THURSDAY 11/13

The Portland Independent Publishers Experiment (PIPE)
The editors of three of Portland's most well-known indie periodicals throw down--RV Branham from Gobshite Quarterly, Ariel Gore from Hip Mama, and Shannon Wheeler from TooMuchCoffeeMan. Looking Glass Bookstore, 318 SW Taylor, 227-4760, 7 pm, free

* Hal Sirowitz & Daphne Gottlieb
In the more reserved confines of Powell's, these two excellent performance poets might just be reading from their respective books. Or they might throw down a slam or two. Reckon there's only one way to find out... Powell's Books on Hawthorne, 3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd, 238-1668, 7:30 pm, free

* Ty Pennington
Despite the fact he looks like a surfer dude, the rising TV personality Pennington's new book, Ty's Tricks, is actually a pretty good read for the home improvement buff. Pennington offers some do-it-yourself repair tips, as well as some startlingly attractive interior design strategies. He's the perfect man... if only we could be sure which side of the fence he sits on. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651, 7:30 pm, free

Arthur Bradford
Endorsed by his Master David Foster Wallace, Bradford's collection of short stories Dogwalker features, amongst other things, hybrid dog-men and cat-faced circus freaks. Yup. Reed College, Psychology Auditorium, 3203 SE Woodstock, 777-7755, 8 pm, free


FRIDAY 11/14

* Carolyn Kizer
Here's a rare opportunity to see one of the bigwigs. Kizer's collection Yin won the Pulitzer in 1985, and her poem "De Femina" remains one of the most important feminist poems around. Looking Glass Bookstore, 318 SW Taylor, 227-4760, 5:30 pm, free

Mitch Albom
The author of Tuesdays With Morrie and The Five People You Meet In Heaven comes to give the ol' barf tanks a stir. Powell's at First Unitarian Church, 1011 SW 12th, 228-4651, 7:30 pm, free


SUNDAY 11/16

* A Tribute to Ken Kesey
Close Kesey friend Ed McClanahan has put out a seventh and final edition of Spit in the Ocean, the late, great writer's self-published literary review. Contributors include Gus Van Sant, Walt Curtis, Clyde Keller, Sharon Wood Wortman, and a ton more. All will present this evening. Powell's at the Baghdad Theater, 3702 SE Hawthorne, 228-4651, 5 pm, free


MONDAY 11/17

* Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson
Masson may be the only animal psychologist writing mainstream, best-selling literature. His new book, The Pig Who Sang to the Moon, explores the emotional lives of farm animals, and is a must-read for those carnivores who yearn to be vegetarians. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651, 7:30 pm, free


TUESDAY 11/18

* Alexandra Zapruder
Some neat stuff happening this month as part of the Jewish Book Festival. Tonight, director of education at the U.S. Holocaust Museum Zapruder speaks on Salvaged Pages, a collection of 14 diaries written by teenagers caught in the throws of the Holocaust. Mittleman Jewish Community Center, 6651 SW Capitol Hwy, 244-0111, 7 pm, by donation

* Nathaniel Philbrick
The hugely acclaimed author of In the Heart of the Sea presents his new historical novel, Sea of Glory, an account of a little-known 1838 U.S. exploration team that made some amazing discoveries in the Pacific Ocean. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651, 7:30 pm, free


WEDNESDAY 11/19

* Donna Tartt
Arts & Lectures presents a semi-affordable event, for once: an evening with the master of literary goth, Donna Tartt. Portland Arts & Lectures, at First Congregational Church, 1137 SW Broadway, 227-2583, 7:30 pm, $12

* Edison & the Electric Chair
Powell's concludes its amazing week of readings with Mark Essig's readdressing of Thomas Edison, who despite his notorious anti-death penalty stance, somehow managed to INVENT the ELECTRIC CHAIR!! Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651, 7:30 pm, free