Bestselling author Sue Miller will read from her work as a part of the fall series of public readings sponsored by the Amherst College Creative Writing Center. Miller has written nine novels of fiction, including "The Good Mother" and "Inventing the Abbotts." Her forthcoming novel, "The Senator's Wife," will be published early in 2008. Wed., 8 p.m., Pruyne Lecture Hall, Fayerweather Hall. No admission charge.

Guest curator Michael Kasper will give a gallery talk on "Off the Shelf: Artists' Books from Amherst College Collections," one of the Mead Art Museum's current exhibitions. The exhibition features books designed by artist-writers that show the communicative powers of both art and writing. Visitors can browse volumes on the open book shelf. Thur., 4:30 p.m., Small Fairchild Gallery, Mead Art Museum. No admission charge.

Monica Jakuc, Smith College's Elsie Irwin Sweeney Professor of Music, will perform music by Schubert on the 6 ½-octave fortepiano built in 2003 by Paul McNulty. The concert, featuring Schubert's "Sonata in C Minor, D. 958," is one of the three performances that will explore the beauty and versatility of the 1819 Graf replica fortepiano. Sat., 8 p.m., Sweeney Concert Hall, Sage Hall, Smith College. No admission charge.

Emily Dickinson's poetry holds appeal for a wide range of readers. The Emily Dickinson Museum welcomes all fans of poetry to participate in its third annual "Emily Dickinson Poetry Marathon." All of Dickinson's 1,789 poems will be read at various locations in Amherst. The marathon begins at 6 a.m. at the Dickinson Homestead and will end around midnight. Sat., 6 a.m., Dickinson Homestead. For more information visit www.emilydickinsonmuseum.org/events.