Book Readings

In Bill Gaston’s new collection of stories (see above), an English prof who never had the guts to become a writer squares off against a writer who never had the patience to be kind to his audiences. The two wage a war of persistence, the reader going on, improvising, hour after hour while the listener struggles to keep his own waking dreams distinct from the ravings at the podium. It’s a great spoof of readings, among other things, but hopefully no prediction for two promising events this week: Ivan Coyote reads at SFU Harbour Centre (515 West Hastings Street) tonight (October 5) at 7 p.m. Tickets $10, at 604-291-5100. And Mary Lawson and Kevin Patterson team up at the Norman Rothstein Theatre (950 West 41st Avenue) on Tuesday (October 10), also at 7 p.m. Tickets $15, from Ticketmaster.