‘Galileo’s Daughter’ Author Dava Sobel to Speak at Library

Dava Sobel, the best-selling author of “Galileo’s Daughter: A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith, and Love,” will speak at the Newport Beach Library Foundation’s “Celestial Afternoon” Nov. 11 at the Newport Beach Central Library.

Reservations are now being taken for the event, which will begin at 1:30 p.m. with solar observations using telescopes provided and operated by members of the Orange County Astronomers. Sobel’s 2:30 p.m. discussion of her award-winning book, for which she translated letters written between Galileo and his daughter, will be followed by a book sale and signing.

Sobel, whose book spent 18 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, is a former New York Times science reporter whose previous book, “Longitude,” examined John Harrison’s search to create a sea-going clock which would allow mariners to determine their longitude.

General admission, $25; $18 for foundation members and $10 for students with IDs. For a reservation form, call (949) 515-7309.

Also Coming Up

* Animal behaviorist Larry Lachman will discuss cat behavior and sign “Cats on the Counter: Therapy and Training for Your Cat”) at Barnes & Noble in the Marketplace, 13712 Jamboree Road, Irvine. 2 p.m. today. (714) 508-9707.

* Tom Barron will discuss and sign “The Wings of Merlin” at A Whale of a Tale Children’s Bookshoppe in University Center, 4199 Campus Drive, Irvine. 4 p.m. Wednesday. (949) 854-8288.

* Suzanne Falter-Barns will discuss “How Much Joy Can You Stand? A Creative Guide to Facing Your Fears and Making Your Dreams Come True” at the Inside Edge breakfast forum at the University Club at UC Irvine, Los Trancos and Peltason E., Irvine. 6:30 a.m. Wednesday. First-time guests, $20; returning guests, $35. (949) 460-4242.

* Barbara DeMarco Barrett will interview poet Marvin Bell and mystery writer John Morgan Wilson (“The Limits of Justice”) on KUCI (88.9 FM) in Irvine. 5 p.m. Thursday. (949) 760-8086.

* Denise Fleming will sign “The Everything Book” at A Whale of a Tale Children’s Bookshoppe in the University Center, 4199 Campus Drive, Irvine. 4 p.m. Friday. (949) 854-8288. Fleming also will sign at the White Rabbit Children’s Bookstore in South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa. 2 p.m. Saturday. (714) 445-0010.

* Dr. Joel Berman will discuss and sign “Dr. Joel Berman’s Comprehensive Breast Care and Surviving Breast Cancer” at Borders in South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bear St., Costa Mesa. 2 p.m. Saturday. (714) 432-7854.

* Lawrence Block will sign “Hit List” and Dan Simmons will sign “Darwin’s Blade” at Book Carnival, 348 S. Tustin Ave., Orange. 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., respectively, Saturday. (714) 538-3210.

Send information about book-related events at least 10 days before event to: Dennis McLellan, O.C. Books & Authors, Los Angeles Times Orange County edition, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Or e-mail to dennis.mclellan@latimes.com.