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THIS WEEK: Feb. 5 to 11, 2016
Blind Date with a Book. Take a chance on a “blind date” with a book by choosing a specially wrapped volume. Then rate your book “date” and be entered to win prizes. Marian Sutherland Kirby Library, 35 Kirby Ave., Mountain Top. Through February with “Rate Your Date” forms due by March 5. 570-474-9313.
Blind Date with a Book. Select a gift-wrapped book and discover a new author you may “fall in love with.” Those who “rate their date” are eligible for prize drawings. Through Feb. 29 at the Osterhout Free Library, 71 S. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre. 570-823-0156.
Open Mic Night, a sharing of poems, short stories, drama, creative non-fiction, music and comedy, sponsored by the Campion Literary Society. Postupak Room, William G. McGowan School of Business, West Union and North River streets, King’s College, Wilkes-Barre. 7 p.m. Feb. 5. Free. 570-208-5900, ext. 5487.
Downton Abbey Discussion of the previous night’s episode of the popular PBS series. Wyoming Free Library, 358 Wyoming Ave. 5 p.m. Feb. 8. 570-693-1364.
Literary Snoops Book Club, a discussion of “A Walk in the Woods” by Bill Bryson. Wyoming Free Library, 358 Wyoming Ave. Noon on Feb. 10. 570-693-4682.
A Poetry of Witness: Conversation from Coal to Gas — Voices and Their Echos, a reading by poet and author Craig Czury, whose most recent book is “Thumb Notes Almanac: Hitchhiking the Marcellus Shale.” Catherine Evans McGowan Room of the Mary Kintz Bevevino Library, Misericordia University, 301 Lake St., Dallas. 7 p.m. Feb. 10. Free. 570-674-8021.
Wyoming County Reads, the annual book reading and discussion series with this year’s selections: “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “Go Set a Watchman,” both by Harper Lee. Discussions (all at 7 p.m.) include: “Heroes and Humans: A Study of Atticus Finch” on Feb. 10; “Mockingbird to Watchman: You Can’t Go Home Again or Can You?” on Feb. 17; and “Hatred, Prejudice and Ignorance vs. the Human Capacity for Goodness” on Feb. 24. Tunkhannock Public Library, 220 W. Tioga St. The series wraps up with a screening of the film “To Kill a Mockingbird” 1 and 7 p.m. March 2 at the Dietrich Theater, 60 E. Tioga St., Tunkhannock. Free. 570-996-1500.
FUTURE
Book Talk and Signing, with Maxim W. Furek, author of “Sheppton: The Myth, Miracle & Music,” about the mining disaster that occurred more than 50 years ago. Osterhout Free Library, 71 S. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre. 11:30 a.m. Feb. 13. Free. 570-821-1959.
Writing Workshop, informal, themed writing classes, sponsored by the Campion Literary Society. Sheehy-Farmer Campus Center, King’s College, Wilkes-Barre. 3:30 p.m. Feb. 16. Free. 570-208-5900, ext. 5487.
And Your Kids Will Be Painted Black, a spoken-word poetry performance by Javon Johnson, presented in conjunction with Black History Month. Moskovitz Theater, DeNaples Center, 900 Mulberry St., University of Scranton. 6:30 p.m. Feb. 16. Free. 570-941-5904.
Author Reading, by Calvino Prize-winning short-story writer Micah Dean Hicks from his volume “Electricity & Other Dreams,” which he describes as “Southern gothic meets tall tale meets dirty realism.” Mary Kintz Bevevino Library, Misericordia University, 301 Lake St., Dallas. 6 p.m. Feb. 18. Free. 570-674-6400.
The Franklin Street Sleuths. The mystery-book club will discuss “Death in Saratoga Springs” by Charles O’Brien. Osterhout Free Library, 71 S. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre. 6:30 p.m. Feb. 18. A limited number of free books are available on a first come, first served basis for $2. 570-823-0156.
JCC Book Club, a discussion of “Tomorrow There Will Be Apricots” by Jessica Soffer, about a young girl who takes cooking lessons to make a special dish for her mother, hoping to win her affections. Jewish Community Center, 60 S. River St., Wilkes-Barre. 12:30 p.m. March 3. 570-824-4646.
Art + Feminism Wikipedia Edit-a-thon, a day of communal editing to create and improve Wikipedia articles on women. Rooms 305 and 306, Weinberg Memorial Library, 300 Monroe St., University of Scranton. 11 a.m. March 5. Free. 570-941-6133.
Schemel Forum Luncheon, with a talk on”Can It Possibly Get Worse for Europe and the Middle East? An Update on the Refugee Crisis and the Thick Fog of Fundamentalism” byaward-winning author Peter Zilahy. Rose Room, Brennan Hall, 320 Madison Ave., University of Scranton. Noon on March 16. $20. Reservations: 570-941-6206.
The Franklin Street Sleuths. The mystery-book club will discuss “Working Stiff” by Annelise Ryan. Osterhout Free Library, 71 S. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre. 6:30 p.m. March 17. A limited number of free books are available on a first come, first served basis for $2. 570-823-0156.
Open Mic Night, a sharing of poems, short stories, drama, creative non-fiction, music and comedy, sponsored by the Campion Literary Society. Postupak Room, William G. McGowan School of Business, West Union and North River streets, King’s College, Wilkes-Barre. 7 p.m. March 18. Free. 570-208-5900, ext. 5487.
Breaking Ground Poets, the featured act at the monthly Open Mic Night. Dietrich Theater, 60 E. Tioga St., Tunkhannock. March 25 with open-mic performer signups at 6:30 p.m. and show at 7 p.m. Free. 570-996-1500.
Luncheon with a Special Author, the annual event sponsored by Friends of the Back Mountain Memorial Library. Appletree Terrace, Newberry Estate, Pioneer Avenue, Dallas. April 21. 570-675-1182.
The Franklin Street Sleuths. The mystery-book club will discuss “Mortal Fear” by Greg Iles. Osterhout Free Library, 71 S. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre. 6:30 p.m. April 21. A limited number of free books are available on a first come, first served basis for $2. 570-823-0156.
Jay Parini: My Life as a Writer in Poetry and Prose, a talk by the prolific author focusing on his two most recent books: “New and Collected Poems” and “Empire of Self: A Life of Gore Vidal.” Heritage Room, Weinberg Memorial Library, University of Scranton. 5:30 to 7 p.m. May 2. Free. 570-941-6206.
The Franklin Street Sleuths. The mystery-book club will discuss “This Night’s Foul Work” by Fred Vargas. Osterhout Free Library, 71 S. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre. 6:30 p.m. May 19. A limited number of free books are available on a first come, first served basis for $2. 570-823-0156.