Few writers whip gut-wrenching drama into eloquent prose like Cajun novelist Andre Dubus III (pronounced "Duh-byoose"). The son of literary legend Andre Dubus, Andre III certainly inherited his late father's chops. He's landed one prestigious nod after another, from the coveted Pushcart Prize to his inclusion in anthologies like 1994's Best American Short Stories. The inimitable author will read today from The Garden of Last Days, the follow-up to his gritty New York Times best-seller, The House of Sand and Fog. (You might remember the film version of Fog, a super-sad movie featuring Jennifer Connelly as a smack addict.) The Garden of Last Days promises to be just as gripping. Sordid, gloomy and frighteningly real, true to Dubus's form, Days follows three characters - a struggling stripper, a mysterious spender and a lonely boozehound - as they search for love and acceptance. Hey, that sounds like it would make a good movie. 7 p.m. Brazos Bookstore, 2421 Bissonnet. For information, call 713-523-0701 or visit www.brazosbookstore.com. Free.
Thu., June 18, 7 p.m., 2009