This week's picks include a how-to book for folks not willing to accept a first diagnosis and a four-event poetry marathon, held in tandem with readings around the world. Read on for the details.

See also: Denver Cartoonist Spills Colfax Avenue's Secrets in 30 Miles of Crazy!

Jody Berger, Misdiagnosed: One Woman's Tour of -- and Escape from -- Healthcareland Tattered Cover Colfax Avenue 7 p.m. Tuesday, September 23 Free

Journalist Jody Berger writes from experience in Misdiagnosed, an account that proves that it pays to keep asking questions after a major diagnosis. For her, the original pronouncement was deadly: A doctor told her she had multiple sclerosis after coming in complaining of tingling in her hands and feet. That was only the beginning of a healthcare odyssey through one different diagnosis after another, until arriving at one that made sense and was surmountable -- a gluten allergy. But Berger doesn't only relate her own story -- she also gives tips on the art of navigating the healthcare maze.

100,000[,000 Dead] Poets for [Spare] Change

Denver's poetry community galvanizes this week for a series of events held in conjunction with the annual worldwide 100 Thousand Poets for Change events officially observed on September 27. Here's your guide to the week's poetizing for peace.

Open Reading Hosted by Ken Greenley Ziggie's Blues Bar 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, September 24

It's all about politics at this gathering of poets at Ziggie's, the home of an annual summer poetry fest. Greenley and fellow poets Clarice Keegan and Michael Annis will be joined by former progressive talk show host Jay Marvin for an evening of speaking out against war, tyranny and plutocrats. Bring your own political poems to share at the open mic portion of the show.

Continue reading for more literary picks.

Shoreline: An Evening of Multi-Media Performance Poetry Hinterland Art Space 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, September 25 Free

Denver poetry regular Roseanna Frechette will preside over this mixed bag of expression, which includes performances by prose poet Mike Romoth, Native flutist Valerie Szarek, Mercury Cafe slam poets Eddie Eifler and Piper Mullins, and Frechette's own collaboration with dancer/poet Mila Popovich and drummer Scoz. Throughout the night, guests are invited to lend a word to ongoing "Haiku Shore" and "Graffiti Man" projects.

Poetry Film Night Mercury Cafe 8 to 10 p.m. Friday, September 26 $3

Local Poets for Change organizer Michael Annis will host and participate in this evening of readings on film, featuring Gwylym Cano, Carolyn Reed, Les Reed, Padraic Cooper, Jillian Mukavetz and Jack Micheline (called "the human saxophone" by Jack Kerouac himself). Included in the mix are some Denver-centric reels from the 1980s documenting the Denver Union of Street Poets. Add your own voice at the open mic.

Intimate Reading West Side Books 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, September 26 Free

Host Jimi Bernath promises "six distinct voices, six renowned poets, speaking their minds and sharing their lines on the subject of change, in the broadest sense of the word" at West Side's laidback poets' circle featuring Bernath, Jerry Smaldone, Marilyn Krysl, Kit Hedman, Kathleen Cain and Nahshon Cook.

What's on the next page in Denver's literary world? Visit Westword's Literary Event listings for this week.

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