Nicole Walker, one of three writers reading at today’s installment of the Gulf Coast Reading Series, looks like a bright, cheerful young grad student. And she is all of those things. But she’s also a poet who tackles dark and difficult subjects, often writing about mental health issues. Walker understands that the topic might be off-putting to some readers. “They see it as messy,” she says, “as something they don’t want to think about.” But, of course, it’s a topic worth exploring. Walker, who calls herself a confessional poet, works hard to bring a sense of balance to her work, not making it too graphic or too idyllic, all while staying out of “woe is me” territory. “I don’t want to hit people over the head with my writing. But I don’t give them happy endings, either. My poems don’t resolve anything; they’re more of an investigation. As human beings, I think we have a need to explore issues even if we don’t resolve them.” Jameelah Lang and Aja Gabel will also be reading at today’s presentation. 7 p.m. Brazos Bookstore, 2421 Bissonnet. For information, call 713-743-1000 or visit www.brazosbookstore.com. Free.
Fri., Nov. 12, 7 p.m., 2010
This article appears in Nov 11-17, 2010.