Book calendar

Words & Ideas

Compiled by Grace Krilanovich.

SUNDAY

Maggie Anton: The author of the “Rashi’s Daughters” trilogy will read and discuss her work. William H. Hannon Library at Loyola Marymount University, 1 LMU Drive, L.A. 2 p.m. Free. (310) 338-2975.

Four Wordsmen of the Apocalypse: Poets, authors and spoken-wordsmiths S.A. Griffin (editor, “The Outlaw Bible of American Poetry”), Michael C. Ford (“Language Commando”), Frank T. Rios (“She and Everything Else that Holds It Together”) and F.N. Wright (“The Whorehouse”) will read and discuss their work. Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice. 3 p.m. (310) 822-3006.

Robert S. Levinson: The author of “The Traitor in Us All” will read and sign his new thriller. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 5 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Rhapsodomancy Reading Series: Authors 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.

Lisa See: The author of, most recently, “Shanghai Girls” will give a lecture on “Hearing Women in the West” as part of the Autry’s new exhibition “Home Lands: How Women Made the West.” Wells Fargo Theater at the Autry National Center, 4700 Western Heritage Way, L.A. 2 p.m. Free; RSVP to bnakasato@theautry.org. (323) 667-2000.

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.

MONDAY

James Conlon: Aloud at Central Library presents a lecture by the prominent conductor and current music director of the Los Angeles Opera; held in conjunction with Ring Festival LA. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025. www.aloudla.org; www.ringfestivalla.com.

Paula Deen: The Food Network fixture will sign her new home decorating book, “Paula Deen’s Savannah Style.” Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 6 p.m. (626) 449-5320.

Saskia Hamilton: The poet, whose collections include “Divide These” and “As for Dream,” will read and discuss her work. Crookshank Hall, Pomona College, 140 W. Sixth St., Claremont. 7 p.m. Free. (909) 607-2212.

Robert McChesney and John Nicols: The authors of “The Death and Life of American Journalism: The Media Revolution that Will Begin the World Again” will present and sign their new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Joanna Smith Rakoff: The author of “A Fortunate Age” will read and sign her debut novel. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

TUESDAY

Chris Corkum: The author of “XOXO Hayden” will read and sign his new novel. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Red Book Dialogues with James Hillman and Helen Hunt: Hillman, father of Archetypal Psychology and prominent Jungian scholar, and actress Hunt will discuss the Hammer’s current exhibition “The Red Book of C.G. Jung.” Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 443-7000.

Katharine Weber: The author of “True Confections” will present and sign her new novel. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

WEDNESDAY

Charles Bowden: Aloud at Central Library presents the author of “Murder City: Ciudad Juarez and the Global Economy’s New Killing Fields” in conversation with KPCC reporter Adolfo Guzman-Lopez. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025. www.aloudla.org.

Chuy Bravo: Comedian Chelsea Handler’s “assistant” will present and sign his new book, “Little Nuggets of Wisdom: Big Advice from the Small Star of Chelsea Lately.” Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Avivah Gottlieb Zornberg: The Torah scholar and author of “The Murmuring Deep: Reflections on the Biblical Unconscious” will present and sign her new book. Dinner precedes the lecture at 5:45 p.m. UCLA Hilel, 574 Hilgard Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. $40 includes dinner; $15 lecture only. (310) 208-3081, Ext. 108.

Lloyd Kaufman: The B-movie king (“The Toxic Avenger”) will present and sign his new book, “Direct Your Own Damn Movie!” Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

THURSDAY

Elif Batuman: Host Michael Silverblatt will interview the author of “The Possessed: Adventures with Russian Books and the People Who Read Them.” Bookworm, 89.9 KCRW-FM, 2:30 p.m. www.kcrw.com.

Dave Cullen: The author of “Columbine” will discuss and sign his new nonfiction narrative account of the 1999 school shooting. Humanities Gateway, Room 1030, UC Irvine, University Drive, Irvine. 5 p.m. Free. (213) 840-1385.

Bill Guttentag: The author of “Boulevard” will read and sign his new crime novel. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Anthony Lovett: The author of “L.A. Bizarro: The All-New Insider’s Guide to the Obscure, the Absurd and the Perverse in Los Angeles” will present and sign the revised edition of his esoteric guidebook. Von der Ahe Library at Loyola Marymount University, 1 LMU Drive, L.A. 5:30 p.m. Free. (310) 338-2792.

Raquel Welch: The iconic actress will present and sign her new memoir, “Raquel: Beyond the Cleavage.” Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

FRIDAY

Steve Hockensmith and Cody Goodfellow: The authors of “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls” and “Perfect Union,” respectively, will read and sign their new novels. Dark Delicacies, 4213 W. Burbank Blvd., Burbank. 7 p.m. Free. (818) 556-6660.

Lindsey Kuhn: The rock poster artist will present and sign his new book, “The Lure of the SWAMP.” La Luz de Jesus Gallery, 4633 Hollywood Blvd., L.A. 6 p.m. Free. (323) 666-7667.

Santa Monica Review Spring Issue Launch: A launch for the new issue of the bi-annual literary magazine will feature readings by founder Jim Krusoe and contributors Diane Lefer and Steve De Jarnatt. Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice. 7:30 p.m. (310) 822-3006.

Titans of the Graphic Novel: Harvey Pekar and Alison Bechdel: Pekar, creator of the autobiographical “American Splendor” comics, and Bechdel, author of “Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic” will discuss and sign their work. Royce Hall at UCLA, 340 Royce Drive, L.A. 8 p.m. $24-$48. (310) 825-2101.

SATURDAY

RED(D)RESS Poetry Series: Brendan Constantine hosts this reading series, the latest installment of which will feature poets Andrea Scarpino, Mindy Nettifee and Ron Koertge. Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice. 7:30 p.m. (310) 822-3006.

NEXT SUNDAY

The Lost Origins of the Essay: Celebrating the History of Literary Nonfiction: Contributors to the new anthology edited by John D’Agata will read and discuss their work; participants include Tisa Bryant, Ben Ehrenreich, Amy Gerstler and Bernard Cooper. REDCAT at Walt Disney Concert Hall, 631 W. 2nd St., L.A. 7 p.m. $5-$10. (213) 237-2800.