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People of the Book, the Jewish book festival featuring more than 20 authors and 25 events, starts Wednesday and runs through Nov. 22 at the West Valley Jewish Community Center, 22622 Vanowen St., West Hills; the Westside Jewish Community Center, 5870 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles; and at the Valley Cities Jewish Community Center, 13164 Burbank Blvd., Sherman Oaks.

The festival celebrates Jewish authors and books on Jewish subjects. Alan Dershowitz (“Just Revenge”), Nathan Englander (“For the Relief of Unbearable Urges”) and Gina Nahai (“Moonlight on the Avenue of Faith”) will be among the featured writers. The festival is open to the public. For schedule and ticket information, call (818) 464-3300.

The folk music trio TKV will perform tonight at 8 at Exile Books and Music, 14925 Magnolia Blvd., Sherman Oaks. $5 cover charge. The Poetry in Exile reading, hosted by Amelie Frank and Richard Modiano, takes place Thursday, and sign-ups start at 7:30 p.m. The featured reader will be John Gardiner. No cover charge.

This weekend’s musical menu at Borders Books & Music, 9301 Tampa Ave., Northridge, includes Rick Kurek tonight and the group Dead Ringer on Saturday. Showtime is 8 p.m. both nights. (818) 886-5443.

Michaela Roessner and Pat Murphy, two award-winning writers of fantasy and science fiction, also known as “the brazen hussies,” will read from and sign their books Saturday from 2-4 p.m. at Dangerous Visions Bookstore, 13563 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks. (818) 986-6963.

The Sunday Open Mike is for performers with original material. Songwriters may perform three songs, and spoken-word artists are allowed 10 minutes on stage. Sign-ups at 6:30 p.m. No cover charge. The store has Elena the Tarot Lady plying her trade Saturdays from noon-4 p.m. Appointments are recommended. (818) 986-6409.

Author James McEachin will sign his novel, “The Heroin Factor,” Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at Bookstar, 12136 Ventura Blvd., Studio City. (818) 505-9528.

The Los Angeles Public Library needs volunteers to conduct “Read to Me, L.A.” workshops on motivating parents to read to their children. Training will be provided. For more information, contact the children’s librarian at your local branch library or call Vicki Migliori at (818) 340-6302.