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.
Nick Hornby (More Baths, Less Talking)
Wednesday, October 24, 7:30 pm, at Herbst Theatre (401 Van Ness Ave.)
In addition to his novels, from High Fidelity to Juliet, Naked, Hornby has long written a monthly column for The Believer about the books he purchases and reads each month (which are often not the same, for numerous reasons). More Baths, Less Talking is his third collection of these columns, in which he encourages readers (and himself) to examine how and why they choose the books they read. For more Hornby, check out our 2009 interview. Tickets are $22-27, and available here.
Chris Ware (Building Stories) and Charles Burns (The Hive)
Tuesday, October 23, 7 pm, at the JCCSF (3200 California St.)
Ware (Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth) and Burns (Black Hole) are two of the country's leading graphic novelists, and they're teaming up for a reading and slideshow tonight. Ware's newest book is actually a box set of variously sized books, each examining a different inhabitant of a Chicago apartment building, while Burns' latest explores the fractured world of Seattle hipsters in the '70s. Thanks to Litquake and The Believer (for which Burns serves as primary illustrator), this event at the normally ticketed JCCSF is free; call (415) 292-1233 or e-mail the organization for tickets.
McSweeney's Poetry Series
Friday, October 26, 7:30 pm, at the Booksmith (1644 Haight St.)
McSweeney's is launching a brand-new series of poetry books, with three poets participating in the inaugural launch. Rebecca Lindenberg (Love, An Index) wrote most of the poems in her latest work about fellow poet and boyfriend Craig Arnold, who disappeared in 2009 while hiking a Japanese volcano; ten-time Pushcart Prize nominee Allan Peterson (Fragile Acts) is also an art professor and mixed-media artist; and Zubair Ahmed (City of Rivers) is a former professional video gamer who's now a Stanford undergrad.
Nancy Mullane (Life After Murder: Five Men in Search of Redemption)
Tuesday, October 30, 7:30 pm, at Herbst Theatre (401 Van Ness Ave.)
Between 2000 and 2009, over 57,000 people convicted of first- or second-degree murder were released from prison, but their attempts at penance and rehabilitation, no matter how genuine, can still be outweighed by their past crimes as they return to the real world. Mullane's book examines five San Quentin ex-cons (some of whom will join her for this City Arts & Lectures appearance) who attempt to reckon with life on the outside and reintegration into society. Tickets are $22-27, and available here.
