Book calendar

Words & Ideas

TODAY

Ralph H. Blum The author of “Ralph H. Blum’s Little Book of Runic Wisdom” will present and sign his new book. Bodhi Tree Bookstore, 8585 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood. 3 p.m. Free. (310) 659-1733, Ext. 2.

Pseudonymous Bosch The author of “The Name of This Book Is Secret” will read and sign his latest, “If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late.” Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 1 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Celebration of Jewish Books The four-day event will include a Family Festival with performers Ralph’s World and Steve’s Songs, as well as author discussions, conversations and book signings with Arianna Huffington, Vincent Bugliosi, Nathan Englander, Evan Handler, Christopher Hitchens, Jonathan Safran Foer, Joel Stein and many more. Visit www.ajula.edu/cob for more information. American Jewish University, 15600 Mulholland Drive, Bel-Air. 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Mon.-Wed., 7:30 p.m. $10-$15 for adults; children free. (310) 440-1246.

Martha Stewart A book-signing event for the media powerhouse’s new book, “Martha Stewart’s Cooking School.” Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 4 p.m. Tickets available with purchase of “Cooking School.” (626) 449-5320.

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

MONDAY

Jonathan Hennessey The author of “The United States Constitution: A Graphic Adaptation” will discuss his new graphic novel and give an animated multimedia slide show incorporating coauthor Aaron McConnell’s artwork. Robertson Library, 1719 S. Robertson Blvd., L.A. 4 p.m. Free. (310) 840-2147.

On Seeing and Being: Seeing the Divine Dr. Michael A. Arbib and Dr. Lisa Bitel will discuss the interplay between cultural, spiritual and neurological explanations for extraordinary sights, religious visions and mystical experiences as part of Aloud at Central Library’s Science Series, hosted by Margaret Wertheim. www.aloudla.org. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025.

Martha Stewart The culinary and craft maven will sign her new book, “Martha Stewart’s Cooking School: Lessons and Recipes for the Home Cook.” Wristbands will be distributed at 9 a.m. on the day of the event. Barnes & Noble, Glendale Americana, 210 Americana Way, Glendale. 11 a.m. Free. (818) 545-9146.

Frank Wilderson The author of “Incognegro” will read and sign his new book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Alan Zweibel The former “Saturday Night Live” writer will read and sign his new book, “Clothing Optional.” Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

TUESDAY

TC Boyle The author of 20 books of fiction will read and discuss his latest, “The Women,” as part of the Hammer Readings series. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 443-7000.

Jeffrey Goldfarb The political sociologist and author of “Politics of Small Things: The Power of the Powerless in Dark Times” will discuss the outcome of the 2008 presidential election with CalArts professor Martín Plot. REDCAT at Walt Disney Concert Hall, 631 W. 2nd St., L.A. 8:30 p.m. $10. (213) 237-2800.

Todd Hasak-Lowy The author of “Captives” will read and sign his new book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

WEDNESDAY

Alison Bechdel The author of “Essential Dykes to Watch Out For” will present and sign her new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Amitav Ghosh Aloud at Central Library presents the author of “Sea of Poppies” in conversation with the host of KCRW’s “Bookworm,” Michael Silverblatt. www.aloudla.org. Pacific Asia Museum, 46 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025.

Corrie Greathouse, Doug Martin and Nick Macedo Lee Mallory will host an evening of performance poetry and live music. Alta Coffee Co., 506 31st St., Newport Beach. 8 p.m. Free. (949) 675-0233.

Norman Hathaway The editor will present his new book at launch event for “Overspray: Riding High With the Kings of California Airbrush Art.” Family, 436 N. Fairfax Ave., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (323) 782-9221.

Naomi Hirahara The author will read and sign her latest, “1001 Cranes.” Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Chip Kidd The graphic designer will present and sign his new book, “Bat Manga! The Secret History of Batman in Japan.” Meltdown Comics, 7522 W. Sunset Blvd., L.A. 7-10 p.m. Free. (323) 851-7223.

Ben Ratliff Aloud at Central Library presents the New York Times music critic and author of “The Jazz Ear: Conversations Over Music” in conversation with Bennie Maupin. www.aloudla.org. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025.

Jeffrey Toobin Writers Bloc presents the author of “The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court” in conversation with Barry Siegel. www.writersblocpresents.com. Temple Emanuel, 300 N. Clark Drive, Beverly Hills. 7:30 p.m. $20.

THURSDAY

An Evening of New Fiction: Brian Evenson, Thomas Glave and Samantha Hunt The three innovative authors will read from their recent work. REDCAT at Walt Disney Concert Hall, 631 W. 2nd St., L.A. 8:30 p.m. $10. (213) 237-2800.

Roy Blount Jr. Aloud at Central Library presents the humorist and author of “Arbitrary, Schmarbitrary: Over-the-Counter Linguistics.” www.aloudla.org. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025.

Sandy Florian and Robert Savino Oventile The authors of “The Tree of No” and “Impossible Reading: Idolatry and Diversity in Literature,” respectively, will present and sign their new books. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 6:30 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

John Hodgman The author of “The Areas of My Expertise,” also known as PC Guy from those ubiquitous Mac ads, will present and sign his new book, “More Information Than You Require.” Hodgman will be joined by singer-songwriter Jonathan Coulton. Echoplex (below the Echo), 1152 Glendale Blvd., Echo Park. 7 p.m. $27 (includes copy of book with ticket purchase). (213) 413-8200.

Sandra Tsing Loh The author of “Mother on Fire: A True Motherf%#$@ Story About Parenting!” will present and sign her new book. UC Irvine Bookstore, 210-B Student Center, Irvine. 5 p.m. Free. (949) 824-3345.

Mac Montandon The author of “Jetpack Dreams” will present and sign his new book about the eccentric subculture of jetpack enthusiasts. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

John Updike UCLA Live presents the Pulitzer Prize-winning author in a discussion of his latest novel, “The Widows of Eastwick.” www.uclalive.org. Royce Hall, UCLA, 340 Royce Drive, L.A. 8 p.m. $15-$38. (310) 825-2101.

FRIDAY

Joanna Garzilli The author of “Unleash the Psychic in You: How to Trust Your Intuition for Successful Decision Making” will present and sign her book. Bodhi Tree Bookstore, 8585 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood. 7:30 p.m. Free. (310) 659-1733, Ext. 2.

Artie Lange “The Howard Stern Show” fixture will present and sign his new book, “Too Fat to Fish.” Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 10 p.m. Free ticket with purchase of “Too Fat to Fish.” (310) 659-3110.

Lisa Leslie and Michael Lockwood The authors of “Don’t Let the Lipstick Fool You” and “Women Have All the Power,” respectively, will present and sign their new books. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

The New Short Fiction Series The live literary “magazine” presents a dramatic reading of Kirsten Menger-Anderson’s “Doctor Olaf Van Schuler’s Brain,” featuring performers Sally Shore, Rob Elk, Jennifer Evans and Rod Maxwell. www.newshortfictionseries.com. Beverly Hills Public Library, 444 N. Rexford Drive, Beverly Hills. 8 p.m. $10. (310) 288-2220.

The Poetry of Tracie Morris The interdisciplinary poet, sound artist and writer will read her work. Claremont Museum of Art, 536 W. 1st St., Claremont. 7:30 p.m. $5; members free. (909) 621-3200.

Andrew Porter The author of “The Theory of Light and Matter” will read and sign his new collection of stories. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

SATURDAY

Francesca Lia Block The author will present and sign her latest, “How to (Un)Cage a Girl.” Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 5 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Judith Freeman The author of “The Long Embrace: Raymond Chandler and the Woman He Loved” will read and sign her book. West Hollywood Library, 715 N. San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood. 2 p.m. Free. (310) 652-5340.

Jack & Robin Firestone The authors of “Chasing Diana” will present and sign their historical novel about the death of the People’s Princess. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Katherine Neville and Jeri Westerson Neville will present and sign “The Fire” at 11 a.m.; Westerson will present and sign “Veil of Lies” at 1 p.m. Mysteries to Die For, 2940 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. 11 a.m., 1 p.m. Free. (805) 374-0084.

Ed Templeton and Matt Leines Templeton will sign “Deformer,” his new multimedia scrapbook spanning 30 years of photographs, paintings and drawings, in conjunction with the art exhibition “Map of the Inner Ear.” Leines will sign “You Are Forgiven,” the catalog for an exhibition of his work, “The Great Gates of Zenith.” Roberts & Tilton, 5801 Washington Blvd., Culver City. 6 p.m. Free.

NEXT SUNDAY

Greg Hise Aloud at Central Library presents “Ground Truth: How We Talk About Los Angeles and Why This Matters,” a conversation between the urban historian and D.J. Waldie, author of “Holy Land.” www.aloudla.org. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 2 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025.

Vermin on the Mount Jim Ruland hosts this bimonthly reading series; this installment will feature Gary Amdahl (“Visigoth”), Dan Kaplan (“Bill’s Formal Complaint”) and Janet Fitch (“Paint It Black”). www.vermin.blogs.com/ Mountain, 473 Gin Ling Way, L.A. Free.