea Martin, writer-artist Jimmy Chen, poet Matthew Simmons, and many more.