Book calendar for the week of Feb. 9, 2009

TODAY

Toby Barlow The author of “Sharp Teeth” will present and sign his debut novel. Diesel Bookstore, 225 26th St., L.A. 3 p.m. Free. (310) 576-9960.

Norman Klein, Margo Bistis and Andrea Kratky Tom Lesser will moderate a discussion featuring the three authors of the new DVD novel “The Imaginary 20th Century.” Otis College of Art and Design, 9045 Lincoln Blvd., L.A. 4 p.m. Free. (310) 665-6892.

Rhapsodomancy Reading Series Novelists Paul Lisicky and Gayle Brandeis, along with poets Lynne Thompson and Carine Topal, will read their work as part of the latest installment of the monthly reading series. See www.rhapsodomancy.org. Good Luck Bar, 1514 Hillhurst Ave., Los Feliz. 7:30 p.m. $3. (213) 503-1729.

MONDAY

Dr. Elias Aboujaoude Aloud at Central Library presents the author of “Compulsive Acts: A Psychiatrist’s Tales of Ritual and Obsession” in conversation with Aloud associate director Justin Veach. www.aloudla.org. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025.

Dan Clark The “American Gladiator” competitor also known as “Nitro” will present and sign his new book, “Gladiator.” Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Martha Ronk The poet and author of “Glass Grapes: And Other Stories” will read and sign her new book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

TUESDAY

Linda L. Allen The author of “The Night of the Witching Moon” will discuss and sign her new book. Bodhi Tree Bookstore, 8585 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood. 7:30 p.m. Free. (310) 659-1733.

Barbara Hall The author of “The Music Teacher” will present and sign her new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Leslie Jordan The Emmy Award-winning actor will present and sign his new book, “My Life on the Red Carpet.” Samuel French Theatre & Film Bookshops, 11963 Ventura Blvd., Studio City. 7 p.m. Free. (818) 762-0535.

T. Jefferson Parker The author will present and sign his latest book, “The Renegades,” at his alma mater. UC Irvine Bookstore, 210-B Student Center, Irvine. 7 p.m. Free. (949) 824-3345.

Larry Wilmore The “Daily Show” correspondent and author of “I’d Rather We Got the Casinos: And Other Black Thoughts” will present and sign his new book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

WEDNESDAY

Nancy Chen The author of “Food, Medicine and the Quest for Good Health: Nutrition, Medicine and Culture” will present and sign her new book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. noon. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Does Los Angeles Need a Downtown? A panel discussion, part of Talking City: L.A. Today and Tomorrow, will feature Manuel Castells, Edward Soja and Cecilia Estolano. REDCAT at Walt Disney Concert Hall, 631 W. 2nd St., L.A. $5-$10; free for CalArts students. (213) 237-2800.

Mark Ebner The author of “Six Degrees of Paris Hilton” will present and sign his new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

T. Jefferson Parker The author will read and sign his latest, “The Renegades.” Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

THURSDAY

Aaron Glantz The author of “The War Comes Home: Washington’s Battle Against America’s Veterans” will present and sign his new book. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Thom Gossom The author of “Walk-On: My Reluctant Journey to Integration at Auburn University” will discuss and sign his book. Santa Monica Public Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica. 6:30 p.m. Free. (310) 458-8600.

Jonah Lehrer Aloud at Central Library presents the author of “How We Decide” in conversation with Dr. Larry Swanson. See www.aloudla.org. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025.

Danielle Levitt The author of “We Are Experienced” will present and sign her new photography book. Reserve, 420 N. Fairfax Ave., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (323) 651-0131.

Joan Rivers The Queen of the Red Carpet will present and sign her new mystery, “Murder at the Academy Awards.” Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Mark Strand The Pulitzer Prize-winning former poet laureate of the United States will read and discuss his work as part of the Hammer Readings series. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 443-7000.

Robert Thurman and Danny Hillis The two preeminent figures in the fields of religion and science will be on hand for a conversation on the social meaning of scientific progress. Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., L.A. 8 p.m. $10-$15. (310) 440-4500.

Naomi Wolf The author will give two talks: The first at 2 p.m. will focus on her acclaimed book “The Beauty Myth”; the second, titled “Hooking Up: Sex, Alcohol and the Death of Romance on College Campuses,” will take place at 8 p.m. Each will be followed by a Q&A session. Samuelson Chapel, California Lutheran University, 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks. 2 p.m., 8 p.m. Free. (805) 493-3306.

FRIDAY

Christopher Dickey The author of “Securing the City” will present and sign his new book about the ambitious program of the NYPD’s counter-terrorism division. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Val McDermid The author of “A Darker Domain” will present and sign her new psychological thriller. Diesel Bookstore, 225 26th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 576-9960.

The New Short Fiction Series “Los Angeles’ Only Live Literary Magazine” presents a performance of Ray Bradbury’s latest, “We’ll Always Have Paris,” featuring Sally Shore, Jim Hanks, Rod Maxwell and Buckley Sampson. Beverly Hills Public Library, 444 N. Rexford Drive, Beverly Hills. 8 p.m. $10; reservations required. (323) 662-7900.

T. Jefferson Parker The author will read and sign “The Renegades.” The Mystery Bookstore, 1036-C Broxton Ave., Westwood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 209-0415.

Valentine’s Day Reading John Tottenham, Iris Berry, Annette Zilinskas, Nate Denver and others will read their poetry and prose about love in its varied forms. Stories, 1716 Sunset Blvd., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (213) 413-3733.

NEXT SUNDAY

Reza Aslan The author of “How to Win a Cosmic War: Why We’re Losing the War on Terror” will discuss and sign his new book. Craft and Folk Art Museum, 5814 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 3 p.m. Free with museum admission. (323) 937-4230.