Books & Talks

YA BLOCKBUSTERS

Local Author Laini Taylor on Monstrous Love Affairs

The best-selling scribe of the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy releases the final chapter of her otherworldly young adult saga and gossips about its big screen adaptation and why YA lit needs better sex. Apr 16

04/10/2014 By Kelly Clarke

BOOKS AND TALKS

Ian Doescher Returneth to a Galaxy Far, Far Away

The PDX author of NYT-bestseller "William Shakespeare’s Star Wars" talks about the sequel, being surrounded by Storm Troopers, and giving the space worm a soliloquy. "The Empire Striketh Back" comes out today.

03/18/2014 By Peter Holmstrom

BOOKS & TALKS

Oregon Book Awards: Winners and Winners

Recapping the state's literary Oscars: the wins, the surprises, the speeches, the champagne in the shower. It's all here.

03/18/2014 By Aaron Scott

Books & Talks

Tom Spanbauer: The Godfather of Portland's Writing Scene

Local authors Cheryl Strayed, Chelsea Cain, Monica Drake, and others tell us why Spanbauer is at the heart of Portland's literary world.

03/13/2014 By Aaron Scott

DISPATCH

Let Us Now Praise Famous Dead Readers

The Personal Libraries Library (Portland’s most unusual literary collection) re-creates bygone bookshelves.

03/03/2014 By Marco España

BOOKS & TALKS

Binge on Books at These March Literary Events

This month is a windfall of book and storytelling events, including the Oregon Books Awards, Smallpressapalooza, and Everybody Reads with Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

02/26/2014 By Kristin Leigh

POETRY

Portland's Latest Prize-Winning Poet Remembers William Stafford

National Book Award winner Mary Szybist reflects on Oregon's verse icon.

02/03/2014 By Jonathan Frochtzwajg

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