Jennifer Weiner, the Simsbury native who had a smash debut with “Good In Bed” and has published 14 best-selling books, will speak Sunday, Oct. 23, at 1 p.m. at the Jewish Book Festival at Mandell Jewish Community Center, 335 Bloomfield Ave., West Hartford. Tickets are available now for $40 and include a copy of the book and a reception with Weiner.
Weiner has published a memoir, “Hungry Heart: Adventures in Life, Love and Writing” (Atria, $27), a frank look at her childhood, career and personal life told through funny and moving essays that continue her exploration of the struggles that women experience. Tickets: mandelljcc.org or 860-231-6316.
Nyberg On Hepburn
Ann Nyberg, the WTNH-TV anchor/reporter and author, will launch her new book, “Remembering Katharine Hepburn: Stories of Wit and Wisdom About America’s Leading Lady” (Globe Pequot, $16.95) at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main St., Old Saybrook, on Sunday, Oct. 23, at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are available now and are $40, which includes a copy of the book, a reception, a reading and conversation and a book-signing. The event will benefit the arts center.
Hepburn, who grew up in Hartford, had a long and brilliant career as an actress. Nyberg’s book contains many anecdotes about Hepburn’s life and accomplishments. Tickets and information: katharinehepburntheater.org.
Authors At R.J. Julia
A new biography of Julia Child, two novels, a poetry collection and an inspirational book will be discussed by their authors at R.J. Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Road, Madison. All events begin at 7 p.m. and require reservations: 203-245-3959 and rjjulia.com.
On Tuesday, Oct. 18, Julia Child’s great-nephew Alex Prud’homme, will be in conversation with famed chef Jacques Pépin about Prud’homme’s book, “The French Chef in America: Julia Child’s Second ACT” (Knopf, $27.95), which follows “My Life in France,” which he co-wrote. The new book describes Child’s life after the publication of “Mastering the Art of French Cooking.”
On Wednesday, Oct. 19, two best-selling novelists will speak. Gayle Forman is the author of “Leave Me” and Caroline Leavitt is the author of “Cruel Beautiful World.” Both are published by Algonquin Books and cost $26.95.
On Thursday, Oct. 20, Suzanne Levine, of New Haven, will talk about her new poetry collection “Grand Canyon Older Than Thought” (Antrim House, $17),
On Friday, Oct. 21, Paul Dunion will discuss his book, “Seekers: Finding Our Way Home” (Archway Publishing, $16.99), which offers advice for those with “creative restlessness” who seek to embrace curiosity and wonder.
Ethics Of Keeping Pets
Bioethicist Jessica Pierce will give a free talk about her book, “Run, Spot, Run: The Ethics of Keeping Pets” (University of Chicago Press, $26) at the West Hartford Public Library, 20 S. Main St., West Hartford, on Wednesday, Oct. 19, at 7 p.m.
The book uses personal stories, philosophical reflections, scientific analyses of animal behavior and natural history to explore whether keeping pets, while pleasurable for humans, is good for the animals. Information and registration: westhartfordlibrary.org or 860- 561-6950.
Poetry Place Series
The Clinton Art Gallery’s free Poetry Place series continues Sunday, Oct. 16, at 2 p.m. at Laurel Ann Olcott Art Center, 20 E. Main St., Clinton. Poets Janet Greenberg, Betsy Kudlacz and John Surowiecki will read and attendees are encouraged to bring a poem to share at the open mic. Information: Pat Barone at pattonybarone@aol.com or 203-627-4148.
Poetry At The Metro
The West End Poetry Series: Poetry At The Metro continues Saturday, Oct. 22, at 2:30 p.m. at Metro Cafe, 580 Farmington Ave., Hartford. Poets Edwina Trentham and Sean Frederick Forbes, a student will read. Information: 860-965-8800 or poetryontheporch@gmail.com.
Reading Wright
Avon Public Library, 281 Country Club Road, Avon, will sponsor a free Avon Reads One Book community reading project centering on “The Wright Brothers” by David McCullough (Simon & Schuster, $17.99), with events in October, November and December. Attendees are urged to read the book. To reserve a copy from the library, call 860-673-9712. Information: avonctlibrary.info.
As part of the project, the library and Avon Senior Center will co-sponsor a bus trip to the New England Air Museum on Friday, Oct. 21. The cost is $39, and includes lunch. The bus will leave the Center, 635 W. Avon Road, Avon, at 9 a.m. for a guided tour and lunch at the museum and will depart around 1 p.m. Registration: 860-675-4355 or avonct.gov/senior-center/pages/trips.
Monagan At Hickory Stick
On Wednesday, Oct. 19 at noon, a Meet an Author for Lunch series event at Hickory Stick Bookshop, 2 Green Hill Road, Washington Depot, will present Charles Monagan, a former editor of Connecticut magazine, will discuss his historical novel, “Carrie Welton” (Penmore Press, $19.50). Admission to the talk and catered lunch is the purchase of the book at Hickory Stick.
On Saturday, Oct. 22, at 2 p.m., Kristi Carlson will sign copies of her new cookbook, “Eat Like a Gilmore” (Skyhorse Publishing, $24.99), the unofficial cookbook for fans of the TV show, “Gilmore Girls.” Reservations and information: 860-868-0525 or hickorystickbookshop.com.
History Of Italian Protestants
University of St. Joseph English professor, author and editor Dennis Barone will give a free talk about his latest book, “Beyond Memory: Italian Protestants in Italy and America” (SUNY Series in Italian/American Culture, $75) on Tuesday, Oct. 18, at 3 p.m. in Mercy Hall at the university, 1678 Asylum Ave, West Hartford. Reservations: Christina Flood at cflood@usj.edu or 860-231-5888.
Wintonbury Poetry Series
The Wintonbury Poetry Series will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a free Night of Art and Poetry on Thursday, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m., at McMahon Wintonbury Library, 1015 Blue Hills Ave., Bloomfield.
The event will feature the poetry and art of Margaret Plaganis and Antrim House poet Garrett Phelan. An open mike, refreshments and a book-signing will follow the featured poets. Information: 860-242-0041 or prosserlibrary.info.
Murillo At Trinity
The free Allan K. Smith Reading Series at Trinity College will continue with a talk by award-winning poet John Murillo on Tuesday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m. in the Admissions Grand Room on the campus, 300 Summit St., Hartford.
Murillo’s first poetry collection, “Up Jump the Boogie” was published in 2011, and he has won a Pushcart Prize and other honors. Information: Christina.bolio@trincoll.edu.
Poetry Anthology Debut
The debut of a new poetry anthology, “Cardinal House Poetry” (Flying Horse Press, $15), will be celebrated with poetry readings and music at a free event Saturday, Oct. 22, at 2 p.m. at Welles Turner Memorial Library, 2407 Main St., Glastonbury.
Seven Connecticut Poetry Society members whose work is among others’ in the book — Karen Ciosek, Elizabeth Kinkaid Ehlers, Sirini Mandavilli, Sheila Murphy, Emily Santarsiero, Alexandrina Sergio and Pegi-Dietz Shea — will read. Connecticut guitarist Rob Cassarino will play. Information: poetlaureate@glastonbury-ct.gov.
Huck Finn And Race
A free program about Mark Twain’s classic novel, “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: An American Story,” will be held Tuesday, Oct. 18, at 6:30 p.m. at Berlin-Peck Memorial Library 234 Kensington Road, Berlin.
It is sponsored by Friends of the Berlin-Peck Memorial Library. Registration: 860-828-7126 or berlinpeck.org.
Poets on Poetry
The Connecticut Poetry Society continues its free monthly Poets on Poetry book group discussions at Hartford Public Library, 500 Main St., Hartford, on Saturday, Oct. 22, from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Poet Mark Sheridan, a former banker and high schoolteacher, will discuss the work of Sylvia Plath, who, despite suffering depression, produced acclaimed works in the confessional, feminist, and gothic genres of poetry before taking her own life. Her “October Poems” to be discussed include “Fever 103,” “Lady Lazarus,” “Daddy,” and “The Arrival of the Bee Box.”
Information: ctpoetry.net.
Martin At Russell House
Poet, essayist and conceptual video artist Dawn Lundy Martin will give a free reading for the Russell House series of prose and poetry events at Russell House, 350 High St., Middletown, on the Wesleyan University campus, on Wednesday, Oct. 19, at 8 p.m.
Martin is the author of three poetry collections and three chapbooks, and her nonfiction has appeared in The New Yorker, Harper’s and other magazines. She won the 2015 Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Poetry and is an associate professor of English at the University of Pittsburgh.
Information: 860-685-3613 or vramdial@wesleyan.edu.
