Is it still called a reading if the writer makes you read his work quietly to yourself? That’s undoubtedly what part of Thursday night’s festivities will look like at Kirk Anderson’s multimedia Amazon Bookstore reading to mark the publication of his graphic novel, "Banana Republic: Adventures in Amnesia" (Molotov Comix, $15.95).

This book collects the editorial cartoon series Anderson created for the Star Tribune (before that, he was staff editorial cartoonist at the Pioneer Press), back when newspapers still valued visual interpretations of the day’s events. The room won’t be silent, though — there will be laughter (albeit wry, given the series’ real-life inspiration: the war in Iraq). Take a look at the busy event schedule at the Amazon Bookstore, the Minneapolis shop founded by feminists 30-something years ago. As this reading indicates, it’s not all about the estrogen. The newly reborn bookstore is bringing in several writers every week. It’s great to see a local independent bookstore thrive again, so consider visiting this Amazon for your holiday shopping to keep our local arts community lively.

Kirk Anderson. 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18. Amazon Bookstore, 4755 Chicago Ave. S., Minneapolis.