If you love literary readings, this week’s for you
The weather goes back and forth between early spring (read: cloudy and cold) and late summer (read: sunny and hot), but nothing is keeping the authors away. The coming week is a rich one for those fans of literary readings, whether you prefer nonfiction, young-adult or romance novels. The highlights, all of which occur at Auntie’s Bookstore in Spokane, include:
“Chris Crutcher (7:30 p.m. Wednesday) – Spokane’s own nationally acclaimed young-adult writer unveils his first work of fiction in four years (since 2001’s “Whale Talk”). Titled “The Sledding Hill,” the book is attracting Crutcher’s typical good reviews.
“This oft-censored author entertains, inspires, invites intellectual inquiry and concedes well-meaning motives to both sides,” wrote the literary journal Kirkus Reviews. His newest is “a lot to pack into a novel,” the reviewer added, “but when did Crutcher ever pack light?”
“Craig Gabriel (7:30 p.m. Thursday) – Beginning in 1998, Gabriel interviewed, both on tape and by correspondence, nine prisoners at the Washington State Reformatory in Monroe about the crimes they had committed, what prison life was like and what they hoped their futures would be.
” ‘Prison Conversations’ represents an important collection of interviews with prisoners trying to make sense out of the madness and confusion that confronts them on a daily basis,” wrote Jeffrey Ian Ross, an associate professor of criminology, criminal justice and social policy at the University of Baltimore.
“Debbie Macomber (7:30 p.m. Friday) – The best-selling Seattle author has had more than 60 million copies of her dozens of novels go to print. Her latest, “A Good Yarn,” tells the story of a woman overcoming cancer through … well, her favorite hobby. As she puts it, “Knitting saved my life.”
Go West, young writers
The 2005 Western Writers of American Convention is coming to Spokane Valley, June 14 through 18. Dozens of noted writers, from Loren D. Estleman to Bill Gulick, will be on hand to sign copies of their books during a special autographing session – sponsored by the Valley Hastings store – on June 17 at 7 p.m. at the Mirabeau Park Hotel, 1100 N. Sullivan Road.
Also expected to be at the signing: Patty Duke, author of the autobiography “Call Me Anna.”
For more information on the five-day event, go to the WWA’s Web site at www.westernwriters.org, or e-mail Carol Crigger at ckcww@aol.com.
Jance redux
Hey, turns out the May read for The Spokesman-Review Book Club was so popular we decided to read it twice.
Just kidding. Somewhat. We are going to repeat J.A. Jance’s 1986 novel “Trial By Fury,” though it’s not necessarily because we like it so much. It’s just that we never were able to coordinate our print and online operations well enough to give the book a chance to be enjoyed by everyone.
So, we’ll go with “Trial By Fury” – again – in June, Charles Johnson’s “Middle Passage” for July and Jonathan Raban’s “Passage to Juneau: A Sea and Its Meanings” for August.
We welcome suggestions for things to read beyond that point. Remember: Because our intent is to celebrate the literature of the Pacific Northwest, we read only books written by writers from the region.
Book talk
“Valley Hastings Harry Potter Children’s Discussion Group (“Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”), 7 p.m. Friday, Valley Hastings, 15312 E. Sprague Ave. (924-0667).
“Literary Freedom Book Group (“The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America”), 1 p.m. Saturday, Auntie’s Bookstore.
The reader board
“Poetry reading, 3 p.m. today, Auntie’s Bookstore, Main and Washington (call Rose at 747-3454)
“David H. Elton (“Damage Control: The Life & Times of a Cynical Political Strategist”), Clyde Holloway (“Pacific War Marine”), readings, 7:30 p.m. Monday, Auntie’s Bookstore.
“East Valley High School Honors Humanities Class (“Vienna: Quest for Power, 1683-2005”), reading, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Auntie’s Bookstore.
“Chris Crutcher (“The Sledding Hill”), reading, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Auntie’s Bookstore.
“Craig Gabriel (“Prison Conversations: Prisoners at the Washington State Reformatory Discuss Life, Freedom, Crime and Punishment”), reading, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Auntie’s Bookstore.
“Jane Porter (“The Frog Prince”), reading, 7 p.m. Thursday, Coeur d’Alene Borders, 450 Wilbur Ave. (208-762-4497).
“Debbie Macomber (“A Good Yarn”), reading, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Auntie’s Bookstore.
“Patricia Campbell Kowal (“Stillpoint”), signing, 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, NorthTown Barnes & Noble (482-4235).