A ton of readings on a whole bunch of topics tonight, including a mystery book signing at noon and an open mic.

Ashraf Ghani and Clare Lockhart read from Fixing Failed States, which seems to theorize a way to fix failed states, at Town Hall.

Up at Third Place Books, Charlie Ayers reads from his memoir, Food 2.0 : Secrets From the Chef Who Fed Google. Apparently, it’s a cookbook that suggests how to eat yourself into smartness.

At the University Book Store, book blogger Mark Sarvas reads from his debut novel, Harry, Revised. It’s a pretty good debut, with lots of good writing, but it’s a little too consciously literary. I look forward to his future work, and the Q & A for this reading should be a fun, name-dropping discussion about books, too.

At Parkplace Books out in Kirkland, we have Morgan Howell, reading from a fantasy trilogy. There may be elves in attendance.

And at Elliott Bay Book Company, Siri Hustvedt reads from her new novel, The Sorrows of an American. It’s always awkward to say this sort of thing, and many people will find it obnoxious and unnecessary, but Siri Hustvedt is married to Paul Auster. I find this sort of thing relevant not because of weird claims of nepotism, but rather because it means that Ms. Hustvedt’s book has an excellent first reader. She’s a very good writer in and of herself, and, having begun this book, I can say it’s probably one of her best.

Also, from the 7th through the 10th, Dinaw Mengestu, author the The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears, will be reading at various libraries throughout Seattle. Check the Library’s listing of events on their website. There will surely be a reading somewhere near you.

There’s more going on in the full readings calendar.