PAUL SCHRAG: NEW TACOMA BOOKSTORE >>>

Tacoma has some great bookstores. Add to the list one Meta Books, which has opened quietly on Pacific Avenue near the University of Washington Tacoma. The store owned by former criminal defense attorney Timothy Lohraff doesn’t have a clear specialty, unless you consider hand-selected, generally awesome and strange books a specialty. I swore off reading books a while back, largely because I need to try putting to use some of the knowledge contained within the books I’ve already read. But after five minutes in Meta Books, I nearly fell off the wagon.

“I’m a lifelong reader, and I love bookstores,” says Lohraff. “I was a criminal defense attorney for 20 years. This is sort of a lifelong dream.”

Read full story on the Weekly Volcano Web site.

JENNIFER JOHNSON: WISHES SEDARIS FIT IN HER POCKET >>>

After being introduced, David Sedaris walked on stage wearing a white button down with sleeves rolled just to the elbow and a tie. He looked like an English school boy. This impression had nothing to do with his actual height since from those very perfect second row seats in the Pantages Theatre, he seemed tall and in my mind, all men that I admire are tall, hale and hearty. He carried a folder clutched to his side and began with a piece he’d recently written for The New Yorker on the coming election. The crowd that had waited patiently through a slightly delayed start seemed both to lean forward in anticipation of some presidential nominee bashing and to settle back into their seats and relax for an evening of storytelling. He told of his mother taking him, at age 11, to do her voting for her and nicely slid in the word maverick, a word that hasn’t gotten any love or use really since Tom Cruise in Top Gun. Que predictable laughter. Sedaris appeared to get a good chuckle out of it himself noting, “One who is truly a maverick does not call oneself a maverick.” All heads nodded in agreement. David shared that surprisingly he actually likes going on book tours, this one in promotion of the recently published collection of essays, When You Are Engulfed in Flames. He held a pencil in his hand for the duration of his 90 minutes on stage as though at any moment he was going to start taking notes. When he talked of the "No Photos Please" signs at his book signings I found Sedaris to be so delightful I wanted to put him in my pocket and take him with me everywhere.

The internationally successful writer grabbed a bottle of water from inside his podium and poured it into a drinking glass. I wondered why he didn’t just drink from the bottle, and added this to the other little things I was cataloging in my head that, oddly, made me feel like I knew him as he shuffled through loose papers he’d pulled from the folder. Watching anyone else do this at a live performance, appearance, or reading would have made them seem unprepared or unprofessional - perhaps both. Yet with Sedaris it felt like he was gauging the audience, trying to find that perfect piece to read to fit them right then. It was endearing.

Sedaris read from his diary. About this time, an audience member laughed uproariously catching David by surprise and making him laugh as well. The audience member, it seems, was someone Sedaris had met at a previous show years ago, and become friends with -  which he recognized due to the person's distinct laugh.

It is apparent that Sedaris’ highly imaginative, ridiculous, true and frequently heartbreaking content is derived from ordinary commonplace observations and events. As his reading continued I mused at what makes him so appealing- not only to listen to, of course, but to read - and now to watch. After Sedaris finished on stage to much applause, I posed this very question to my companion of the evening. “It is his delivery, his voice. It’s the very way in which he tells it,” they said.

The invitation to pull up a chair and hear the story Sedaris tells - through to the end and then stay for more - is pronounced and powerful, perhaps even more so spoken in his moderately high-pitched, sing-song voice. Listening to him on This American Life has always been entertaining and I adore curling up with a book of his essays, but to see David Sedaris live and watch his facial expressions and gestures as he read and spoke was divine!

LINK: Broadway Center's 2008-09 season

SUZY STUMP: HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE >>>

Not that I don’t appreciate the many out-of-town fiction and nonfiction authors that the Tacoma Public Library brings in for book readings and signings, but it’s always nice to be reminded of the local talent. Today, the library presents a reading and signing by The News Tribune sports columnist Dave Boling, whose book Guernicachronicles the bombing of the Basque city during the Spanish Civil War.

Boling wrote almost the entire novel while traveling with the Seattle Seahawks. This year, with Seattle football teams on his mind, I believe he’s writing a book titled The Complete Guide to Idiotic Football.

[Tacoma Public Library Main Branch,Tuesday, Oct. 21, 7 p.m., free, 1102 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma, 253.591.5666]

LINK: ViVA South Sound arts and entertainment calendar

TAMMY ROBACKER: B.L. AT BORDERS SATURDAY >>>

If you’re scaring up something to do Saturday local dark fiction author B.L. Morgan will be signing books at Borders. The creepy creator of the John Dark book series will be autographing his latest novels, Blood for the Masses and Blood on Celluloid. Morgan will also give on-demand readings of the books to further entice and frighten his bloodthirsty fans.

The character John Dark is the ultimate anti-hero of a gritty, urban detective horror series. After leaving a drug-filled, criminal lifestyle behind, the author discovered a way to use his own experience from that period of life as inspiration and research for his unique brand of counter-culture tales. The result? One hell of a scary, juicy, graphic story.

Check out my full preview Thursday in the Fix section on the Weekly Volcano’s Web site.

[Borders Books, Saturday, Oct. 25, noon, free, 2508 S. 38th St., Tacoma, 253.473.9111]

LINK: ViVA South Sound arts and entertainment calendar

BRAD ALLEN: BEST PLACE TO LEARN >>>

After joining the Sex Pistols, bassist Sid Vicious had no choice. He had to learn how to play the bass. And so it goes in the world of punk. Any good punk rock guitarist has to know only about three chords â€" he just has to be able to play them loudly and quickly.  What’s that you say?  You can do that?  OK, head to the Tacoma Public Library and check out guitar lesson book. Since Seattle rock band Truce and Tacoma’s hardcore quintet Sirens In the Sky are rocking the downtown branch Saturday night, why not make the trip then. Just saying.

[Tacoma Public Library, Saturday, Aug. 9, 7 p.m., all ages, no cover, 1102 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma, 253.591.5666]

PAUL SCHRAG: THIS BOOK IS ABOUT REALITY, FOLKS >>>

Tacoma deputy prosecutor Mark Lindquist will read his masterwork, The King of Methlehem, for the last time this year at 2 p.m. at Borders Books.

In 2004, Lindquist was named trial team chief of the drug unit for the Prosecuting Attorney in Pierce County â€" perfect preparation for King of Methlehem, which chronicles the anti-tweaker crusade of Detective Wyatt James. The book is replete with T-town references, showcasing the ugliness right alongside the stuff we all know and love.

LINK: Previously on Spew
LINK: This week's Word events

MATT DRISCOLL: THE KING OF KING’S BOOKS >>>

For a literary event, Pierce County Deputy Prosecutor and professional novelist Mark Lindquist usually expects 10 people. For a political event, he hopes for 50. So for a literary-political event, Lindquist was expecting 5 people, he joked last night at King’s Books.

Maybe it was the free beer from the Harmon Hub, or maybe it’s because it’s a good year to be a Democrat (as Pierce County Democratic Party Chair Nathe Lawver and Rep. Adam Smith pointed out near the start of the evening), but Lindquist must have been pleasantly surprised when he saw the line of check writing Democrats stretched out the door last night for the Democratic fund raiser he put together at King’s Books. The event was hotter than all hell and featured a who’s who of Pierce County Democrats, as well as Lindquist reading from his just released in trade paperback novel The King of Methlehem.

Baarsma. Strickland. Goings. The Ladenburgs. McCarthy. Horne. Walker. The list goes on. In all probably 125-150 democrats filled King’s Books, making finding a seat out of the question, and fears of a beer shortage seem legitimate.

Luckily, the beer never ran out, and as Lindquist read two chapters from the King of Methlehem, one about a cat shed and one about cooking meth, the full house sat happily entertained if not comfortably seated.

During a question and answer period near the end, Lindquist was quick to tout Pierce County’s accomplishments in reducing meth cooking. When Lindquist began writing The King of Methlehem, Pierce County was third in the country when it comes to number of meth labs. Thanks to the work of law enforcement, community involvement, aggressive prosecution and the legislature, Pierce County has been able to reduce the number of meth labs by 80 percent, Lindquist said and drove home with pride.

His work as deputy prosecutor has had a lot to do with it, after all. It’s the reason he has the street cred to draw every important democrat and their brother to King’s on a Thursday night for a literary reading, and the reason he can get two kegs flowing in a book store without a question asked. It’s certainly the reason he has the expertise to write a book like the King of Methlehem.

Highlights of the evening included when Lindquist told the crowd that, in his experience touring schools and talking about the dangers of meth, the thing that usually deters kids the most from the dangerous drug is the fact that it “makes you look ugly and ruins your teeth.” Aint that the truth.

Then there was Connie Ladenburg’s concluding question for Lindquist, asking the writer if, after “trashing” Pierce County and its meth problem in the beginning of his book, if he ever redeemed it in the end?

Lindquist answered the question politely, pointing once again to all of Pierce County’s impressive accomplishments since the book was written.

I would have just told her to read the 256 page book, but that’s just me. Lindquist has more class.

His Democratic fund raiser last night was a good example of that.

MATT DRISCOLL: BOOKS NEED ROCKIN’ TOO >>>

Rockin’ the books is fun, yo! If you’ve never experienced it, I highly recommend you try.

I’m not just talking about sitting around your house, playing air-guitar with your collection of Ray Bradbury â€" though that doesn’t sound half bad either. I’m talking about rockin’ the books with the Tacoma Public Library, during this year’s rendition of the Rock the Books all ages concert series. I first rocked the books years ago with Bloodhag at the Tacoma Public Library, and as those who know Bloodhag can surely attest to, it was an amazing experience that remains an amazing memory.

This year’s Rock the Books series, which will be kicked off by a performance from one of this area’s most talked about young indie bands, Don’t Tell Sophie, will begin next Saturday, May 31 in the Tacoma Main Library’s Olympic Room. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the show starts at 7 p.m. Seattle band the Globes will open the event.

At least wearing my rock columnist hat, rarely do I get the chance to write about events that promise to be “fun for the whole family.” Rock the Books should be just that - even if that is a picture of Don't Tell Sophie brandishing shotguns. If you love your kids, or just love good indie tunes in an unorthodox setting, then gather the family and Rock the Books next Saturday. You won’t be let down.

A full schedule of this summer's Rock the Books schedule can be found here.

LECTURE
Daniel Pink
In Japan, you won’t find a businessman who doesn’t read a little manga on his morning commute from time to time, and let me tell you, some of that shit is really weird! You’ve seen the pictures: superhero cats with no ears and magic pockets, sentient teddy bears, tentacle sex!

Daniel Pink, author of the New York Times and Business Week bestseller A Whole New Mind, takes the Japanese manga comic genre and twists it even more into a business book for western audience â€" The Adventures of Johnny Bunko: The Last Career Guide You’ll Ever Need. Bunko, a kid in a dead-end job with the weight of the business world crushing him, finds solace from an office sprite who shows him the six core rules of maneuvering the job market without compromising his skills. It’s basically What Color Is You Parachute in a whack form for a Generation Y audience. â€" Suzy Stump
[The Mandolin Café, Monday, April 14, 7 p.m., free, 3923 S. 12th St., Tacoma, 253.761.3482]

LINK: Jerry Miller and other in the clubs tonight.
LINK: Let’s eat Chinese.

MATT DRISCOLL: MIDNIGHT LAUNCH PARTY >>>

In the past I’ve drawn the ire of Weekly Volcano readers for admitting I don’t know much about something and then writing about it anyway. Specifically, a Hot-Rod-A-Rama from a few years back comes to mind. At the time it seemed like a good idea to admit I didn’t know much about cars but I was drawn to the event anyway. It seemed truthful, which is something I always appreciate.

Most people didn’t mind, but a few did. And boy did they mind.

You’d think I would have learned my lesson. You’d think I would have decided to focus solely on things I’m schooled in, and avoid stories where someone with more expertise could be found.

But I didn’t.

At 12:01 a.m. this Wednesday morning, Comic Book Ink, located at 72nd and Portland Avenue, will begin selling The Dark Tower: The Long Road Home, the latest installment in a series of Marvel comics inspired by the Stephen King novel.

While the Comic Book Ink, a well known and respected hub for South Sound comic enthusiasts, usually closes at 8 p.m., this “Midnight Launch Party” will extend business until 1 a.m. In addition to the release of The Dark Tower at midnight, Comic Book Ink will have “some very special sales starting at 8 p.m.” says store owner John Munn. 

“Comic Book Ink is one of only 96 comic book shops nationwide hat are participating," says Munn.  “We were one of the few that took part in the midnight launch of the last Dark Tower comic. It truly was a great night for all the Stephen King fans who visited us! I am a huge Stephen King fan, and the last comic series has made me even hungrier for the new installment!"

I don't know much about comic books, but anything that can draw people to a comic book store in the middle of the night must be pretty good. Plus, I'm just a big fan of excitement.  If Stephen King's Dark Tower is your bag, there's a good chance Comic Book Ink's Midnight Launch Party is, too.