In his tenth novel The Anthologist, author Nicholson Baker presents the story of narrator Paul Chowder, a “once-in-a-while-published kind of poet” who is hard at work writing the introduction to a new anthology of poetry. Unfortunately for Paul, his personal life is at a crossroads. He’s recently lost his girlfriend, and his career is falling apart. But this onetime, simple job quickly becomes more than what he originally bargained for as his short introduction becomes a love story about poetry past and present, and how important it is to our lives. In this inspired and frequently hilarious tale, popular author Baker demonstrates his ability to craft a unique story that is as much an ode to writing as it is about writing.
Sept. 22, 7 p.m., The Odyssey Bookshop, 9 College St., South Hadley, (413) 534-7307, www.odysseybks.com.