Book calendar

Words & Ideas

Compiled by Grace Krilanovich.

MONDAY

Don Lattin: The author of “The Harvard Psychedelic Club: How Timothy Leary, Ram Dass, Huston Smith and Andrew Weil Killed the Fifties and Ushered in a New Age for America” will present and sign his new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Howard Frank Moser: The author of “Walking to Gatlinburg” will read and sign his new Civil War-era novel. Village Books, 1049 Swarthmore Ave., Pacific Palisades. 7:30 p.m. Free. (310) 454-4063.

Sapphire: Aloud at Central Library presents the author of “Push” -- which was recently adapted for the big screen as “Precious” -- in conversation with USC Masters of Professional Writing program director Brighde Mullins. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Full; standby only. (213) 228-7025. www.aloudla.org.

TUESDAY

Ralph Angel, Carol Muske-Dukes and Cecilia Woloch: Aloud at Central Library presents a reading with the three California poets. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025. www.aloudla.org.

Richard Baum: The author of “China Watcher: Confessions of a Peking Tom” will present and sign his new memoir. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Christopher Rice: The author of “The Moonlit Earth” will read and sign his new thriller. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

WEDNESDAY

A Celebration of the Jewish Picture Book: A panel discussion, marking the opening of the Skirball’s exhibition “Monsters and Miracles: A Journey Through Jewish Picture Books,” will feature authors and illustrators Mordicai Gerstein, Simms Taback, Serge Bloch and Laurel Snyder; moderated by exhibition co-curator Ilan Stavans. A book signing will follow the program. Preview viewing of the exhibition begins at 6 p.m. Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., L.A. 8 p.m. $6-$12. (310) 440-4500.

Erri De Luca: The prolific Italian author of “God’s Mountain” and 50 other works -- only three of which have been translated into English -- will read and discuss his new book, “Il peso della farfalla.” In Italian with English translation. Italian Cultural Institute, 1023 Hilgard Ave., L.A. 6:30 p.m. Free; RSVP to rsvp.iicla@esteri.it or 310-443-3250, Ext. 114.

Eric Garcia: The author of “Matchstick Men” will read and sign his novel “Repo Men,” previously published as “The Repossession Mambo,” now a major motion picture. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Literary Luncheon with Anchee Min: The author of “Pearl of China” will read and discuss her new book about the life of Pearl S. Buck. Chez Mimi, 246 26th St., Santa Monica. Noon. $70, includes lunch and signed copy of “Pearl of China.”(310) 576-9960. www.dieselbookstore.com.

Anchee Min: Aloud at Central Library presents the author of the new novel “Pearl of China.” Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025. www.aloudla.org.

My Times in Black and White: Robin D. Stone, the widow of the late Gerald M. Boyd, and Tony Cox, founding member of the Black Journalists Association of Southern California, will discuss Boyd’s posthumous memoir, “My Times in Black and White: Race and Power at the New York Times.” Los Angeles Urban League, 3450 Mount Vernon Drive, L.A. 6:30 p.m. Free. (323) 933-3605.

THURSDAY

Milo Cleveland Beach: The scholar of Indian art and former director of the Smithsonian’s Freer and Sackler Galleries will present a lecture, “The Painter Farrukh Beg: A Traveler in Mughal India.” Brown Auditorium at LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 857-6000.

John Buntin: The author of “L.A. Noir” will present a lecture, “Just the Facts: Chief William Parker’s War on Mickey Cohen and the Los Angeles Underworld.” Los Angeles Athletic Club, 431 W. 7th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free; RSVP at www.lavatransforms.org/lanoir.

Stephen T. Davis: The author of, most recently, “Christian Philosophical Theology,” will present a lecture, “The Uniqueness of Christianity.” Wallace All Faiths Chapel at Chapman University, 1 University Drive, Orange. 7 p.m. Free. (714) 997-2400.

Lori Gottlieb: The author of “Marry Him: The Case for Settling for Mr. Good Enough” will present and sign her new book. Village Books, 1049 Swarthmore Ave., Pacific Palisades. 7:30 p.m. Free. (310) 454-4063.

Adam Haslett: Host Michael Silverblatt will interview the author of the new novel “Union Atlantic.” Bookworm, 89.9 KCRW-FM, 2:30 p.m. www.kcrw.com.

John Fante Square Dedication: The 101st anniversary of the author’s birth will be marked by renaming the corner of 5th Street and Grand Avenue downtown as John Fante Square. Councilwoman Jan Perry will be on hand for the dedication ceremony, which will also include Fante biographer Stephen Cooper, son Dan Fante, daughter Vickie Fante Cohen, librarian Genie Guerard, archivist Daniel Gardner, Bunker Hill historian Gordon Pattison and Esotouric host Richard Schave. 5th Street and Grand Avenue, L.A. Noon. Free. www.lavatransforms.org.

Los Angeles Noir 2 and Orange County Noir Group Reading: Editors Denise Hamilton and Gary Phillips and contributors Jervey Tervalon, Patricia McFall and Lawrence Maddox will read and sign the two new anthologies. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Richard Reeves: The author of “Daring Young Men: The Heroism and Triumph of the Berlin Airlift, June 1948-May 1949” will present and sign his new book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

FRIDAY

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

Christopher Moore: The author of “Fool” will read and sign his latest novel, “Bite Me: A Love Story.” Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

SATURDAY

Gary Calamar and Phil Gallo: The authors of “Record Store Days: From Vinyl to Digital and Back Again” will present and sign their new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 5 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Group Poetry Reading: Linda Dove, Michael O’Keefe, Corrie Greathouse, Jo Anne Kurman and Rae Hawkins will read and discuss their work at an event in celebration of National Poetry Month. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 5 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Jerry Stahl: The author will read and sign his most recent novel, “Pain Killers.” Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 5 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Dan Wells, Michael Louis Calvillo and Thomas Page: The three authors will read and sign their new books: “I Am Not a Serial Killer,” “Blood and Gristle” and “The Man Who Would Not Die.” Dark Delicacies, 4213 W. Burbank Blvd., Burbank. 2 p.m. Free. (818) 556-6660.