Soldier-poet Brian Turner, author of the best-selling poetry collection “Here, Bullet,” will give a free public lecture Thursday at Davidson College. The same night, Charlotte Writers Club North will host poet and author Peter Blair at its first meeting of the 2010-11 season. Meanwhile, events begin this week in ReadDavidson, the annual townwide series that has us all reading “A Walk in the Woods” by Bill Bryson. Details on those and other events below.

BRIAN TURNER

Poet and former soldier Brian Turner will speak Thursday, Sept. 9, at 7:30 p.m. at Davidson College’s Duke Family Performance Hall.

Mr. Turner earned an MFA in poetry from the University of Oregon and then served seven years in the US Army, including one year as an infantry team leader in Iraq.

His first book of poems, “Here, Bullet,” won the 2005 Beatrice Hawley Award and went on to be named a New York Times “Editor’s Choice” selection for 2007, and to win the 2007 Poets’ Prize, among others. Mr. Turner also was featured in “Operation Homecoming,” a documentary that explores the firsthand accounts of American servicemen and women through their own words.

“Here, Bullet,” is this year’s reading selection for all incoming freshman at Davidson. Admission to the lecture is free. Details on the college Website.

CHARLOTTE WRITERS CLUB NORTH

On Thursday, Sept. 9, Charlotte Writers’ Club North will welcome poet and author Peter Blair as its guest speaker. The meeting is at 7 p.m. in Davidson College Presbyterian Church Room 201.

Peter Blair’s most recent book of poems is titled “Farang,” published by Autumn House Press last January. The poems are based on his experiences as a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand. He has published two previous books, “The Divine Salt” (Autumn House Press, 2003) about working in a psychiatric ward, and “Last Heat” (Word Works Press, 1999) reflecting his experiences as a steel worker in Pittsburgh. He currently teaches English at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Founded in 1922, Charlotte Writers Club is a membership organization whose mission is to support Charlotte’s community of writers. Charlotte Writers’ Club North usually meets at 7 pm on the first Thursday of each month at Davidson College Presbyterian Church, 100 N. Main Street, Room 201. The public is welcome to attend. More info: www.charlottewritersclub.org

READDAVIDSON EVENTS

Five discussions, lectures and other events are planned in September and early October as part of the 2010 ReadDavidson townwide reading program. All are related to this year’s chosen book, “A Walk in the Woods” by Bill Bryson.

The events begin with a discussion of the book Tuesday, Sept. 7, at 7:30 p.m., at Davidson public library branch, led by Dr. Christine Marshall of Davidson College. Others will include a history program, a walk in our own local woods at Fisher Farm Park, a Tony Abbott lecture at The Pines at Davidson, and a visit to the rare book room at Davidson College’s library.

Mr. Bryson wrote “A Walk in the Woods” after returning to the U.S. from 20 years in England. The Iowa native decided to reconnect with his home country by hiking 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail.

ReadDavidson, formerly known as DavidsonREADS, is a town-wide program to get everyone reading and talking about the same book. It is a partnership between the Town of Davidson Parks & Recreation Department, the Davidson Public Library, Main Street Books and several local avid readers.

LITERARY CALENDAR

TUESDAY, SEPT. 7, 7-8:30 p.m., Davidson public library branch, on the Village Green – Discussion of “A Walk in the Woods,” led by Dr. Christine Marshall of Davidson College. Part of ReadDavidson’s series of events related to the townwide reading book “A Walk in the Woods” by Bill Bryson.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 9, 7 p.m., Davidson College Presbyterian Church, Room 201, 100 N. Main St. – Charlotte Writers Club North meeting with poet and author Peter Blair. His most recent book of poems is titled “Farang” based on his experiences in the Peace Corps in Thailand. More info: www.charlottewritersclub.org

THURSDAY, SEPT. 9, 7:30 p.m., Duke Family Performance Hall, Knobloch Campus Center, Davidson College – Soldier-poet Brian Turner will discuss his award-winning poetry collection entitled “Here, Bullet,” the freshman reading book at Davidson College this fall. Free and open to the public. For more information, contact Nancy Randazzo at narandazzo@davidson.edu or 704-894-2284. More info on the college website.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 124 p.m., Davidson Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. – ReadDavidson presents Charles Williams, an Andre Michaux interpreter. He will detail Michaux’s journey through the Carolinas, discussing his route and the plants he discovered and documented as a botanist in the 1780s. Sponsored by the Davidson Historical Society. Part of ReadDavidson’s series of events related to the townwide reading book “A Walk in the Woods” by Bill Bryson. Free.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 26, 2 p.m., Fisher Farm Park, off Shearers Road, Davidson – A walk at Fisher Farm, in conjunction with the Davidson Lands Conservancy, led by Dr. Pat Peroni, a Davidson College biologist. Part of ReadDavidson’s series of events related to the townwide reading book “A Walk in the Woods” by Bill Bryson.

MONDAY, SEPT. 27, 3-4 p.m., The Pines at Davidson – Lecture on “A Walk in the Woods,” presented by Davidson College English Prof. emeritus Tony Abbott. Part of ReadDavidson’s series of events related to the townwide reading book “A Walk in the Woods” by Bill Bryson.

SUNDAY, OCT. 3, 4 p.m., Rare Book Room, Davidson College Little Library – Lecture on “Travel Narratives” by Jan Blodgett, Davidson College archivist. Part of ReadDavidson’s series of events related to the townwide reading book “A Walk in the Woods” by Bill Bryson.