Something Bookish this Way Comes

It's Monday, not the most popular day of the week. Still it is a good time to sit down and plan how you will entertain yourself outside the hours of work, whatever sort of work it is you do -- I include being a homemaker, an artist, a writer and other forms of not necessarily remunerative activity in the definition of work.

I realize that we all have a lot of entertainment options these days. I for one want to see the movies in the Oscar race that I haven't gotten to yet (Her, August: Osage County, 12-Years A Slave, The Wolf of Wall Street), watch last night's episode of Downton Abbey and highlights from the Golden Globes, and finish reading several books that figure heavily into my own plans for the week.

I'm sure your list is equally as daunting, if not more so, but let me tantalize you with some worthwhile literary-themed distractions in the Philadelphia area this week.

Monday, January 13

James Carville and Mary Matalin -- Love & War: Twenty Years, Three Presidents, Two Daughters and One Louisiana Home at the Free Library; Central Library (this is sold out, but if you have tickets it should be good)  -- 7:30 pm


Tuesday, January 14

Max Tegmark | Our Mathematical Universe: My Quest for the Ultimate Nature of Reality with Dave Goldberg | The Universe in the Rearview Mirror: How Hidden Symmetries Shape Reality
Location: Free Library, Central Library
Cost: Free/No tickets required
7:30 pm

Wednesday, January 15

Gwen Florio | Montana
Location: Hooloon Gallery,  53 N. 2nd Street, Phila.
Cost: Free
7:30 pm

Former Philadelphia Enquirer reporter Gwen Florio will read from her engaging debut mystery, Montana

I've been looking forward to meeting Gwen since I first heard about her new series from her son, Sean Breslin, a talented writer in his own right. I'll be there, plus I hear there may be wine and snacks.

Thursday, January 16

If you've been working on being in multiple places at once, Thursday is the day to test out your capabilities.

E.L. Doctorow | Andrew’s Brain
Location: Free Library, Central Library
Cost: $15 General Admission, $7 Students
7:30 pm

Stephen Jimenez | The Book of Matt: Hidden Truths About the Murder of Matthew Shephard
Location: Towne Book Center and Cafe
Cost: Free
7:00 pm

Laurie Halse Anderson | The Impossible Knife of Memory
Location: DCP Theatre, 795 Ridge Road, Telford, PA 18969
Cost: $22 for two tickets and a copy of the book
7:30 pm
Sponsored by Harleysville Books

And, the event that prevents me from even considering any of the evening's other opportunities:

Carol Rifka Brunt | Tell The Wolves I'm Home
Main Point Books Inaugural Book Club Discussion. Led by Me!!
Location: Main Point Books, 1041 Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Cost: Free
7:00 pm

Saturday, January 18

Lyndsay Faye | Seven for a Secret
Location: Chester County Book Company, 967 Paoli Pike, West Chester, PA
Cost: Free, but please purchase books to be signed in the store or online from Chester County Books
1:00 pm

Kathryn Craft | The Art of Falling
Book launch for a local debut author
The Doylestown Bookshop, 16 S. Main Street, Doylestown, PA 18901
5:00 pm

It's a busy week and the season only gets busier from here. I hope this selected listing whets your appetite for bookish entertainments. If you are looking for other ways to engage with books in your more immediate community, most of the stores listed here sponsor books groups, story hours and workshops that are open to the public. Please, check them out!

Also, if you know of an upcoming event that I may have missed, just let me know in the comments or  by connecting with me on Facebook or Goodreads.

Come back tomorrow when I'll be reviewing Alan Bradley's newest Flavia de Luce mystery and Rachel Joyce's new novel, Perfect.