Literary

Opal Palmer Adisa: The author reads from Eros Muse. Thu., Nov. 30, 7:30 p.m., free. Modern Times Bookstore, 888 Valencia (at 20th St.), 282-9246, www.mtbs.com.

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.

The Encyclopedia Project Reading & Launch Party: A reading and launch party celebrates Encyclopedia, Volume 1, A-E,, including readings by contributors Jaime Cortez, Bob Glück, Minal Hajratwala, Jeff Johnson, Melissa Maristuen, Micah Perks, Praba Pilar, Jocelyn Saidenberg and Chuleenan Svetvilas. Fri., Dec. 1, 7:30 p.m., free. Modern Times Bookstore, 888 Valencia (at 20th St.), 282-9246, www.mtbs.com.

Donna Gillespie: The author reads from Lady of the Light. Fri., Dec. 1, 7 p.m., free. Books Inc., 601 Van Ness Street (at Golden Gate), 776-1111.

David Kamp: The author of United States of Arugula in conversation with Clark Wolf. Thu., Nov. 30, 7 p.m., $35. Book Passage, Ferry Building (Embarcadero & Market), 835-1020, www.bookpassage.com.

Sandor Katz: The author reads from The Revolution Will Not Be Microwaved. Mon., Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m., free. Modern Times Bookstore, 888 Valencia (at 20th St.), 282-9246, www.mtbs.com.

Maxine Hong Kingston: The author reads from Veterans of War, Veterans of Peace. Tue., Dec. 5, 7 p.m., free. Bookshop West Portal, 80 West Portal (at Vincente), 564-8080, www.bookshopwestportal.com.

Mimi Koehl & Anne Rosenfeld: The authors talk about Wave-Swept Shore: The Rigors of Life on a Rocky Coast. Sun., Dec. 3, 1 p.m., free. Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista (at Chickasaw), Corte Madera, 927-0960, www.bookpassage.com.

Dean La Tourrette: The author reads from Time Off! The Leisure Guide to San Francisco. Tue., Dec. 5, 7 p.m., free. Cody's Books/Stockton, 2 Stockton (at Ellis), 773-0444, www.codysbooks.com.

Dean LaTourrette: The author reads from Time Off! The Leisure Guide to San Francisco. Thu., Nov. 30, 12:30 p.m., free. Stacey's, 581 Market (at Second St.), 421-4687, www.staceys.com.

George Leonard: The author shows slides and talks about The Silent Pulse: A Search for the Perfect Rhythm That Exists in Each of Us. Sun., Dec. 3, 4 p.m., free. Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista (at Chickasaw), Corte Madera, 927-0960, www.bookpassage.com.

Tim Palmer: The author shows slides and talks about Rivers of America. Sun., Dec. 3, 7 p.m., free. Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista (at Chickasaw), Corte Madera, 927-0960, www.bookpassage.com.

Leonard Pitt: The author reads from Walks Through Lost Paris: A Journey Into the Heart of Historic Paris. Tue., Dec. 5, 7 p.m., free. Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista (at Chickasaw), Corte Madera, 927-0960, www.bookpassage.com.

Marilla Waesche Pivonka: The singer performs children's songs from her new CD Unusual Musical Cat. Sat., Dec. 2, 2 p.m., free. Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista (at Chickasaw), Corte Madera, 927-0960, www.bookpassage.com.

Quartet and The Task: Cutting Ball presents two of Heiner Müller's works as part of the Hidden Classics Reading Series. Tue., Dec. 5, 7 p.m., free. Modern Times Bookstore, 888 Valencia (at 20th St.), 282-9246, www.mtbs.com.

Ed Rosenthal: Rosenthal presents his 2007 Big Buds Calendar, which concerns pot, weed, grass, and sticky nuggets. Mon., Dec. 4, 7 p.m., free. Cody's Books/Stockton, 2 Stockton (at Ellis), 773-0444, www.codysbooks.com.

Diane Dorrans Saeks: The California editor for Metropolitan Home signs copies of her latest book, California Country Style. Sat., Dec. 2, 2 p.m., free. Books Inc./Laurel Village, 3515 California (at Locust), 221-3666.

Strangers We Know: The cast of Word for Word, San Francisco's acclaimed theatre company, presents a dramatic reading from the world premiere of Strangers We Know, to open in January at the Magic Theatre. The group will read from "Mlle. Dias de Corta," a story by Mavis Gallant about a proper and lonely French widow who, in taking a look at her exotic tenant, reveals a changing Paris and the power of hope. Thu., Nov. 30, 8 p.m., free. Bookshop West Portal, 80 West Portal (at Vincente), 564-8080, www.bookshopwestportal.com.

Peter Sussman: The author reads from Decca: The Letters of Jessica Mitford. Tue., Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m., free. Books Inc./Mountain View, 301 Castro Street (at Dana St.), Mountain View, 650-428-1234, 650-428-1234.

Katherine Tillotson: The illustrator of When the Library Lights Go Out does illustrations on an easel while the book is read aloud. Fri., Dec. 1, 12:30 p.m., free. Books Inc., 601 Van Ness Street (at Golden Gate), 776-1111.

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.

Stephen Vincent & Anthony Bliss: The authors read from Exploring the Bancroft Library. Thu., Nov. 30, 7:30 p.m., free. Books Inc., 601 Van Ness Street (at Golden Gate), 776-1111.

Lord Breaulove Swells Whimsy: The author reads from The Affected Provincial's Companion. Sun., Dec. 3, 4 p.m., free. Cody's Books/Stockton, 2 Stockton (at Ellis), 773-0444, www.codysbooks.com.

Freddi Zeiler: The author reads from A Kid's Guide to Giving. Sun., Dec. 3, 4 p.m., free. Cody's Books/Fourth Street, 1730 Fourth St. (at Virginia), Berkeley, 510-559-9500.

Rabbi Edward Zerin: The author reads from Jewish San Francisco. Tue., Dec. 5, 7 p.m., free. Books Inc./Laurel Village, 3515 California (at Locust), 221-3666.