• April 4, 2024
          Everybody Reads 2024: Gabrielle Zevin
          April 8, 2024
          2024 Oregon Book Awards Ceremony
          April 18, 2024
          Aimee Nezhukumatathil: Portland Arts & Lectures 2023/24
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Karen Karbo

Karen Karbo

Karen Karbo is the author of fourteen award-winning novels, memoirs, and works of nonfiction, including the bestselling Kick Ass Women series. Her 2004 memoir, The Stuff of Life, was a New York Times Notable Book and a Books for a Better Life Award finalist. A recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship in Fiction, Karen’s three adult novels have also been named New York Times Notable Books. Her work has appeared in Elle, Vogue, Outside, the New York Times, Salon, Slate and other magazines. Most recently, she is the author of the national bestseller, In Praise of Difficult Women. Her new book, Yeah, No. Not Happening: How I Swore Off Self-Improvement and Said F*ck It All – and How You Can Too! will appear in May. A long time resident of Portland, she now lives in Collioure, France.

Events, Classes, and Seminars

Our events, classes, and seminars bring the community together to hear, learn, and discuss the most compelling issues and ideas of our day. We hope you will join us in our downtown Literary Arts space, online, and at partnering venues across Portland and Oregon.