9/22

All I Did Was Ask: Interviews From "Fresh Air" Terry Gross dishes; Union Square Barnes & Noble, 33 E. 17th St. (betw. B'way & Park Ave. S.), 212-253-0810; 7, free.

Another Bullshit Night in Suck City Congratulations, Nick Flynn, you are the winner of the coveted "Title of the Week" prize, following a close race w/ "Second Novel"; Barnes & Noble, 396 6th Ave. (betw. Waverly Pl. & 8th St.), 212-674-8780; 7:30, free.

Happy Ending Nawh, man, it's a reading series, you sick fuck. This week, Brad Land (Goat) & John Rowell; Happy Ending, 302 Broome St. (betw. Forsythe & Eldridge Sts.), 212-334-9676; 8, free.

Ed Koch New York's bachelor (wink, wink) mayor signs new children's book Eddie: Harold's Little Brother; Barnes & Noble, 1972 B'way (betw. 65th & 66th Sts.), 212-595-6859; 12:30, free.

Tony Kushner Author of Angels in America reads; Coliseum Books, 11 W. 42nd St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-803-5890; 6, free.

9/23

Ballad of the Whiskey Robber: A True Story of Bank Heists, Ice Hockey, Transylvanian Pelt Smuggling, Moonlighting Detectives, and Broken Hearts We thinks we smell a "Title of the Week" award...from Publishers Weekly: "This story of a bank robber who captured a nation's sympathy in post-communist Hungary is a rollicking tale told with glee and flair"; Astor Place Barnes & Noble, 4 Astor Pl. (betw. B'way & Lafayette St.), 212-420-1322; 7:30, free.

Cartoonist/Illustrator Steve Brodner appears to promote Freedom Fries; Virgin Union Square, 52 E. 14th St. (B'way), 212-274-0997; 7, free.

Food for Thought An excuse to stroll through Gramercy, an activity that always reminds us here at the Readings Desk why life is worth living. Today, a reading of Harold Pinter's The Homecoming to follow lunch; National Arts Club, 15 Gramercy Park S. (20th St.), 212-475-3424; 12:30, $47.

Hard, Hard City Jim Fusilli proves he's a tough guy w/the noirest title in town; Partners & Crime, 44 Greenwich Ave. (Charles St.), 212-243-0440; 7, free.

The Love Wife From Publishers Weekly: "A meddlesome Chinese-American mother bequeaths a Chinese nanny to her ambivalent son and his big blonde wife in this darkly comic fairy tale about cultural assimilation, biological destiny and domestic warfare"; Asian American Writers' Workshop, 16 W. 32nd St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-494-0061; 7, $5 sugg. don.

Walter Mosley Author of the popular Easy Rawlins mystery series appears; Coliseum Books, 11 W. 42nd St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-803-5890; 6, free.

Rome Wasn't Burnt in a Day Joe Scarborough criticizes both parties in new nonfiction; Barnes & Noble, 2289 B'way (82nd St.), 212-362-8835; 7:30, free.

The Warlord's Son Dan Fesperman reads from "gritty thriller set in the tribal lands between Afghanistan and Pakistan"; Chelsea Barnes & Noble, 675 6th Ave. (21st St.), 212-727-1227; 7, free.

9/24

The Man Who Outgrew His Prison Cell: Confessions of a Bank Robber "Stabbing his violent, abusive father was Joe [Loya's] first foray into what would become a life of crime. Once inside, his criminal behavior worsened until he was locked in solitary confinement. He eventually forgave his father and discovered his purpose"; Barnes & Noble, 396 6th Ave. (betw. Waverly Pl. & 8th St.), 212-674-8780; 7:30, free.

Sacred Time From Publishers Weekly: "A boisterously funny opening is followed by family tragedy in this moving if occasionally manipulative novel by [Ursula] Hegi (Stones from the River, etc.) charting a tumultuous half-century in the lives of a delightful Italian-American Bronx family"; West Side YMCA, 5 W. 63rd St. (Central Park W.), 212-875-4124; 8, free.

9/27

Howard Dean Erraghh!!!! Sorry, we couldn't resist. And if Dean is smart, neither will he—Bubba made a notoriously long speech at the Democratic convention four years before he was nominated & saved himself by making fun of it the next day on all the chat shows. Today, the Deaner stops by to discuss You Have the Power; Union Square Barnes & Noble, 33 E. 17th St. (betw. B'way & Park Ave. S.), 212-253-0810; 12:30, free.

Maureen Howard & Cynthia Ozick read from The Silver Screen & Heir to the Glimmering World; 92nd St. Y, 1395 Lexington Ave. (92nd St.), 212-415-5500; 8, $16.

The Life of Graham Greene ...volume THREE. Could any testament to your existence be more impressive than it demanding three books to document?; Barnes & Noble, 2289 B'way (82nd St.), 212-362-8835; 7:30, free.

Pete's Big Salmon Hipsters Stop adjusting your arm warmers long enough to hear Marie Ponsot (Springing) & Sarah Compton (Down Spooky); Pete's Candy Store, 709 Lorimer St. (betw. Frost & Richardson Sts.), Williamsburg, 718-302-3770; 7:30, free.

Tales from the Jets Sideline by Mark Cannizzaro "Author Mark Cannizzaro takes readers on a journey through his eyes and the eyes of the subjects he has covered"; Nevada Smith's, 74 3rd Ave. (betw. 11th & 12th Sts.), 212-982-2591; 8, free.

Word Series Today, "The Molloy Monologs" w/Wit's Kathleen Chalfant; Cornelia St. Cafe, 29 Cornelia St. (6th Ave.), 212-989-9318; 6, $6.

9/28

Eric Alterman The Nation columnist reads from When Presidents Lie: A History of Official Deception and Its Consequences; Barnes & Noble, 2289 B'way (82nd St.), 212-362-8835; 7:30, free.

Tribute to Judy Blume Hot on the heels of the Amy Sohn/Jonathan Ames Charles Bukowski tribute, Bridget Everett & Kenny Mellman hose the semen & booze off the floors & put on their pink pill box hats; Fez/Time Cafe, 380 Lafayette St. (Great Jones St.), 212-533-7000; 9:30, $10.

Border-Line Personalities: A New Generation of Latinas Dish on Sex, Sass, and Cultural Shifting Authors Michelle Herrera Mulligan & Robyn Moreno discuss; Chelsea Barnes & Noble, 675 6th Ave. (21st St.), 212-727-1227; 7, free.