THURSDAY 2/2
Adam Johnson
He put out an astounding collection of short stories, Emporium, and a flawed but compulsively readable novel, Parasites Like Us, in rapid succession, then dried up. If he's still touring on the strength of those books, we can't blame him, but it's been three years... dude should have something new to share. Reed College, Psychology Auditorium, 3203 SE Woodstock, 777-7755, 8 pm, free
SUNDAY 2/5
Valentine Zine Social
Today's event includes a zine swap, valentine making, toasty beverage drinking, and zine-related fraternizing. Central Library, 801 SW 10th, 988-5471, 1:30-3:30 pm, free
MONDAY 2/6
Sarah Vowell
Sarah Vowell returns to Stumptown to read from Assassination Vacation, which just came out in paperback. Not only does Vowell make her well-researched observational humor seem completely effortless, but she also comes across as completely attainable to every under-40 male who listens to NPR, which should make tonight's reading the literary event of the week. Borders (Downtown), 708 SW 3rd, 221-9814, 6:30 pm
TUESDAY 2/7
Sex Machines
Author and photographer Timothy Archibald crisscrossed the country, interviewing and making portraits of mostly suburban men (and a few women) who spend months and years tinkering in the basement on elaborate, mind-blowing sex machines. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside, 228-4651, 7:30 pm, free
WEDNESDAY 2/8
Bernard-Henri Levy
France's most celebrated and controversial thinkers comes to Portland to talk about our favorite subject: ourselves. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside, 228-4651, 7:30 pm, free
