THURSDAY 1/30

Brian Hall
Hall's I Should Be Extremely Happy in Your Company is yet another retelling of the Lewis and Clark expedition with one of the dullest titles in years. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St, 228-4651, 7:30 pm, free

Bill Brown
Writer, filmmaker, zine publisher, and musician Brown shares his new book, Saugus to the Sea, about a network of underground sprinklers in California and the trail they provide to intrigue and mystery. Reading Frenzy, 921 SW Oak, 274-1449, 7 pm, free


MONDAY 2/3

Helen Knode
In addition to being married to thrill-master James Ellroy, Knode is also an established film critic for the L.A. Weekly. Her debut novel merges both worlds; it is a thriller about the film industry, and an exploration of Hollywood's seedy underbelly. Twenty-Third Avenue Books, 1015 NW 23rd Ave, 224-5097, 7:30 pm, free


TUESDAY 2/4

James Tate
It's rare to see big-name poets out in the real world, and they always seem to die young from alcoholism, or tuberculosis, or some other hideous ailment. If you're a fan of the surreal Tate, see him while you can. It may be your only chance. Wieden + Kennedy Building, 224 NW 13th Ave, 227-2583, 7:30 pm, $5-$18

Ellen Bass
Longtime feminist poet and co-author of the groundbreaking book, The Courage to Heal : A Guide for Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse, Bass has earned a small but loyal fan base with her humor, intelligence, and empathy. Her new poetry collection is titled Mules of Love. Broadway Books, 1714 NE Broadway, 284-1726, 7 pm, free

Ahmed Rashid
Rashid has written some very important literature in the wake of 9/11, including his book on the Afghani/Taliban regime, Taliban. His new book, Jihad is a nifty piece of investigative journalism involving a trip to five Central Asian republics to find the roots of that region's fundamentalist rage. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St, 228-4651, 7:30 pm, free


WEDNESDAY 2/5

Ernest J. Gaines
For fans of reading who have been in Antarctica the last month or so, Multnomah Library has been encouraging everyone to read Gaines' classic novel A Lesson Before Dying for the sake of community-wide dialogue. Tonight culminates with an appearance from the great man himself. Don't miss it; he's pretty legendary. Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall/Literary Arts, SW Broadway & Main, 223-4008, 7:30 pm, $15

Candlemass Storytelling
Storyteller and Celtic harper, Gwion, spins a tale called "Gwrtheyrn," about a prince who sought to unite fading citizens of Ancient Rome with resurgent native tribes and immigrant Saxons during the Dark Ages of British History. Laurelthirst, 2958 NE Glisan St, 232-1504, 9:30, $6

Ross King
King dramatizes important artistic achievements in history with the skill of a great novelist. In his latest, Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling, the story of the painting of the Sistine Chapel comes to vivid life. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St, 228-4651, 7:30 pm, free