friday/17
Boris Fishman. The author discusses his novel “A Replacement Life,” about a New York writer who reinvents his immigrant grandfather’s identity so he can qualify for Holocaust reparations. At Copperfield’s Books, 140 Kentucky St., Petaluma. 7 p.m. Free. www.copperfieldsbooks.com. Also Oct. 18 at Book Passage Marin, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera. 7 p.m. Free. www.bookpassage.com. Also Oct. 19 at Jewish Community Library, 1825 Ellis St., S.F. 1:30 p.m. Free. www.jewishlearningworks.org. For additional readings, see www.borisfishman.com/events.
saturday/18
Poetry reading. Jewish poet Robin Becker will read selections from her new collection, “Tiger Heron.” At Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High St., Sebastopol. 7 p.m. Free. www.wordtemple.com. Also Oct. 23 at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley. 7:30 p.m. Free. www.poetryflash.org
sunday/19
“Haley Unearthed.” Local author Adam Henig discusses his recently published book “Alex Haley’s Roots: An Author’s Odyssey.” Part of Contra Costa Jewish Book & Arts Festival. At Contra Costa JCC, 2071 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. 5 p.m. $10. (510) 809-4953
thursday/23
“The Mathematician’s Shiva.” Stuart Rojstaczer of Palo Alto talks about his novel, which pits a family mourning its matriarch against a cadre of mathematicians in search of her famous million-dollar proof. At Jewish Community Library, 1825 Ellis St., S.F. 7 p.m. Free. www.jewishlearningworks.org (See story, 20)
“Graphic Lives: Identity, History and Comics Form in Art Spiegelman’s ‘Maus.’” Professor Hertha D. Sweet Wong of U.C. Berkeley talks about Spiegelman’s use of the comic form to chronicle his father’s experience of the Holocaust. At JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut St., Berkeley. 7:30 to 9 p.m. Free. (510) 845-6420
friday/24
Cookbook author Yotam Ottolenghi. Israeli-born chef, restaurateur and author of “Jerusalem” and “Plenty” discusses his new cookbook, “Plenty More.” At JCCSF, 3200 California St., S.F. 7 p.m. Event is sold out, but live stream can be viewed at www.jccsf.org/arts-ideas/ondemand.
sunday/26
“The World of Rebecca Rubin.” Jewish Community Library celebrates “centennial” of American Girl doll Rebecca, daughter of Jewish immigrants in 1914 New York City. Children 7 and older are invited to learn about Rebecca and enjoy refreshments, games and a photo booth for “vintage photos.” At Jewish Community Library, 1835 Ellis St., S.F. 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Limited space; RSVP required. $14 suggested donation. www.jewishlearningworks.org/library
wednesday/29
“An Evening with Martin Amis.” The author discusses “The Zone of Interest,” his new novel about the everyday lives of Nazi officers at Auschwitz during the Holocaust. At Mechanics’ Institute, 57 Post. St., S.F. 6 p.m. $15, free for Institute and CJM members. www.milibrary.org