Readings/Book Signings

• AL TACCONELLI AND MARION COHEN The local poets read from their collections as part of a Monday reading series. Tacconelli's work has appeared in lit journals such as "Mad Poets Review" and "Philadelphia Poets"; Cohen writes about pregnancy loss, chronic illness, caregiving, homeschooling and math, Mon, Feb. 5, 6:30pm, FREE, Free Library of Philadelphia, Central Branch, 19th & Vine sts., 215-686-5322.
• ARIELLE BRIAR The author reads from and discusses her new book, "Seasons of Desire," a collection of stories about women who find love in New England. Part of the Author Talks program, which features a different LGBT author every month, Wed, Feb. 7, 7pm, FREE, William Way Lesbian, Gay & Transgender Community Center, 1315 Spruce St., 215-732-2220.
• BARBARA DELINSKY The author signs and discusses her new novel, "Family Tree," in which a white couple gives birth to a black baby, causing great confusion and spurring them to investigate their genetic past, Thu, Feb. 8, 7:30pm, FREE, Barnes & Noble, 720 Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr, 610-520-0355.
• CAROLINE ROTHSTEIN ORAL POETRY EVENT The featured poet is Taylor Mali, a New York-based poetry slam champion and former English teacher, Thu, Feb. 1, 6pm, FREE, Kelly Writers House, 3805 Locust Walk, 215-573-WRIT.
• CHARLES DICKENS BIRTHDAY PARTY The Friends of Clark Park's annual tribute to the works of Charles Dickens features dramatic readings (with a focus on "A Tale of Two Cities"), late 19th-century music and birthday refreshments, Sun, Feb. 4, 2pm, FREE, Griffith Hall, 43rd & Kingsessing sts., 215-222-2255.
• DANIEL HOWE The digital media artist reads from his recent poetry as part of the "Poetry Complex: Cross-Genre Writing" series. Co-sponsored by Temple-Penn Poetics and the department of film and media arts. Thu, Feb. 8, 2-4pm, FREE, Temple University, Gladfelter Hall, Weigley Room, ninth floor, 12th & Berks sts., 215-204-1796.
• DJUNA WOJTON The author discusses her recent book, "Karmic Healing: Clearing Past Life Blocks to Present Day Health, Success and Happiness," Thu, Feb. 8, 7pm, FREE, Barnes & Noble, 301 Main St., Exton, 610-524-8806.
• DORIS WASHINGTON The local poet and autism activist reads from her 2004 collection, "A Blessing, Caring & Sharing," which was inspired by her autistic son, Tue, Feb. 6, 12:30pm, FREE, Penn Bookstore, 3601 Walnut St., 215-898-7595.
• ELIZABETH GILBERT The journalist and author reads from, discusses and signs her book, "Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia," about her voyage of recovery after divorce. Followed by a Whole Foods sampling, Sun, Feb. 4, 2pm, FREE, Borders Book Shop, 515 Rt. 73 South, Marlton, NJ, 856-985-5080; and Wed, Feb. 7, 7:30pm, FREE, Barnes & Noble, 720 Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr, 610-520-0355.
• ERIC DEZENHALL The acclaimed author and media expert signs and reads from his new novel, "Spinning Dixie," which puts a new spin on cultural divisiveness, Sat, Feb. 3, 1-3pm, FREE, Cherry Hill Library, 1100 N. Kings Highway, Cherry Hill, NJ, 856-667-0300.
• FLARF POETRY FESTIVAL For the uninitiated: Flarf is an avant-garde poetry movement of the late 20th and early 21st centuries that incorporates odd search terms from the Internet and is often inappropriate, odd, disturbing and/or hilarious. Prominent Flarf practitioners Nada Gordon, Mike Magee, Mel Nichols, Rod Smith, Sharon Mesmer, Gary Sullivan and Nada Gordon read from their work; Brandon Downing screens his Flarf-esque film, Thu, Feb. 8, 6pm, FREE, Kelly Writers House, 3805 Locust Walk, 215-573-WRIT.
• GEN KELSANG NORDEN The Western Buddhist discusses contemporary meditation master Geshe Kelsang Gyatso's 2004 book, "How to Solve Our Human Problems: The Four Nobel Truths," which offers refreshingly practical solutions to everyday problems, Mon, Feb. 5, 7pm, FREE, Penn Bookstore, 3601 Walnut St., 215-898-7595.
• GOING DOWN Part of the '06-'07 season of Writing Aloud, InterAct Theatre presents an evening of four stories by contemporary writers read aloud by Philadelphia's best actors: "He Did It For Morgan" read by Anthony Lawton, "Loss Prevention" read by Charlotte Northeast, "Child At Play" read by Kaci M. Fannin, and "The Captain is Sleeping" read by Jeb Kreager. Mon, Feb. 5, 7pm, $6-$12, The Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St., 215-568-8079.
• HINGE ONLINE READING Local poets Adam Coben and Eric Sellin, who will be featured in the winter 2007 issue of the Philly-based online litmag HiNgE, read from their latest work. Thu, Feb. 1, 7pm, FREE, Voices & Visions, The Bourse, Lower Level, 4th & Ranstead sts., 215-625-4740, www.hingeonline.com.
• JEFFREY BERNSTEIN The child and family psychologist discusses his latest book, "10 Days to a Less Defiant Child," which outlines a program to help parents gain control over their unruly tykes, Sat, Feb. 3, 2pm, FREE, Barnes & Noble, 301 Main St., Exton, 610-524-8806.
• JONATHAN ZIMMERMAN The author and former teacher with the Peace Corps signs and reads from his recent book, "Innocents Abroad: American Teachers in the American Century," a collection of anecdotes and dilemmas faced by mostly young, white, middle-class, inexperienced American teachers in all parts of the world, Thu, Feb. 8, 7pm, FREE, Penn Bookstore, 3601 Walnut St., 215-898-7595.
• LEONARD BARKIN The author reads from his book, "Satyr Square: A Year, A Life in Rome," about his life-changing year in Rome, Wed, Feb. 7, 5-6:30pm, FREE, Penn Humanities Forum, 3619 Locust Walk, first floor, 215-898-8220.
• LEONARD GONTAREK AND ALISON HICKS Local poet/workshop extraordinaire Gontarek reads from his recent collection, "Deja Vu Diner," and local poet/author Hicks reads from her recent collection, "Falling Dreams," Sun, Feb. 4, 2pm, FREE, Robin's Bookstore, 108 S. 13th St., 215-735-9600.
• LINCOLN CHILD The New York Times best-selling author signs and reads from his new novel, "Deep Storm," a science-fiction thriller that involves a mysterious illness, a North Atlantic oil rig and the lost city of Atlantis, Tue, Feb. 6, 7:30pm, FREE, Barnes & Noble, 720 Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr, 610-520-0355.
• MAD POETRY SOCIETY OPEN MIC POETRY READING Autum Konopka hosts this night whose theme is "Love Stinks vs. Love Is Grand," Thu, Feb. 1, 7pm, FREE, Barnes & Noble, 720 Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr, 610-520-0355.
• MAJOR JACKSON The nationally acclaimed poet and Philly native reads from his latest collection, "Hoops," as part of the Villanova Literary Festival, Tue, Feb. 6, 7:30pm, FREE, Connelly Center, Villanova University, 800 Lancaster Ave., 610-519-4630.
• MARK BOWDEN The Philadelphia author and Inky reporter discusses his writings, which include the books "Bringing the Heat" and "Doctor Dealer." Introduced by Dick Polman. E-mail wh@writing.upenn.edu to register, Wed, Feb. 7, noon, FREE, Kelly Writers House, 3805 Locust Walk, 215-573-WRIT.
• MARK KRIEGEL The veteran sportswriter talks about his latest biography, "Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravich," on the iconic basketball player, Thu, Feb. 8, 6pm, FREE, Adidas Store, 436 South St., 215-698-7426.
• MARTIN AMIS The British essayist, critic and novelist reads from his latest book, "House of Meetings," his darkly witty tale of a former gulag inmate, Thu, Feb. 1, 8pm, FREE, Free Library of Philadelphia, Central Branch, 19th & Vine sts., 215-686-5322.
• MEREDITH ANNE SKURA The author of essays, books, reviews and articles on Shakespeare, Renaissance drama, psychoanalysis and literary theory, discusses her work-in-progress, "English Autobiographical Writing 1550-1700 and the Problem of Subjectivity," Tue, Feb. 6, 6pm, FREE, Kelly Writers House, 3805 Locust Walk, 215-573-WRIT.
• MICHAEL OREN The historian, Middle East scholar and best-selling author signs and reads from his latest book, "Power, Faith and Fantasy: America in the Middle East 1776 to the Present," Tue, Feb. 6, 8pm, $6-$12, Free Library of Philadelphia, Central Branch, 19th & Vine sts., 215-686-5322.
• PENIEL E. JOSEPH The Africana studies professor and author signs and reads from his recent book, "Waiting 'Til the Midnight Hour: A Narrative History of Black Power in America," Thu, Feb. 8, 4:30pm, FREE, Penn Bookstore, 3601 Walnut St., 215-898-7595.
• POE: SUPERNAL AND INFERNAL To celebrate Edgar Allan Poe's 198th birthday, humorist and dramatic actor Grover Silcox recites Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" and Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia's Elio Frattaroli talks about Poe's relationship to psychiatry. Sun, Feb. 4, 3-5pm, $4 donation requested, Manayunk Art Center, 419 Green Ln., 215-482-3363.
• RALPH NADER The lefty politician and author reads from his latest book, "The Seventeen Traditions," which reflects on a time in U.S. history when children grew up with a strong sense of family and the natural world, Thu, Feb. 1, 7pm, FREE, Borders, 1 S. Broad St., 215-568-7400.
• SARAH IGO The Penn professor and author discusses her new book, "The Averaged American: Surveys, Citizens, and the Making of a Mass Public," about us common schlubs, Thu, Feb. 1, 5:30pm, FREE, Penn Bookstore, 3601 Walnut St., 215-898-7595.
• SISTERS IN CRIME 20TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT Mystery authors Charles Todd (the "Inspector Ian Rutledge" series), Robin Hathaway (the "Dr. Fenimore" series), Elena Santangelo (the "Pat Montella" series) and Judith Skillings (currently at work on a suspense thriller set in the Yucatan, called "Scapegoat") read from their recent writings, Sun, Feb. 4, 2pm, FREE, Robin's Bookstore, 108 S. 13th St., 215-735-9600.
• THALIA FIELD The poet reads from her collected works and lectures as part of Temple's "Poetry Compex: Cross-Genre Writing." Thu, Feb. 1, 1:30-3pm, FREE, Temple University, Gladfelter Hall, Center for Humanities Lounge, 10th floor, 12th & Berks sts., 215-204-1796.
• TIMOTHY ZAHN The New York Times best-selling author signs and reads from his new novel, "Star Wars: Allegiance," his latest in a series of follow-ups to the orginal movie trilogy, Sat, Feb. 3, 2pm, FREE, Free Library of Philadelphia, Central Branch, 19th & Vine sts., 215-686-5322.