Book calendar events for the week of April 10, 2011

Words & Ideas

Compiled by Grace Krilanovich.

SUNDAY

Kristin Hersh: The Throwing Muses frontwoman will discuss and sign her new memoir, “Rat Girl.” Stories, 1716 Sunset Blvd., L.A. 2 p.m. Free. (213) 413-3733.

Christopher McDougall: The author of “Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen” will present and sign his new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 5 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

The New Short Fiction Series: A dramatic reading of Stacey Levine’s new story collection “The Girl With Brown Fur.” Barnsdall Art Park, 4800 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. 7 p.m. $10. (866) 811-4111. https://www.newshortfictionseries.com.

Sonya Sones: The author will read and sign her new novel, “The Hunchback of Neiman Marcus.” Diesel Bookstore, 225 26th St., L.A. 3 p.m. Free. (310) 576-9960.

Writing Seminar Series for Adults: 826LA presents a series of panel discussions featuring Jen Kirkman, Bob Odenkirk, Dan Harmon, Brian Stack, David Schulner, David Eick, Aaron Ginsburg, Wade McIntyre and others discussing different aspects of writing for television and film. Meltdown Comics, 7522 W. Sunset Blvd., L.A. Today, next Sun. 7 p.m. $12 per session. (213) 413-3388. https://www.826la.org.

MONDAY

Collier Nogues: The poet will read and sign her new collection, “On the Other Side, Blue.” Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Jacqueline Winspear and Cara Black: Writers Bloc presents the authors of “A Lesson in Secrets: A Maisie Dobbs Novel” and “Murder in Passy: An Aimee Leduc Investigation Set in Paris,” respectively, in conversation with David Kipen. MGM Screening Room, 10250 Constellation Blvd., Century City. 7:30 p.m. $20. https://www.writersblocpresents.com.

Alexi Zentner: The author of “Touch” will read and sign his new novel. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

TUESDAY

Thaisa Frank: The author of “Heidegger’s Glasses” will read and sign her recent novel. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Joseph Lelyveld: Zócalo presents a discussion and signing with the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle With India.” Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 443-7000. https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org.

Nat Segaloff: The author of “Arthur Penn: American Director” will present and sign his new biography. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Rebecca Skloot: Aloud at Central Library presents the author of “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” in conversation with Times staff writer Carolyn Kellogg. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. Full; standby only. (213) 228-7025. https://www.aloudla.org.

Deborah Vankin and Jen Wang: The Times staff writer will present and sign her new graphic novel “Poseurs”; Wang will present and sign her graphic novel “Koko Be Good.” Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

WEDNESDAY

Phillipe Beck and Guy Bennett: The poets will read and discuss their work. Otis College of Art and Design, 9045 Lincoln Blvd., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (310) 665-6892.

Susie Bright: The author of “Big Sex Little Death” will discuss and sign her new memoir. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Wayne Pacelle: The author of “The Bond: Our Kinship with Animals, Our Call to Defend Them” will discuss and sign his new book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

William Powers: The author of “Twelve by Twelve: A One-Room Cabin Off the Grid and Beyond the American Dream” will discuss and sign his new book. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Amy Wilentz: The author of “Rainy Season: Haiti — Then and Now” will discuss and sign her book. Doheny Memorial Library at USC, 3550 Trousdale Parkway, L.A. 7 p.m. Free; RSVP to mpw@college.usc.edu.

THURSDAY

Philip Connors: The author of “Fire Season: Field Notes from a Wilderness Lookout” will discuss and sign his new book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Rebecca Hamilton: The author of “Fighting for Darfur: Public Action and the Struggle to Stop Genocide” will discuss and sign her new book. Musick Law Building at USC, University Park Campus, Figueroa and Hoover Streets, L.A. 12:15 p.m. Free. (213) 740-9690.

David Lipsky and Rick Moody: Host Michael Silverblatt will interview the two authors on the subject of David Foster Wallace’s posthumous novel, “The Pale King.” Bookworm, 89.9 KCRW-FM, 2:30 p.m. https://www.kcrw.com.

James Loney: The author of “Captivity: 118 Days in Iraq and the Struggle for a World Without War” will discuss and sign his new book. The Crawford Family Forum, 474 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. 7:30 p.m. Free; RSVP at https://www.scpr.org/events/2011/04/14/captivity-james-loney. (626) 345-0504.

Joyce Carol Oates: Aloud at Central Library presents the author of, most recently, “A Widow’s Story” in conversation with KCRW “Bookworm” host Michael Silverblatt. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. Full; standby only. (213) 228-7025. https://www.aloudla.org.

Sonya Sones: The YA author will read and sign her first novel for adults, “The Hunchback of Neiman Marcus: A Novel About Marriage, Motherhood and Mayhem.” Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

FRIDAY

Blake Butler and Justin Taylor: The authors of “There Is No Year” and “The Gospel of Anarchy,” respectively, will read and sign their new novels. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Janet Jackson: The famed entertainer will sign copies of her new book, “True You: A Journey to Finding and Loving Yourself.” Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 3 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Kim Stagliano: The author of “All I Can Handle: I’m No Mother Teresa: A Life Raising Three Daughters With Autism” will discuss and sign her recent book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

SATURDAY

Barbara Eden: The actress (“I Dream of Jeannie”) will present and sign her new autobiography, “Jeannie Out of the Bottle.” Barnes & Noble, 189 The Grove Drive, L.A. 2 p.m. Free. (323) 525-0270.

Philip Kerr: The author of “Field Gray” will read and sign his new novel. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 6 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Mary McDonough: The actress (“The Waltons”) will present and sign her new autobiography, “Lessons from the Mountain.” Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 5 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

NEXT SUNDAY

Leo Braudy: The author of “The Hollywood Sign: Fantasy and Reality of an American Icon” will discuss and sign his new book. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 5 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Reyna Grande: The author of the novels “Across a Hundred Mountains” and “Dancing With Butterflies” will read and discuss her work. Autry National Center, 4700 Western Heritage Way, L.A. 2 p.m. Free with paid museum admission. (323) 667-2000, Ext. 391.

Jim Krusoe: The author will read and sign his new novel, “Toward You.” Diesel Bookstore, 225 26th St., L.A. 3 p.m. Free. (310) 576-9960.

Rhapsodomancy Reading Series: Authors Sarah Manguso, Collier Nogues, Tomas Mournian and Jessica Goodheart will read their work. Good Luck Bar, 1514 Hillhurst Ave., Los Feliz. 7:30 p.m. $3. https://www.rhapsodomancy.org

Neela Vaswani: The author of “You Have Given Me a Country” will present and sign her mixed-genre memoir. Stories, 1716 Sunset Blvd., L.A. 4 p.m. Free. (213) 413-3733.