BOOKISH: Poetry, crossword murder mysteries and Mrs. Dalloway all day

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BOOKISH: Poetry, crossword murder mysteries and Mrs. Dalloway all day

POSTED: Wednesday, February 16, 2011, 6:00 PM

Filed Under: Critical Mass Books

Each Wednesday, Will Stone puts together a rundown of book-centric events that'll keep you "lit" all week long.

Wednesday: For crossword enthusiasts, the only thing better than a mind-numbing crossword is a mystery about a mind-numbing crossword. And the nom de plume of the husband and wife team that spawned the Crossword Puzzle Mystery series is the first puzzler: they're called Nero Blanc who's Nero and who's Blanc? Also, why is one word French and the other Italian? You can hear Steve Zettler and Cordelia Frances Biddle explain it all at the Wissahickon Valley Public Library. Feb. 16, 7 p.m., free, Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 650 Skippack Pike, Blue Bell.

Thursday: Recently a recipient of the National Books Award's poetry prize, Terrance Hayes, a South Carolina-born poet, slides between old rhymes and newly imagined "puzzelike lines," as described by the NY Times. As part of the Villanova literary festival, Hayes will read from his fourth book, Lighthead, which weaves together stories of growing up black in the rural South and musical verses, pulling from Marvin Gaye and Louis Armstrong and contemporary hip hop alike. Feb. 17, 7 p.m., free, Villanova University Main Campus, 800 E. Lancaster Avenue, Villanova. Friday: Stroll through the post World War I streets of London and fret about flowers and arrangement for an evening with English dignitaries. In other words, take a trip into Virginia Woolf's classic, Mrs. Dalloway. And considering it's difficult to recreate that experience living in Philly these days, you're best off going to the Marathon Reading at the Kelly Writer's House. All are welcome, and bowlers are particularily encouraged for the daylong reading event. Feb. 18, 12 p.m., free, University of Pennsylvania: Kelly Writers House, 3805 Locust Walk, (215) 573-9748. Saturday: Take part in a book discussion of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian in order to prepare for Sherman Alexie's big visit in mid-March. The book has been primetime on Philly's art and culture circuit for months now, so you've got no excuse not to read it I saw a dude reading the book at a bar on Saturday night. You can check out CP's interview with Alexie here. Feb. 19, 2 p.m, Free Library Central Branch, 1901 Vine St., 215-686-5322. Sunday Head over to Big Blue Marble Books and hear authors Minter Krotzer and Rebecca Foust read from the literary journal, Many Mountains Moving. Foust hails from a small town in the Allegheny Mountains and has authored the book of poems, All That Gorgeous, Pitiless Song (Many Mountains Moving Book Award, 2010). Minter Krotzer's writing pulls from her experiences growing up near the Mississippi delta. She has recently published Hint Fiction An Anthology of Stories in 25 Words or Fewer (WW Norton 2010). Feb. 20, 5 p.m., free, Big Blue Marble Books, 551 Carpenter Lane. For more readings and book signings this week, check our event listings sdatabase.

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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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