One weird world

August Brill, the main character in Paul Auster's new novel, "Man in the Dark" is fond of quoting failed poet Rose Hawthorne's line, "The weird world rolls on." Auster's novel creates a weird world of its own, following Brill on one sleepless night as he spins stories about a new American civil war, relives his own past, and examines the lives of his daughter and granddaughter. All these stories woven together makes for a challenging, fantastical read, and you can learn all about it from the author himself tonight at the Brattle. 6 p.m. $5. Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. 617-661-1515. www.harvard.com/events [N. Z.]