Kathryn Takara, a retired professor of ethnic studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, will read from her recent book of poetry, “Shadow Dancing: Selling Survival in China” (Pacific Raven Press), in a free event from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Arts at Marks Garage, 1159 Nuuanu Ave.

A recipient of a 2010 American Book Award for her “Pacific Raven: Hawaii Poems” and of a lifetime achievement award from the Honolulu branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Takara was a visiting professor during seven summers at various universities in China. For more info, call 521-2903.

NOVELIST PRESENTS BOOK SET IN TAHITI

Lillian Howan, author of “The Charm Buyers” (University of Hawai‘i Press), a novel set in 1990s Tahiti, will speak at 4 p.m. today in the Authors Pavilion Makai of the Hawai‘i Book and Music Festival behind Honolulu Hale; hawaiibookandmusicfestival.com.

A California resident who spent childhood summers in Honolulu, Howan also will read and sign books at a free event with light refreshments from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Aupuni Place in Ward Warehouse, 1050 Ala Moana Blvd. For more info, contact ashlee@nameahawaii.com, 596-8885.

POTTER BOOK CLUB MARKS SERIES’ 20TH ANNIVERSARY

J.K. Rowling is launching a free online book club for fans and newcomers to her “Harry Potter” series.

The Wizarding World Book Club will launch in June in celebration of the 20th anniversary of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” the first in what would become a seven-book series. The club says its goal is to “create a global community of Harry Potter readers who are communicating with each other as they are reading the same book, at the same time.”