Literary happenings around town

Three noteworthy events next week:

= 2008 National Book Award finalist Salvatore Scibona will read from his debut novel, "The End" (about a single day in 1953 as lived by six people at a carnival in Ohio) at Blacksmith House, 56 Brattle St., Cambridge, ($3) on Mon., Nov. 3, at 8 p.m. Also appearing at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education is Askold Melnyczuk reading from his novel, "House of Widows."

= Cullen Murphy, managing editor of the Atlantic Monthly for two decades and now editor-at-large for Vanity Fair, will appear at PEN New England's gathering at 6:15 p.m. at the Hotel Marlowe in Cambridge on Wed., Nov. 5. Wine hour begins at 5.

= the Foundation for Children's Books sponsors an evening ($15) with "Bats at the Library" author and illustrator Brian Lies on Thursday, Nov. 6,