Part of the fun of attending any Wally Lamb reading is pretty obvious. You're up close and personal with a genuinely great American literary force. It's like watching David Hockney paint or Pedro Martinez strike out 17 Yankees.

But another element to a Lamb event is that he's so personable, charming and funny. His audience interaction is warm and sincere, he often comes up with a quiz or game to add levity to the proceedings - and then, yes, he's going to astound you when he flips open a copy of his latest book, "We Are Water," and lets you inside his heart and brain.

Lamb will be in the Mystic Arts Center on Friday in an appearance co-sponsored by Bank Square Books and the Groton Public Library. A reception takes place at 6 p.m. followed by a reading and then a signing. Oh, and since Lamb has been seen of late in Norwich, where a film is being made of his Christmas novel, "Wishin' and Hopin'," there might be some insider anecdotes about the moviemaking process.

- RICK KOSTER

Wally Lamb, 6 p.m. Friday, Mystic Arts Center, 9 Water St., Mystic; free; (860) 536-7601