This week's literary events: October 14 - 20

Find more book readings and discussions at TheGazette.com/calendar. Submit events using the literary category.

FEATURED EVENT:

Dramatist to present evening of Frost poetry

Gary Zmolek, a self-styled “apostle of poetry,” will be at Brucemore on Thursday evening (10/18) to present the dramatic performance, “Stopping by Woods: The Life and Poetry of Robert Frost.”

The program begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Mansion's Great Hall. Cost is $10 for adults, $5 for students. A reception will follow. Seating is limited, with advance purchase of tickets recommended by calling (319) 362-7375.

Zmolek interweaves the American poet's life with more than 500 lines of his poetry, accompanied by pianist Alan Huckleberry and oboist Heather Huckleberry. Alan Huckleberry, who teaches piano at the University of Iowa, was the featured soloist at the recent performance of “Rhapsody in Blue” at Brucemore.

Zmolek taught English in the South Tama County school district before retiring. He also coached the individual speech competitors for 35 years, guiding his students to more than 90 outstanding performance awards.

“Robert Frost believed in the power of poetry to move people, to open their hearts and minds, to enrich their experience,” Zmolek said. “Because the poems cry to be read aloud, and because of Frost's musical ear, pairing them with appropriate music has proved a most rewarding experiment.”

SUNDAY:

Screening of documentary, “City of Literature,” 2 p.m. at the Englert Theatre, 221 E. Washington St., Iowa City. This films looks at how Iowa City became a hub for creative writing and a UNESCO City of Literature, with a nod to Paul Engle, longtime head of the Iowa Writers Workshop. The film will be followed by a panel discussion with former Iowa Poet Laureate Marvin Bell and Loren Glass, associate professor of English at the University of Iowa. Tickets: $12 adults, $8 students.

International Writing Program residents Lin Chun Ying (Taiwan) and Pandora (Burma) and UI Writers Workshop student James Molloy, 4 p.m. at Prairie Lights, 15 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City.

MONDAY:

David Finch, humorist, blogger, author of the best-seller, “The Journal of Best Practices: A Memoir of Marriage, Asperger Syndrome, and One Man's Quest to be a Better Husband,” 7 p.m. at Pomerantz Career Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City.

TUESDAY:

Paul's Book Club, 7 p.m., second floor meeting room, Iowa City Public Library, 123 S. Linn St. (note change of location), for discussion of “Masters of Atlantis” by Charles Portis, American humorist best known for “True Grit” and “Norwood.”

Kevin Salwen, co-author of “The Power of Half, “ talks about his family's decision to sell their home and donate half the proceeds to fight hunger and poverty, 7 p.m. at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 1340 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids.

Young adult authors Dori Hillestad Butler and Delia Ray,4:30 p.m., Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 333 Collins Rd. NE, Cedar Rapids.

WEDNESDAY:

Jay Jennings will read from “Escape Velocity: A Charles Portis Miscellany.” Jennings is the editor of a new collection of short stories, newspaper articles, memoir and play by Charles Portis, 7 p.m. at Prairie Lights, 15 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City. This is the first new book by Portis (author of “True Grit”) in more than 20 years.

Community Book Talk, noon at Coralville Public Library, 1401 Fifth St., with community leaders discussing their favorite books. Presenters: Rex Brandstatter, Re/Max; Megan Flanagan, Coralville Center for Performing Arts; Bill Hoeft, Coralville City Council; Keith Jones, Hills Bank; Margaret McCaffrey, wife of Hawkeye basketball coach Fran McCaffrey; Christine Scheetz, United Way of Johnson County, and Ryan West, West Music. Those attending can bring brown-bag lunch.

FRIDAY:

Civil Rights Book Club, Discussion of “The Rich and the Rest of Us” by Tavis Smiley and Cornel West, noon, Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission, 425 Second St. SE, Suite 960.