Literopolis: A Weekly Round-up Of Portland Literary Events

Monday, October 20, 2014

Deborah Reeves, GoLocalPDX Contributor

photo credit: iStock

Yet another stellar week for you lovers of the printed and spoken word. Enjoy!

'Tis the season for spooky stories and paranormal researcher Donna Stewart will share some roadtrippy ones from her new book, 'Ghosthunting Oregon' on Monday. 7pm, Powell's at 3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd. FREE

At Powell's Hawthorne location on Monday, Pete Fromm will read from his novel, 'If Not For This', a river-running love story set in Ashland, Oregon. 7:30pm, 3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd. FREE

Profile Theatre presents a reading of Sam Shepard's 'Curse of the Starving Class' on Monday. This event is in dialogue with the plays being staged by Profile as part of their ongoing Shepard season. 7:30pm, 1507 SW Morrison St. FREE

And don't miss the final staged reading of 'Spokesong', a play about the owner of a Belfast bicycle shop, presented by Corrib Theatre. The reading will take place at Artists Repertory Theatre on Monday. 7:30pm, 1515 SW Morrison St. $10.

Fans of Thomas Mann's 'Buddenbrooks', it's not too late to let Crooked House bookstore know you're coming to their Classic Lit Book Club on Tuesday. Send them a note or email so they can plan for seating and snacks! 6:30pm, 1602 NE 40th Ave. FREE

At Annie Bloom's Books on Tuesday, Ellen Sussman reads from her latest novel, 'A Wedding in Provence'. 7pm, 7834 SW Capitol Hwy. FREE

Also on Tuesday, the IPRC welcomes Chicago indie-publisher, Curbside Splendor, for a reading featuring authors Dmitry Samarov, Susan Lanier, Brian Costello, and local poet Sara June Woods. 7pm, 1001 SE Division St. FREE

And on Tuesday at Powell's, founding editor of The Baffler, Thomas Frank, will be joined in conversation by its editor-in-chief and co-author of 'No Future For You,' John Summers. Political historian and contributor, Rick Perlstein, will also weigh in on what's sure to be provocative and compelling conversation. 7.30pm, 1005 W Burnside St. FREE

Last Wednesday, Literary Arts, in partnership with OPB, launched The Archive Project, an audio retrospective celebrating 30 years of their superb Arts & Lectures series. This Wednesday, tune in to the 2nd episode and a 1990 lecture featuring Wallace Stegner and his thoughts on reconciling the need for conflict and ambiguity in plot. 9pm, OPB radio at 91.5fm.

On Wednesday, join publishers-turned-recent-nonprofiters, McSweeney's, in a special night of readings at the ACE Hotel. Featuring Kevin Sampsell, Carl Adamshick, and Miriam Toews, whose Giller Prize-shortlisted novel 'All My Puny' is forthcoming from McSweeney's in November. 7pm, The Lobby, ACE Hotel, 1022 SW Stark St. FREE

Matthew Inman of The Oatmeal infamy launches 'The Terrible and Wonderful Reasons Why I Run Long Distances' with a pre-Book Signing Fun Run on Wednesday! Join him on just a wee 5K at 5.30pm: from Portland Running Company (800 SE Grand Ave.) to Powell's on 1005 W Burnside for the 7:30pm reading.

And in case you missed them at the IPRC, on Wednesday Reading Frenzy also plays host to Curbside Splendor and its authors Dmitry Samarov, Susan Lanier, Brian Costello, and Sara June Woods. 7pm, 3628 N Mississippi Ave. FREE

On Thursday, Literary Arts and Late Night Library welcome Leslie Jamison, author of the bestselling, thought-provoking, 'The Empathy Exams'. With special musical guest Timmy Straw. 7pm, 925 SW Washington St. FREE

And on Thursday at Annie Bloom's Books, LeeAnn McLennan presents 'Dormant', the first book in a new trilogy from the Portland author. 7pm, 7834 SW Capitol Hwy. FREE

On Friday, Karen Karbo reads from 'The Diamond Lane'. Originally published in 1991, Karbo's second novel has been lovingly reissued by Hawthorne Books. 7:30pm, 1005 W Burnside St. FREE

Just in time for Halloween, Frankenstein's Comic Book swap returns with their next show this Saturday at Eagle Lodge. Comic book bargains, rarities, and oddities galore! 12pm-6pm, 4904 SE Hawthorne Blvd. $1 door fee (FREE for Youths & Elders)

And at the IPRC on Saturday, podcasting studio, Open Roads Broadcasting, hosts a transportation-themed audio self-publishing variety show! 6:30pm, 1001 SE Division St. FREE

Get warm and fuzzy at American Legion Hall on Sunday with "Words We Love", a reading in which a fantastic line-up of local writers will read and share the work of their favorite Portland/Oregon authors. 6pm-8pm, 2104 NE Alberta St. FREE

Bare Bones Cafe is hosting a Last Sunday October Reading by PSU's MFA students. 5pm-7pm, 2908 SE Belmont St. FREE

And at Glyph Cafe & Art Space, Portland Poetry Slam presents their weekly Sunday open-mic night. See Facebook for further details 7pm, 804 NW Couch St. $5 suggested donation

Deborah Reeves is an Irish writer, happy to call Portland home after many years of traveling. An avid reader, she blogs about books and writing at deborahrosereeves.com. You can reach her @debrosereeves on Twitter.

Banner Photo Credit: iStock