MONDAY
As a part of its ongoing “Face It: We Are Probably All Going To Die or at the Very Least, Suffer Immeasurably” Series, Politics and Prose kicks off the week with a visit from Stephen Flynn, author of The Edge of Disaster, which, apparently, we are teetering on (cf. “all going to die,” “suffer immeasurably”). Also: CSI: Miami is on tonight! 5015 Connecticut Avenue, NW, 7 p.m.
TUESDAY
The art of letter writing is lost on people these days, but we should be glad that so many historical figures bothered. Otherwise, we’d miss out on the insight gained from reading things like Elizabeth Brown Prior’s Reading The Man: A Portrait of Robert E. Lee Through His Private Letters. It’ll make you feel for a future generation that’ll be stuck trying to divine intimate truths from stuff like General Petraeus’ Facebook page. Olssons in Old Town, 106 South Union Street, 7 p.m.
WEDNESDAY
Your dad deserves better than all the crap you lay at his doorstep. Don’t believe us? Well, believe Alex Mindt, author of The Male of the Species, and prepare yourself to feel guilty that you never call on Fathers’ Day. Olssons in Dupont, 1307 19th Street, NW, 7 p.m.
THURSDAY
The ladies love Colin Channer, Jamaica’s “Bob Marley with a pen,” for his swoony accent. But the critics love him for his blend of pastoral and political, sensual and fantastic. He makes a return to Vertigo Books this Thursday to read from his latest novel, The Girl With The Golden Shoes. 7346 Baltimore Avenue in College Park, 7 p.m.
In addition, Susan Vreeland, author of Luncheon of the Boating Party, will be reading from same at the Phillips Collection home of the painting, “Luncheon of the Boating Party”. Any actual boating parties interested in having a late luncheon are invited to attend to make the whole thing gloriously meta. 1600 21st Street, NW. 6:30 p.m. $15, $10 for members.
Also, Christopher Hitchens at Politics and Prose tonight, as well as Irvine “Yeah, You Might Think God Isn’t Great but It’s Me Who’s Ended Up At A Bar Tonight and Not You, So What Does That Tell You?” Welsh at the Clarendon Wonderland Ballroom. Today is just nuts where author events are concerned. Good luck, everyone.
FRIDAY
There are some forces in nature that are simply implacable: the continental plates continue to drift, the grim march of mortality proceeds without abatement, and somewhere, hidden just out of sight, Michael Beschloss is writing some damn Presidential biography. He reads from Presidential Courage at Politics and Prose. 7 p.m.
SATURDAY
If you haven’t caught Jamestown Fever yet, then really, what kind of soulless creep are you? It’s only the first successful European colony in the New World. Why is that jagoff colony at Roanoke Island celebrated in their own show in the Outer Banks—a hit with tourists despite the fact that the actors are unrepentant stoners? What’s it gonna take for you to give Jamestown a little love, you freaks? Throw us a bone: go see John M. Thompson, author of The Journals of Captain John Smith. At Olsson’s in Old Town.
SUNDAY
Books, schmooks. Know what they’ll have at Politics and Prose today from 1-3 p.m.? How about CUTE ANIMALS THAT NEED HOMES TO LIVE IN! That’s right, adopt your next pet today. It’s like Special Topics in Adorability Physics, people! (And, no, you won’t be able to “adopt” Marisha Pessl—though we don’t blame you for wanting to—I mean, ROWWRR!!) Sponsored by the Washington Humane Society.
