Book calendar

Words & Ideas

Compiled by Grace Krilanovich.

SUNDAY

Chopin with Cherries: A Tribute in Verse: A poetry reading and piano recital will feature contributors to the new anthology of poems celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Polish composer’s birth. Participants include pianist Dr. Neil Galanter and poets Millicent Borges Accardi, Lia Brooks, Emily Fragos, Helen Graziano, Rebeca Hoffmann, Amy Lowell, Rick Lupert, Ruth Nolan, Nils Petersen, Susan Rogers, Maja Trochimczyk and many others. South Pasadena Public Library, 1115 El Centro St., South Pasadena. 6 p.m. Free. (626) 403-7350.

Jules Feiffer: The Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist, novelist, playwright and screenwriter will discuss his career and sign his new memoir, “Backing Into Forward.” UCLA DeNeve Commons, 351 Charles E. Young Drive, L.A. 4 p.m. $20. RSVP to alumni@gseos.ucla.edu or 310-206-0375.

Ernest Hilbert and Tim Green: Red Hen Press presents a reading by the two poets. Ruskin Art Club, 800 S. Plymouth Blvd., L.A. 2 p.m. $5-$10. (626) 356-4760. www.redhen.org.

How Do Poems Do What They Do? Poet and educator Terry Wolverton will lead a two-hour workshop in honor of National Poetry Month. A reading by members of the Writers at Work collective, which Wolverton founded, will follow the workshop at 5 p.m. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 2 p.m. (323) 661-5954.

Gayle Lynds: The author of “The Book of Spies” will read and sign her new thriller. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 3 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

The Ulysses Guide to the Los Angeles River: A panel discussion, held in conjunction with the new book and corresponding exhibition on the Los Angeles River revitalization movement, will feature Lewis McAdams, Jeff Chapman and Mia Lehrer; moderated by Shelly Backlar. Pasadena Museum of California Art, 490 E. Union St., Pasadena. 3 p.m. Free with museum admission. (626) 568-3665.

MONDAY

Jules Feiffer and Carl Reiner: Writers Bloc presents the Pulitzer Prize and Academy Award-winning cartoonist and playwright in conversation with funnyman Carl Reiner. Feiffer’s new memoir is “Backing Into Forward.” Temple Emanuel, 300 N. Clark Drive, Beverly Hills. 7:30 p.m. $20. www.writersblocpresents.com.

Indivisible Anthology Launch: Contributors to “Indivisible: An Anthology of Contemporary South Asian American Poetry” will read and discuss their work. Participants include Ro Gunetilleke, Vandana Khanna, Bhargavi C. Mandava, Amarnath Ravva and Pireeni Sundaralingam. Machine Project, 1200-D N. Alvarado St., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (213) 483-8761.

Joyce Maynard and Dana Goodyear: Authors Maynard (“To Die For”) and Goodyear (“Honey and Junk”) will read their work from the new issue of Canteen Magazine. A flash fiction contest will follow the reading, in which Goodyear will compete with aspiring writers from the audience. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Ian McEwan: Aloud at Central Library presents the author of “Atonement” in conversation with David Kipen on the subject of McEwan’s new novel “Solar.” Aratani/Japan America Theatre, 244 S. San Pedro St., L.A. 8 p.m. $17.50-$25. (213) 680-3700. www.aloudla.org.

Jacqueline Winspear: The author of “The Mapping of Love and Death: A Maisie Dobbs Novel” will read and sign her new thriller. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

TUESDAY

Chris Abani, Douglas Kearney and Peggy Shumaker: Red Hen Press and Aloud at Central Library present a reading by the three poets. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025. www.redhen.org; www.aloudla.org.

Daniel Kalla: The author of “Of Flesh and Blood” will read and sign his new novel. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Diane Raab: The poet will read and sign her latest collection, “The Guilt Gene.” Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

WEDNESDAY

An Imperfect Balance: New Thinking in the Middle East Conflict: Aloud at Central Library presents a discussion with journalists and authors Amy Wilentz (“The Rainy Season: Haiti Since Duvalier”), Saree Makdisi (“Palestine Inside Out: An Everyday Occupation”) and Sandy Tolan (“The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew and the Heart of the Middle East”). Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025. www.aloudla.org.

Gillian Conoley and Stephen Rodefer: The poets, whose recent collections are “The Plot Genie” and “Call It Thought,” respectively, will read and discuss their work. Ahmanson Hall at Otis College of Art and Design, 9045 Lincoln Blvd., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (310) 846-2591.

Anne Lamott: The author will read and sign her new novel, “Imperfect Birds.” Beckman Auditorium, Caltech, 332 S. Michigan Ave., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free; tickets for priority seating available with purchase of “Imperfect Birds.” (626) 449-5320. www.vromansbookstore.com.

Red Book Dialogues: Lawrence Weschler and Dennis Patrick Slattery: Weschler, staff writer for The New Yorker and author of “Everything that Rises: A Book of Convergences,” will discuss the Hammer’s new exhibition “The Red Book of C.G. Jung” with Slattery, core faculty at the Pacifica Graduate Institute and author of “The Wounded Body: Remembering the Markings of Flesh.” Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 443-7000.

Marisa Silver: The author of “The God of War” will read and sign her new collection of stories, “Alone with You.” Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

William T. Vollmann: The prolific author of “Europe Central” and “Imperial” will present and sign his latest, “Kissing the Mask: Beauty, Understatement and Femininity in Japanese Noh Theater.” Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

THURSDAY

How Many Billboards?: The Visual Ecology of Advertising and Architecture: A panel discussion, held in conjunction with the MAK Center’s city-wide exhibition of billboards, will include Bill Roschen, Mirjam Struppek, Alan Bell and Dennis Hathaway; moderated by curator Anne Bray. SCI-Arc, 960 E. 3rd St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 613-2200. www.howmanybillboards.org.

Simon Johnson: Zócalo presents a discussion and signing with the author of “13 Bankers: The Wall Street Takeover and the Next Financial Meltdown.” NPR West, 9909 Jefferson Blvd., Culver City. 7:30 p.m. Free. www.zocalopublicsquare.org.

Karl Marlantes: The author of “Matterhorn” will read and sign his debut novel, a Vietnam War epic. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

David Remnick: Writers Bloc presents the New Yorker editor in conversation with Lawrence O’Donnell on the subject of Remnick’s new biography of President Obama, “The Bridge: The Life and Rise of Barack Obama.” Writer’s Guild Theater, 135 S. Doheny Drive, Beverly Hills. 7:30 p.m. $20. www.writersblocpresents.com.

K.M. Soehnlein: The author of “Robin and Ruby” will read and sign his new novel. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

FRIDAY

Dead Author Reading with H.G. Wells: 826LA presents a Q & A with the author of “The Time Machine” and “The War of the Worlds,” as portrayed by stand-up comedian Paul F. Tompkins. Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, 5919 Franklin Ave., Hollywood. 7 p.m. $5. (213) 413-3388. www.826la.org.

Laura Skandera Trombley: The author of “ Mark Twain’s Other Woman: The Hidden Story of His Final Years” will present and sign her new book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

NEXT SUNDAY

Rhapsodomancy Reading Series: Authors and poets James Morrison (“Said and Done”), Sarah Maclay (“The White Bride”), Antoinette Brim (“Psalm of the Sunflower”) and Hazel Kight Witham will read their work. Good Luck Bar, 1514 Hillhurst Ave., Los Feliz. 7:30 p.m. $3. www.rhapsodomancy.org.

Shakespeare’s Birthday Celebration: Performers from Theatricum Botanicum, the Los Angeles Women’s Shakespeare Company, the Los Angeles Drama Club and other area theater companies will present scenes from the Bard’s works. West Los Angeles Regional Library, 11360 Santa Monica Blvd., L.A. 2 p.m. Free. (310) 575-8323. www.lapl.org.