Remembering How Lives Were Lived--and Lost

“The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II” by Iris Chang documents a massacre that is, according to Chang, “one of the greatest atrocities--and untold stories of world history.”

Within weeks of sweeping into the Chinese capital in December 1937, the Japanese army killed, tortured and raped more than 300,000 Chinese civilians.

Chang, a Sunnyvale, Calif., freelance writer who traveled to China in 1995 to interview many of the survivors, will sign copies of her book at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Borders Books & Music, 25222 El Paseo, Mission Viejo.

Chang says more people died in Nanking than from the atomic blasts at Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined.

“But numbers alone don’t tell the full story,” she says. “The greatest horror of the rape of Nanking is the manner in which many victims meet their deaths.”

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Karl Malden, who looks back on his more than 50 years of acting in “When Do I Start?”; biographer Donald Spoto, author of “Diana: The Last Year”; and cosmetics mogul Tova Borgnine, wife of actor Ernest Borgnine and author of “Being Happily Married Forever,” will discuss their books at the Round Table West luncheon at noon Thursday at the Balboa Bay Club, 1221 W. Coast Highway, Newport Beach.

Cost is $35. For reservations, call (213) 256-7977.

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Catherine and Maureen Maloof will share tips on how to feel great in the new year and sign copies of their books, “Healthy Eating One Bite at a Time” and “Renew Your Heart One Beat at a Time” at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Wild Oats Community Market, 27142 E. La Paz Road, Mission Viejo.

Catherine Maloof is a Mission Viejo chiropractor specializing in family health care, sports injuries and nutritional therapy. Her sister, Maureen, is a health care business consultant who has developed stretch classes that help maintain flexibility and prevent sports injuries.

Also this week:

* Dean Koontz will sign his latest thriller, “Fear Nothing,” at noon today at Book Carnival, 348 S. Tustin Ave., Orange.

* Science fiction author Lisanne Norman will sign “Razor’s Edge” at 2 p.m. today at Barnes & Noble in Main Place, 2800 N. Main St., Santa Ana.

* Rochelle Krich, author of “Fertile Ground,” will sign at 1 p.m. today at Coffee, Tea & Mystery, 13232 Springdale St., Westminster.

* Julie Mammano, author of “Rhinos Who Snowboard,” will speak, read and sign at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Barnes & Noble, 26751 Aliso Creek Road, Aliso Viejo.

* Michelle M. Weil and Larry D. Rosen, author of “Techno Stress: Coping with Technology,” will sign at 7 p.m. Thursday at Barnes & Noble in Metro Pointe, 901 South Coast Drive, Costa Mesa.

* Pamela Sims, author of “Awakening Brilliance: How to Inspire Children to Become Successful Learners,” will sign at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Barnes & Noble in Huntington Beach Mall, 7777 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach. Sims also will sign at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble in Main Place, 2800 N. Main St., Santa Ana.

* British mystery writer P.D. James will read and sign “A Certain Justice” at 7 p.m. Thursday at Rizzoli Bookstore in South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa.

* Ron Koertge, Amy Uyematsu, Michael C. Ford, Nancy Agabian and other Vallee Contemporary Poets members whose work is included in the anthology “Beyond the Valley of the Contemporary Poets” will read and sign at 8 p.m. Friday at Upchurch-Brown Booksellers, 384 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach.

* Best-selling true-crime author Ann Rule will sign “Bitter Harvest” at 1 p.m. Saturday at Book Carnival, 348 S. Tustin Ave., Orange.

* Cartoonist Kevin Fagan will sign his collection of cartoons, “Son of Drabble,” at 2 p.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble, 26751 Aliso Creek Road, Aliso Viejo.

* Denise Smith, widow of Los Angeles Times columnist Jack Smith, will discuss his book, “God and Mr. Gomez,” at 2 p.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble in Huntington Beach Mall, 7777 Edinger Ave.

Send information about book-related events at least 10 days before event to Dennis McLellan, O.C. Books & Authors, Life & Style, The Times Orange County, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626.