Book calendar events for the week of March 27, 2011

Words & Ideas

Compiled by Grace Krilanovich

SUNDAY

826LA Adult Writing Seminar Series: TV Writing: Panelists include Jane Espenson, Drew Z. Greenberg and Damon Lindelof. Meltdown Comics, 7522 W. Sunset Blvd., L.A. 7 p.m. $12-$15. (213) 413-3388. https://www.826la.org.

Joshua Foer: The author of “Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything” will discuss and sign his new book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 3 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Selected Shorts: A Celebration of the Short Story: The second and last day of the literary series will feature dramatic readings by actors Josh Radnor (“Halibut” by Etgar Keret), Mary Kay Place (“Bayonne” by John Cheever), Denis O’Hare (“Graven Image” by John O’Hara) and Leonard Nimoy (“What We Talk About When We Talk About Love” by Raymond Carver). Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Drive, L.A. 3 p.m. $25-$30. (310) 440-7300.

Tongue and Groove: The latest installment of the monthly reading series will feature writers James Brown (“This River”), Jo Scott-Coe (“Teacher at Point Blank”), Alan Berman, Colleen Wainwright and J. Keith van Straaten. Hotel Cafe, 1623 1/2 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles. 6 p.m. $6. (323) 937-0136.

TUESDAY

Aimee Bender and Sarah Shun-lien Bynum: The authors of “The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake” and “Ms. Hempel Chronicles,” respectively, will read and discuss their novels. Kreider Hall at Glendale Community College, 1500 N. Verdugo Road, Glendale. 12:20 p.m. Free. (818) 240-1000.

Mark Childress: The author of “Georgia Bottoms” will read and sign his new novel. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Meg Howrey: The author of “Blind Sight” will read and sign her debut novel. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Gayle Tzemach Lemmon: Aloud at Central Library presents the former ABC news reporter and author of “The Dressmaker of Khair Khana: Five Sisters, One Remarkable Family and the Woman Who Risked Everything to Keep Them Safe” in conversation with Kai Ryssdal. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025. https://www.aloudla.org.

Joseph Nye: The Harvard political scientist and author of “The Future of Power” answers the question, “What does power mean in the digital age?” Zocalo at the RAND Corporation, 1776 Main St., Santa Monica. 7 p.m. Free. https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org.

Steven Whitney and Dr. David Kipper: The authors of “The Addiction Solution: Unraveling the Mysteries of Addiction through Cutting-Edge Brain Science” will discuss and sign their new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

WEDNESDAY

Lois Banner: The author of “MM — Personal: From the Private Archive of Marilyn Monroe” will present and sign her new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Mary Roach: The author of “Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void” will discuss and sign her recent book. Leavey Library Auditorium, USC Campus, 651 W. 35th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. RSVP to mpw@college.usc.edu.

Sudan: The Next Killing Fields?: A panel discussion featuring scholars Amal Hassan Fadlalla, Lako Tongun and Sondra Hale; moderated by Ian Masters. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 443-7000.

Sarah Vowell: The author will read and sign her new book, “Unfamiliar Fishes.” Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

THURSDAY

Ann Beattie: Host Michael Silverblatt will interview the author on the subject of her latest book, “The New Yorker Stories.” Bookworm, 89.9 KCRW-FM, 2:30 p.m. https://www.kcrw.com.

Deepak Chopra: The author and wellness expert will be joined by Skeptic Magazine founding editor Michael Shermer, Menas Kafatos (“The Conscious Universe”), Stuart Hameroff, Leonard Mlodinow (“The Drunkard’s Walk”), Carmichael Peters, Henry Stapp (“Mindful Universe”), Jim Walsh and Bill Wright for a panel discussion on “The Nature of Reality.” Chapman University, Marion Knott Studios — Folino Theater, 283 N. Cypress St., Orange. 6 p.m. $25. (714) 289-2040.

Richard Kenney: The poet, whose collections include “The Evolution of the Flightless Bird,” “Orrery,” “The Invention of the Zero” and “The One-Strand River” will read and discuss his work. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 443-7000.

Joel Selvin: The San Francisco Chronicle music writer and author of “Smartass: The Music Journalism of Joel Selvin: California Rock and Roll” will present and sign his new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

FRIDAY

Camilla Läckberg: The author of “The Ice Princess” will read and sign her new novel. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Vidal Sassoon: The legendary hairdresser will present and sign his new book, “Vidal: The Autobiography.” Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

SATURDAY

Carole Eglash-Kosoff: The author of “The Human Spirit: Apartheid’s Unheralded Heroes” will discuss and sign her new book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 5 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Jeremy Wade: The host of the Animal Planet show “River Monsters” will present and sign his new book, “River Monsters: True Stories of the Ones that Didn’t Get Away.” All Saints Episcopal Church, 132 N. Euclid Ave., Pasadena. 2 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320. https://www.vromansbookstore.com.