Literary Events

Susan Alcorn: The author reads from Camino Chronicle: Walking to Santiago and presents a slide show of her 400-mile walk on the traditional pilgrimage trail of the Camino de Santiago. Tue., Sept. 5, 7:30 p.m., free. Black Oak Books/Berkeley, 1491 Shattuck (at Vine), Berkeley, 510-486-0698.

Celebration of the Word: This regular event features an open mike for writers hosted by Jeanne Powell. Mondays, 7 p.m., free. Perry's Joint, 1661 Fillmore (at Post), 931-5260.

T. J . Clark: Art historian and culture critic T. J . Clark appears in conversation with David Simpson, author of 9/11: The Culture of Commemoration. Wed., Aug. 30, 7:30 p.m., free. Black Oak Books/Berkeley, 1491 Shattuck (at Vine), Berkeley, 510-486-0698.

Dianne Emley: The author reads from The First Cut. Sat., Sept. 2, 2 p.m., free. M Is for Mystery, 86 East Third Avenue (at South San Mateo Dr.), San Mateo, 650-401-8077, www.mformystery.com.

Eureka Valley/Harvey Milk Memorial Branch Book Discussion Group: A book discussion group; open to all. Call for information. Fourth Wednesday of every month, 7:30 p.m., 355-5616. Eureka Valley/Harvey Milk Branch Library, 3555 16th St. (at Market), 554-9445.

First Sundays Queer Fiction Book of the Month Group: Each month the readers tackle a different queer book and discuss it at the next meeting. First Sunday of every month, 4 p.m., free. A Different Light Bookstore, 489 Castro (at 18th St.), 431-0891.

Friday Night Poetry at the Yak: Spoken word, open mike, and acoustic music are the fare at this regular event. Fridays, 7:30 p.m., free. Yakkety Yak Coffeehouse, 679 Sutter (at Taylor), 351-2090.

Kazuo Ishiguro discussion: A book discussion of Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go. The author will not be present. Tue., Sept. 5, 5:30 p.m., free. Commonwealth Club, 595 Market (at Second St.), 597-6701, www.commonwealthclub.org.

K'vetsch: A regular queer open mike hosted by Tara Jepsen and Lynn Breedlove. Sign-up begins at 7:30. First Sunday of every month, 8 p.m., free. Sadie's Flying Elephant, 491 Potrero (at Mariposa), 551-7988.

Jim LaMarche: The author reads from Up. Sat., Sept. 2, 11 a.m., free. Books Inc./Alameda, 1344 Park Street, Alameda, 510-522-2226, www.booksinc.net.

Meredith Mullins: The author reads from In a Paris Moment. Wed., Aug. 30, 7 p.m., free. Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista (at Chickasaw), Corte Madera, 927-0960.

Open Mic at Kepler's: Every Thursday night, hear everything from bluegrass music to comedy to poetry readings. Sign-ups start at 6:30 p.m. Thursdays, 7 p.m. Continues through Aug. 31, free. Kepler's Books and Magazines, 1010 El Camino Real (at Ravenswood), Menlo Park, 650-324-4321.

Open-Mike Fridays: Authors are invited to read from their work at this regular open-mike event. Fridays, 8 p.m., free. Cafe International, 508 Haight (at Fillmore), 552-7390.

Patriece: The author reads from When Somebody Loves You Back. Thu., Aug. 31, 12:30 p.m., free. Alexander Book Company, 50 Second St. (at Market), 495-2992, http://alexanderbook.booksense.com.

Leonard Pitt: The author reads from Walks Through Lost Paris: A Journey Into the Heart of Historic Paris. Tue., Sept. 5, 7:30 p.m., free. Books Inc./Alameda, 1344 Park Street, Alameda, 510-522-2226, www.booksinc.net.

Retool and Grind: Monthly open mike for musicians, poets, dancers, and others with a yen to command the stage for five minutes at a time. FTMs and those who love them are the staple performers. Last Wednesday of every month, 7 p.m., free. Eros, 2051 Market (at Church), 864-3767, www.erossf.com.

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers' Group Meeting: A meeting for genre writers. Fourth and Second Thursday of every month, 6 p.m., free. Borderlands Books, 866 Valencia (at 20th St.), 824-8203, www.borderlands-books.com.

Tom Spanbauer: The author reads from Now Is the Hour. Wed., Aug. 30, 7 p.m., free. A Different Light Bookstore, 489 Castro (at 18th St.), 431-0891.

Story Time in the Library: Kids aged 4 to 8 are encouraged to sit back and hear stories about nature and science. First Sunday of every month, 11 a.m.; Third Sunday of every month, 10:30 a.m., free. San Francisco Botanical Garden, Ninth Ave. & Lincoln Way (Golden Gate Park), 661-1316.

Tuesday at Pat's Cafe Reading Series: Each weekly formal reading is followed by an open-mike session for fledgling writers. Tuesdays, 7 p.m., free. Pat's Cafe, 2330 Taylor (at Columbus), 905-8837.

John Wood: The author reads from Leaving Microsoft to Change the World: An Entrepreneur's Odyssey to Educate the World's Children. Wed., Aug. 30, 7 p.m., free. Cody's Books/Stockton, 2 Stockton (at Ellis), 773-0444, www.codysbooks.com.

Word Beat Reading Series: Readings followed by an open mike hosted by David Gollub, Debra Grace Khattab, and Jeremy Morris Siegel. Occurs the first and third Thursday of every month. Daily, 7 p.m., free. Mediterraneum Caffe, 2475 Telegraph Ave. (at Dwight), Berkeley, 510-549-1128.