Lots of people need a drink by the time Thursday rolls around, but a PBR doesn’t always cut it for the smarties of Cambridge and Somerville – the kinds of people who know the difference between Shakespeare’s “Timons of Athens” and “Titus Andronicus.”

The Cambridge Public Library has announced its citywide book club’s selection for the year: “Brown Girl Dreaming,” a memoir in verse by Jacqueline Woodson. The author will read Nov. 18.

Why are the Cambridge equivalent of rock stars coming out for the retirement party of a Harvard clerk – the guy who books rooms as a scheduling assistant for Harvard’s Center for Government and International Studies?

The sequel to “To Kill a Mockingbird” arrives Tuesday with questions about whether reclusive author Harper Lee wanted it published at all, but Cambridge readers are embracing the new novel.

It’s not just short fiction wanted for the March 1 publication of “Microchondria II: 42 More Short Short Stories.” Editors want original art for its covers.

There’s a good chance for a meta moment Friday at Porter Square Books as Carrie Russell reads from her debut novel, “Drowning Cactus”: The novel includes scenes within Porter Square Books itself.

Poet Marilyn Nelson headlines a series of free evening readings that runs Jan. 2-9 at Lesley University.

Somerville’s Liz Prince put up with a lot as a girl who didn’t want to be girly. Hear about what went into her graphic novel “Tomboy” Thursday evening.

Somerville’s Raúl Gonzalez will be in Porter Square to introduce “Lowriders,” an introduction to science and a subculture with Oregon’s Cathy Camper.

A talk with author Andrea Davis Pinkney – such as tonight’s – is likely to be as inspiring a literary time as one could imagine.