The week at Book Passage

Among Bay Area bookstores, Book Passage in Corte Madera has one of the most active schedules going of author events, readings, classes and other literary happenings. In fact, it’s not uncommon for more than one or two author talks to take place at the store on just about any given day. Additionally, many of these events have a local connection. Looking at the week, here are three events readers won’t want to miss.

Trenton Lee Stewart talks about The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict
-- Friday, May 4 at 10:00 am

Before there was a Mysterious Benedict Society, there was a somewhat ordinary, unwanted, orphaned, narcoleptic, boy genius named Nicholas Benedict. Now, in this kinda-sorta Bildungsroman (there we said it), meet the boy who started it all... and prepare yourself for adventure, danger, cleverness, and dry wit — lots of dry wit! How much dry wit? Lots! At this special event, Trenton Lee Stewart talks about his just published The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict  (Little, Brown).

Trenton Lee Stewart is the author of the award-winning and New York Times bestselling Mysterious Benedict Society series. A graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, he lives with his wife and two sons in Arkansas.

Barry Spitz talks about To Save A Mountain The 100-Year Battle For Tamalpais
-- Saturday, May 5 at 7:00 pm

Local historian Barry Spitz discusses To Save A Mountain The 100-Year Battle For Tamalpais (Createspace). Why does Marin County, inside one of the nation's most populous metropolitan areas, have so much public open space? Marin author Spitz tells the colorful story of how Mt. Tamalpais was transformed from all-private ownership to the space it is today. This event is co-sponsored with Tamalpais Conservation Club.

Barry Spitz is the author of a bunch of  local interest books on local history and the outdoors, including books on Mill Valley, Marin, San Anselmo and Tamalpais Trails. Since 1982, he has served as the Dipsea Race announcer, and the race's official historian since 1993. Spitz also wrote a weekly column on running for the Marin Independent Journal.

Nancy Boas talks about David Park: A Painter's Life
-- Sunday, May 6 at 4:00 pm

Renowned Bay Area art historian Nancy Boas talks about David Park: A Painter's Life (University of California Press). Park, a transplanted Bostonian turned ground-breaking West Coast painter, led the way in creating what became known as Bay Area Figurative Art — a daring move at a time when Abstract Expressionism dominated the art world. In this beautifully illustrated biography, compiled from comprehensive and sweeping interviews, Boas traces Park’s resolute search for a new kind of figuration, while plunging us into the lively 1940s and 1950s Bay Area art scene. Boas’ new book is a major biography of a major artist, as well as "An enthralling read." — San Francisco Magazine

Nancy Boas is the author of The Society of Six: California Colorists and a contributor to the exhibition and catalog Facing Eden: 100 Years of Landscape Art in the Bay Area. She was Adjunct Curator of American Paintings at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.

MORE INFO: Unless otherwise noted, all events take place at Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., in Corte Madera. Call (415) 927-0960 or visit www.bookpassage.com for details.