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.
A Celebration of the Adobe Bookshop
Wednesday, January 15, 7 pm, at Adobe Books (3166 16th St.)
Long-running Mission bookstore Adobe is in danger of closing, but a group of concerned readers is attempting to convert it into a member-run, collective bookstore, gallery, and art space. To celebrate Adobe's life so far, three of SF's most acclaimed authors, Stephen Elliott (The Rumpus), Michelle Tea (Valencia), and Rebecca Solnit (A Paradise Built in Hell), will all read, and information about the new project will be distributed for those looking to join the cause. Check out the Facebook event page for more info.
Kevin Powers (The Yellow Birds) and Dave Eggers (A Hologram for the King)
Wednesday, January 16, 7:30 pm, at City Arts & Lectures, Herbst Theatre (401 Van Ness Ave.)
Powers, who joined the Army as a machine gunner at 17 and served for two years in Iraq, has gained enormous acclaim for his first novel, which was nominated for a National Book Award. Based on Powers' own experiences, the book is the story of two friends who try to protect each other during a deadly battle outside the city of Al Tafar (based on the real-life Tal Afar). He'll be interviewed by Eggers, who also explored the Middle East in his most recent novel. Tickets are $22-27. (Note: Zadie Smith was originally scheduled to appear on this date, but could not travel due to pregnancy complications; tickets for her appearance will be honored.)
Susanna Sonnenberg (She Matters: A Life in Friendships)
Wednesday, January 16, 7 pm, at Book Passage Corte Madera (51 Tamal Vista Blvd.)
Sonnenberg grew up with a wealthy, deeply troubled mother, a subject she tackled in her highly acclaimed memoir Her Last Death. Her second book focuses on the female friendships she sought in order to repair her connection with women, from older girls she looked up to at school to college pals who eventually grew apart. Each friendship carries a lesson, and together, they display an understanding of the richness and depth of female connections.
Juliann Garey (Too Bright to Hear Too Loud to See)
Thursday, January 17, 7 pm, at the Belmont Library (1110 Alameda de Las Pulgas)
A gripping evocation of mental illness, Garey's first novel is the story of movie-studio executive Greyson Todd, who's been hiding his bipolar disorder for more than 30 years. When his mother's death sends him for a loop, Todd indulges his mania, deserting his wife and family and embarking on a global journey that takes him through Israel, Nairobi, Bangkok, and ultimately New York. Desperate, he agrees to undergo ECT treatments, but remains unsure whether they'll save his brain or his marriage.
