Sara Gruen, the author of the award-winning, #1 bestselling novel Water for Elephants, reads from her newest novel, Ape House (Spiegel & Grau, $26), which opens the animal world to us in ways few novels have done. Sam, Bonzi, Lola, Mbongo, Jelani, and Makena are no ordinary apes. These bonobos, like others of their species, are capable of reason and carrying on deep relationships — but unlike most bonobos, they also know American Sign Language. Isabel Duncan, a scientist at the Great Ape Language Lab, doesn’t understand people, but animals she gets — especially the bonobos. Isabel feels more comfortable in their world than she’s ever felt among humans . . . until she meets John Thigpen, a very married reporter who braves the ever-present animal rights protesters outside the lab to see what’s really going on inside. When an explosion rocks the lab, severely injuring Isabel and “liberating” the apes, John’s human interest piece turns into the story of a lifetime, one he’ll risk his career and his marriage to follow. Ape House secures Sara Gruen’s place as a master storyteller who allows us to see ourselves as we never have before. FREE TICKETS for this event are available at Books & Books, while supplies last. 7:30pm