BOOKISH: The Internet's creepy - consider yourself warned

Each week, Emily Apisa puts together a rundown of book-centric events that'll keep you "lit" like a firecracker all week long.

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BOOKISH: The Internet's creepy — consider yourself warned

POSTED: Wednesday, June 8, 2011, 11:00 AM

Each week, Emily Apisa puts together a rundown of book-centric events that’ll keep you “lit” like a firecracker all week long.

[ Wednesday ]

➤ Neela Vaswani

As part of the Writers and the Process Series and the Women of the World Book Club, Vaswani will be reading from and discussing her book “You Have Given Me A Country.” The part memoir, part fiction book recounts Vaswani’s personal heritage that includes her Irish-Catholic mother and her Sindhi-Indian father. Her mixed racial and religious background allows Vaswani to draw from cultural traditions around the world and bring them to life with her artfully written prose. Wed., June 8, 7 p.m., free, Big Blue Marble Bookstore, 551 Carpenter Lane, 215-844-1870.

[ Thursday ]

➤ Eli Pariser

According to this author and social movement leader, the Internet is getting a little too close for comfort. In his book, “The Filter Bubble: What the Internet is Hiding from You,” Pariser explains that common search engines and social network sites can tailor advertisements and content to each visitor’s internet history. Though Amazon suggesting a book based on your previous purchases may be innocent, when it comes to information access Pariser says it is important for the user to do the sifting, not some algorithm. Consider yourself warned. Thu., June 9, 7:30 p.m., free, Free Library (Central Branch), 1901 Vine St., 215-567-4341.

[ Friday ]

➤ Kay Goodstadt

In her debut novel, “Love and Death Over Tea,” Goodstadt tells the story of three couples and a bachelor in New Orleans, La. As these relationships fall apart and fall together, the seven characters provide ample drama and romance. Tea is used as an extended metaphor in the book, and this book signing and reading is most appropriately being held at a teashop. Enjoy a cup of hot, sweet or icy tea from around the world as Goodstadt reads. Fri., June 10, 6-8 p.m., free, T Bar, 117 S. 12th St., 215.625.3936.

[ Saturday ]

➤ The Harvest

Once a month the spoken word artist collective Spoken Soul 215 hosts the biggest open mic in the tri-state area. The group welcomes all kinds of voices to their stage including poets, lyricists and comedians. Spoken Soul 215 consists of six dedicated artists who use imagery and inflection to connect to the audience and conjure up a range of feelings. This food for thought will keep your brain satisfied, and Downstairs Live has drink specials and food to satiate your stomach. It’s a win/win situation. Sat., June 11, 8 p.m., $10-12, World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., 215-222-1400.

[ Sunday ]

➤ Philadelphia Stories Annual Party

This party has a little something for everyone. A Flash Fiction Slam invites guests to compete with fiction pieces of 500 words or less. Prizes will be awarded to the winners. According to the event’s site, an auction will give guests the chance to win “gift baskets, kids stuff, booze and more.” This event is also the launch party of “Mad to Live”, a fiction collection by Randall Brown. No party would be complete without music and mingling, both of which there will be plenty of at this shindig. Tickets include food, drinks, entry to museum exhibits and readings, as well as a ticket to enter the fiction slam. Sun., June 12, 4-8 p.m., $10, American Swedish Historical Museum, 1900 Pattison Ave., Event Site.

[ Monday ]

➤ Jamie O’Neill

Ireland’s political history is a bloody one, but when told through the eyes of innocent teenage boys, the widespread civil unrest becomes personal heartache. Jamie O’Neill is an Irish author and his 2001 novel “At Swim, Two Boys” earned comparisons to Ireland’s literary greats including James Joyce and Samuel Beckett. O’Neill utilizes lyrical prose and frequent puns to explore the complexities of homosexuality, political turmoil and religious conflict in 1915 Ireland. Seating is limited and preregistration is encouraged. Mon., June 13, 6-7:30 p.m., free, Rosenbach Museum and Library, 2008-2010 Delancey Place, 215-732-1600, ext. 123.

[ Tuesday ]

➤ Phillip Sterling

Average people have stories to tell, too. This collection of fictional short stories features car salesman, a widow and others whose small-town lives are marred with tragedy and loss. Sterling will be reading from the book titled “In Which Brief Stories are Told,” giving a voice to commonplace sorrow and unrealized potential set in Northern Michigan. Tue., June 14, 7 p.m., free, Moonstone Arts Center, 110A S. 13th St., 215-735-9600.

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Featuring everything from event roundups to concert reviews and sex talk, City Paper's Critical Mass is a space for off-the-wall coverage of Philly's A&E scene.

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