Fall into the pages

There is no hard science behind the fact that the arrival of the cooler-weather months marks peak bookworm season, but let's be real for a second: During the summer, people are always trying to force you to “get fresh air” and “enjoy the sunshine” and “change out of your reading culottes for once.” Come autumn, everyone is itching to curl up under a blanket with a cup of tea and binge on Netflix, so the fact that you choose to stay inside and willfully damage your eyes by reading for seven hours on a Sunday is barely conspicuous.

This week, the city is full of opportunities for the bookish, beginning with conversations with two literary heavyweights: On Friday, November 5, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., New York Times bestselling author Sarah Vowell will be at the UC Davis Conference Center Ballroom (500 Alumni Lane in Davis) discussing and signing her latest book, Lafayette in the Somewhat United States. The event is free. The following evening, UC Davis professor and author Yiyun Li will be moderating a conversation with Zadie Smith, author of the acclaimed novels White Teeth, On Beauty and NW, at the Mondavi Center (9399 Old Davis Road in Davis). The conversation begins at 8 p.m. and tickets ($13.50-$19.51; student discounts available) can be purchased at www.mondaviarts.org.

Readers will have the opportunity to stockpile in a serious way with a book sale at the Crocker Art Museum (216 O Street) on Saturday, November 7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the Warehouse Book Sale at the Book Den (8250 Belvedere Avenue, Suite E) on November 6 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and November 7 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. benefiting the Sacramento Public Library.

On Tuesday, November 10, at 7:30 p.m. the Stories on Stage series will be featuring radio personality and UC Davis professor Dr. Andy Jones and writer Kate Duren; the husband and wife co-authored the book Where's Jukie? and will join Capital Public Radio's Devin Yamanaka and KOLT Run Creations for an evening of reading and performance. $5 suggested donation. More information can be found at http://storiesonstagedavis.com/.