Sure, Treasure Island may be happening this weekend, but so is LitCrawl, and throughout the week there are dozens of small events around the city for the literarily inclined.
LitQuake, for those unfamiliar, is the annual festival of the writing arts, including fiction, non-fiction, journalism, and poetry, which takes place around town this here third week in October, culminating in the marathon of boozy events on Saturday night that is LitCrawl. There are readings, there are talks with famous writers, and there is much witty merriment in this city that dearly loves its bookstores.
Things actually kicked off over the weekend, but now we bring you some highlights from the schedule beginning tonight.
Tuesday, October 15
6pm - Radar Reading Series with Holly Hughes and Jerry Stahl - Michelle Tea's well curated series at the SF Public Library has a couple of pretty big names this eve: Jerry Stahl (Permanent Midnight) and performance artist Holly Hughes (World Without End, O Solo Homo).
7pm - Original Shorts - Six well known short story writers (including Peter Orner and Tom Barbash) take over the Glass Door Gallery in North Beach and read from stories around the theme "sitting in the catbird seat."
8pm - Delia Ephron - New York writer Delia Ephron, who co-wrote a number of things with her famous sister Nora and also recently wrote The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, is appearing in conversation with Ellen Sussman at Z Space, discussing her new memoir Sister, Mother, Husband, Dog. $26-$30 admission includes a copy of the book.
Wednesday, October 16
7 pm - GoodReads LitQuiz at the Make-Out Room - It's a pub quiz for book nerds that should be a lot of fun. Bring a team, or join one when you arrive.
Thursday, October 17
6:30 p.m. ZZ Packer - The acclaimed author will be reading from her novel Thousands, about the Buffalo Soldiers, and then taking questions at the Museum of the African Diaspora. $10
6:30 pm - Writing Between Worlds - Novelists Andrew Sean Greer and Helene Wecker read and talk about "a history where mystic creatures and time-travel prevail." At the Contemporary Jewish Museum.
7 pm - A Flight of Poets - A reading of poetry paired with six different wines at the Hotel Rex. $15
Friday, October 18
6:30 pm - Writing Between Worlds - Novelists Andrew Sean Greer and Helene Wecker read and talk about "a history where mystic creatures and time-travel prevail."">7pm - Mary Gaitskill - The acclaimed author, whose story was adapted into the film Secretary, will be reading at CCA and taking questions.
8pm - Gum-Chewing Angel: An Evening With T.C. Boyle - The author will be reading, signing books, and hob-nobbing at Z Space, and if you're a big fan, you can shell out $100 to attend the VIP reception.
Saturday, October 19
6pm to 9:30 pm - LitCrawl - You may think books are dying, but you may think again when you see the Mission light up and fill up with fans of literature, poetry, and alcohol at this annual lit-nerd convention. The events happen in quick succession in three phases, and it's hard to trek too far to catch everything you want, because the fun stuff at the bars definitely fills up. See the full schedule here, and make a plan. Highlights will include this Flannery O'Conner Short Story Prize alumni reading, and the annual reading by the Rumpus crew at the Make-Out Room.
