Books & Talks

BOOK & TALKS

February's Lit and Storytelling Events

There’s a lot of book love to go around this month, from lit-power couple Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis to international author Isabel Allende to the bday bash for William Stafford.

01/29/2014 By Portland Monthly Staff and Kristin Leigh

REPORT

The Scoop on Powell's Books' Downtown Remodel

Portland's beloved bookstore overhauls its Burnside flagship with the future in mind.

01/21/2014 By Zach Dundas

CULTUREPHILE

Into the Woods with Carson Ellis

The illustrator of the Wildwood Chronicles revisits Forest Park on the eve of the trilogy’s finale.

01/21/2014 By Aaron Scott

Interview

Q&A: Author Gary Shteyngart

The bestselling author talks about his new memoir, his nickname "Little Failure," and kissing James Franco for his juicy book trailer. He speaks at Powell's on Jan 18.

01/16/2014 By Nathan Tucker

BOOKS & TALKS

Q&A: Bestselling Author Gretchen Rubin

We chat with Rubin about happiness projects, her creative process, and her upcoming book about habits. She reads at Powell's on Jan 21.

01/16/2014 By Kristin Leigh

BOOK EVENTS

January's Top Book and Storytelling Events

Resolve to discover new writers in 2014 with January's literary events.

01/08/2014 By Kristin Leigh

BOOKS & TALKS

2014 Oregon Book Awards Finalists Announced

Ursula K. Le Guin, Mary Szybist, Graham Salisbury, Joe Sacco, and Craig Thompson round out this year's contenders. Winners announced March 17.

01/06/2014 By Aaron Scott

BOOKS AND TALKS

Q&A: National Book Award–Winning Poet Mary Szybist

The Lewis and Clark professor talks about what it was like to win the biggest poetry award in the US, running into Carrie Brownstein, and why she never considered the book a feminist response to the biblical annunciation until now.

12/17/2013 By Kristin Leigh

Article

December Literary Lineup

Our top picks for December book events

12/03/2013 By Kristin Leigh

ROUNDUP

Cooklandia

From books revealing the secret recipes of Portland's top chefs to essential DIY guides from local cooks, editors from New York to San Francisco are working the 503 area code.

12/02/2013 By Karen Brooks

BOOKS AND TALKS

Q&A: Gonzo Reporter Chas Smith

The bad-boy, globe-trotting Oregon-native takes on the sordid, drug-addled surf industry in "Welcome to Paradise, Now Go to Hell"—a book that's so controversial, lawyers had screaming matches. He reads at Powell's on Nov. 25

11/20/2013 By Ally Bordas

RECAP

Poetry Press Week in Review

Blood stained ghost costumes, Laura Gibson crooning on guitar, and readers marching down catwalks kicked off a captivating new poetry event.

11/14/2013 By Kristin Leigh

CULTURE

How to Save the Bookstore

Author Ann Patchett returned independent bookselling to Nashville—and has some tips for the rest of America's bibliophiles

11/01/2013 By Emily Gravlin

MUSIC

Q&A: Norfolk & Western's Adam Selzer

The multitalented musician talks about his new graphic novel, which chronicles a lonely seven-week tour supporting a Christian rock band.

10/30/2013 By Nathan Tucker

SPOTLIGHT

Local Book Czar Kevin Sampsell Releases Debut Novel

Long a kingpin of the local literary scene, Kevin Sampsell joins the ranks of its novelists with his debut book This is Between Us.

10/23/2013 By Aaron Scott

A WONDERFUL GAME

Junot Diaz: An Interview Across the Ages

In honor of the Pulitzer-winning author's reading at Powell's on Oct 21, we turn the tables on Díaz, who is well known for his hidden structures and love of games.

10/16/2013 By Kit Mauldin

BOOKS

Q&A: A.M. Homes

The acclaimed, notoriously dark writer, appearing at Wordstock Saturday, talks about gender inequality in literature, what dick pics say about our sense of self, and why 9/11 made her writing more optimistic.

10/02/2013 By Jonathan Frochtzwajg

BOOKS

Wordstock: A Reader's Digest

Portland's annual literary festival takes over the Oregon Convention Center Oct 3–6. Peruse our abridged schedule for the fest's best-bet writers and talks.

10/01/2013 By Jonathan Frochtzwajg

NOW READ THIS

Book Review: Cari Luna's 'The Revolution of Every Day'

The recent New York transplant's debut novel explores questions of home and homelessness in the mid-1990s.

10/01/2013 By Katie Gourley

BOOKS

Q&A: Karen Karbo on Julia Child

The Portland writer dishes on her new book about the French-cooking queen. She reads a Powell's on Oct 1.

09/23/2013 By Jonathan Frochtzwajg