Admit it. You sometimes miss elementary school: you, a carpet square, a room full of people, and someone reading a story. Luckily, you need not return to the trauma of childhood to recreate story hour. On a fairly regular basis, authors show up at bookstores to read to anyone who shows up, for free.

Tonight is no exception. Well, the exception is some events are more exciting than others: in particular, Kevin Guilfoile will be at Elliott Bay Company tonight at 7:30 pm reading from his new novel, Cast of Shadows [$]. Kevin is probably best known for his work with McSweeney’s and for being one of the very funny co-authors of My First Presidentiary [$]. Having mastered the art of the faux-autobiography, Guilfoile’s new book is a philosophical thriller about what happens when the teenage daughter of a fertility specialist is brutally murdered and her father uses his professional skills and a bit of DNA extracted from the death scene to create a copy of her killer. The novel has been very well reviewed, and the best part about readings is that you can pick up a copy of your very own to have autographed afterwards (authors are among the more approachable celebrities).

Get there a few minutes early to buy some milk and chocolate-covered graham crackers from the cafe. It’s an ideal fusion of the warm glow of childhood memories with the benefit of feeling literary and sophisticated on a Wednesday evening (don’t worry — Lost is a re-run).