THURSDAY 4/21

Edward P. Jones
While Wordstock takes an off night before this weekend's Book Fair onslaught, Portland Arts & Lectures slips in one more high-profile author, just in case you haven't had enough already. Jones won both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award for his 2004 novel The Known World. He's good. Portland Arts & Lectures at Arlene Schnitzer Hall , SW Broadway & Main, 227-2583, 7:30 pm, $15-18

Laurie Notaro
Notaro, author of the new book We Thought You Would be Prettier, may be the first writer who has been described by Publishers Weekly as having a "sharp, suburban wit." Powell's Books on Hawthorne , 3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd, 238-1668, 7:30 pm

Joseph Kanon
The author of the bestselling thrillers Los Alamos and The Good German presents his latest: Alibi. Powell's City of Books , 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651, 7:30 pm

FRIDAY 4/22

Live Wire!
This very special edition of this monthly live radio program is in conjunction with Wordstock and features hiphop poet Libretto, local funny writer Marc Acito, the Decemberists' Colin Meloy, and musician/novelist John Wesley Harding. Aladdin , 3017 SE Milwaukie, 233-1994, 8 pm, $12

SATURDAY 4/23

Norman Mailer
Possibly the crown jewel of this year's Wordstock book festival, Mailer is well into his 80s and uses two canes to move about, and yet his appearance tonight will easily exceed an hour. The man's a rock. Keller Auditorium , SW Third and Clay, 224-4400, 7 pm, $25-35

SUNDAY 4/24

Russell Banks
The final event of Wordstock is a doozy, with the prolific Banks reading from his new book The Darling and just being his incredibly articulate self in all his dignified glory. Oregon Convention Center Ballroom , 777 NE MLK, 224-4400, 5 pm, $15-25

TUESDAY 4/26

Victor Navasky
Navasky has led The Nation for over 30 years, and has a new book out: A Matter of Opinion. Powell's City of Books , 1005 W Burnside, 228-4651, 7:30 pm

August Kleinzahler
Portland Arts & Lectures presents the final guest in this year's Poetry Downtown series: Kleinzahler, winner of the 2004 Griffin International Poetry Prize. Wieden & Kennedy , 224 NW 13th, 227-2583, 7:30 pm, $5-18

WEDNESDAY 4/27

Alexander McCall Smith
The author of the ever-popular No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is back with a new book in the series, In the Company of Cheerful Ladies. Annie Bloom's Books , 7834 SW Capitol Hwy, 246-0053, 7 pm