Friday 11/14: Seminary Co-op Bookstore hosts two poets with collections out this year from University of Wisconsin Press. Joanne Diaz, author of My Favorite Tyrants and Angela Sorby, author of The Sleeve Waves, read and discuss their work. 6 p.m.
Lynn Kanter is at Women and Children First Books to read from and sign Her Own Vietnam, a novel about a U.S. Army nurse and the toll of war on her life and family. Kanter lives in D.C., but she was born in Chicago. Come welcome her home. 7:30 p.m.
Saturday 11/15: The Comic Art and Architecture of Chris Ware is exhibiting at the Art Institute, featuring pieces that served as Ware’s inspiration and source material. Shows until January 19.
Sunday 11/16: Journalist Maya Schenwar calls America’s prison system to task in her latest book, Locked Down, Locked Out. She’s at Seminary Co-op today to talk about it. 3 p.m.
Marc Kelly Smith’s Uptown Poetry Slam at The Green Mill has been going strong for decades, every Sunday. Open mic starts the evening, followed by the featured guest, and then the slam competition. The show’s done with professionalism and irreverence at the same time. 7 p.m.
Monday 11/17: Essay Fiesta’s November show is “All Grown Up,” featuring Megan Stielstra, David Stuart MacLean, Erin Diamond, Keith Ecker, and the live lit debut of Tiffany Wong. Go to The Book Cellar to support Tiffany because Chicago needs new storytellers to talk about. 7 p.m.
Tuesday 11/18: Poet Lisa Samuels is at Stage Two, Columbia College to read from her work. 5:30 p.m.
Patrick Jagoda is assistant professor of English, cinema, and media studies at University of Chicago, and he’s at Seminary Co-op to talk about the increasing importance of comics in literary culture. U Chicago Press is one of the leading publishers of literary criticism of comics in the country. 6 p.m.
Poetry Foundation presents another edition of the Open Door Readings. The reading is an hour long and features graduate instructors paired with their students. This month come hear Simone Muench, C. Russell Price, Christine Pacyk, and the incomparable Reginald Gibbons. 7 p.m.
The people’s choice for best live lit event in Chicago is Ian Belknap’s Write Club. It’s at The Hideout again tonight for Chapter 64: Blood-Spattered Chopping Block of Thanks. 7 p.m.
South Side Story Club’s theme this month is “My Other Talent,” featuring Kendra Stevens, Laura Nessler, Kim Morris, and Aidan McCormack. There will also be a bird named Chad. Co-Prosperity Sphere, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday 11/19: It’s Local Author Night at The Book Cellar, with Chris Bower, Peggy Shinner, and Margaret Patton Chapman. 7 p.m.
Palabra Pura presents “From the Margins of the Margins,” a response to the lingering remnants of colonialism in the country today. Daniel Borzutzky and Justin Petropoulos are this month’s readers. Open mike follows. La Bruqena, 7:30 p.m.
Story Lab Chicago presents new voices every month at Black Rock. Scott Whitehair is a great host for live lit readings and creates a welcoming atmosphere. He’s the right guy for people who want to break into the live lit scene, but have been traditionally hesitant. This month come hear Kristen Anderson, Amy Berrefato, Angelica Davila, Jim Herbert, Helen Lambin, and Melissa Perrin. 7:30 p.m.
Thursday 11/20: Fifth Wednesday Journal is a literary magazine of fiction, poetry, essay, and photography. It’s having a launch party at The Book Cellar for issue 15. Richard Jones, Natania Rosenfeld, Wes Jamison, and Sarah Carson are your readers. 6 p.m.