Book calendar

Words & Ideas

Compiled by Grace Krilanovich

SUNDAY

The New Short Fiction Series: A dramatic reading of Shubha Venugopal’s “The Name of Longing” will feature performances by Sally Shore, Amrapali Ambegaokar, Puja Mohindra and Viji Nathan. Barnsdall Art Park, 4800 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. 7 p.m. $10-$15. (866) 811-4111. www.newshortfictionseries.com.

Poetry at the Ruskin: Red Hen Press presents readings by poets Frank Soos, Margo Klass and Eva Saulitas. Ruskin Art Club, 800 S. Plymouth Blvd., L.A. 2 p.m. $5-$10. (323) 755-3530. www.redhen.org.

MONDAY

Robert Stone: The National Book Award-winning author will read and sign his latest, “Fun with Problems.” Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

TUESDAY

Aimee Bender and Max Brooks: The authors of “Willful Creatures” and “The Zombie Survival Guide,” respectively, will read and discuss their work in the new zombie anthology, “The New Dead.” Dark Delicacies, 4213 W. Burbank Blvd., Burbank. 6:30 p.m. Free. (818) 556-6660.

Dorothy Lamb Crawford: Aloud at Central Library presents the author of “A Windfall of Musicians: Hitler’s Emigres and Exiles in Southern California” in conversation with conductor-composer William Kraft. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025. www.aloudla.org.

Greg Critser: The author of “Eternity Soup: Inside the Quest to End Aging” will present and sign his new book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Heidi Durrow: The author of “The Girl Who Fell from the Sky” will read and sign her debut novel. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

PEN USA: Dissident Poets: Iranian-American poet Sholeh Wolpé, in association with the Hammer Museum and PEN USA, present an evening of poetry inspired by the events that occurred in Iran this past summer. Maxine Hong Kingston, Eloise Klein Healy, James Ragan and Tony Barnstone will read their work; actors will read poems contributed by Yusef Kumunyakaa, Annie Finch, Joy Harjo, Kim Adonizio, Andrew Hudgins, Sam Hamill, Marvin Bell, Carolyn Forché, David Waggoner, Robert Bly and Thomas Lux. Live musical accompaniment by Mamak Khadem. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 443-7000.

Sascha Rothchild: The author of “How to Get Divorced by 30: My Misguided Attempt at a Starter Marriage” will read and sign her new memoir. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

WEDNESDAY

Robert P. Crease: Aloud at Central Library presents the author of “The Great Equations: Breakthroughs in Science from Pythagoras to Heisenberg” in conversation with USC Biological Sciences professor Larry Swanson. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025. www.aloudla.org.

John D’Agata: The author of “Halls of Fame” and editor of “The Next American Essay” will read and discuss his work, including his latest book “About a Mountain,” as part of the museum’s New American Writing series. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 443-7000.

Brooks Hansen: The author of the novels “John the Baptizer” and “The Chess Garden” will read and discuss his work. Otis College of Art and Design, 9045 Lincoln Blvd., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (310) 846-2591.

Michael Jaime-Becerra: The author of the story collection “Every Night is Ladies’ Night” will read and sign his debut novel, “This Time Tomorrow.” Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Ann Mah: The author of “Kitchen Chinese: A Novel About Food, Family and Finding Yourself” will read and sign her new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Sojourner Kincaid Rolle: The poet (“Black Street”) will read and discuss her work. California Lutheran University, Main Campus, 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks. 7 p.m. Free. (805) 493-3477.

Michael Sorkin: The architect and author of “Twenty Minutes in Manhattan” will present a lecture, “Pro Eutopia.” SCI-Arc, 960 E. 3rd St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 613-2200.

THURSDAY

Dorothy Lamb Crawford: The author of “A Windfall of Musicians: Hitler’s Emigres and Exiles in Southern California” will present and sign her new book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Edwidge Danticat: The author of “Breath, Eyes, Memory” and “Brother, I’m Dying” will deliver the Claremont Colleges’ 2009-2010 Sojourner Truth Lecture. Pomona College Smith Campus Center’s Rose Hills Theatre Rose Hills Theatre, Smith Campus Center, 170 E. 6th St. Pomona College, Claremont. 7:30 p.m. Free. (909) 607-3070.

Javier Marías: Host Michael Silverblatt will interview the Spanish author on the subject of the third volume of his “Your Face Tomorrow” trilogy, “Your Face Tomorrow: Poison, Shadow and Farewell.” Bookworm, 89.9 KCRW-FM, 2:30 p.m. www.kcrw.com.

Maureen McLane: The poet (“Same Life,” “World Enough”) will read and discuss her work. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 443-7000.

RuPaul: The drag icon will present and sign his new book, “Workin’ It!: RuPaul’s Guide to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Style.” Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Paul T. Zeleza: The LMU professor will discuss and sign his new book, “Barack Obama and African Diasporas: Dialogues and Dissensions.” William H. Hannon Library at Loyola Marymount University, 1 LMU Drive, L.A. 5:30 p.m. Free. (310) 258-4602.

FRIDAY

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

Michael Jaime-Becerra: The author of “This Time Tomorrow” will read and sign his new novel. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

SATURDAY

Eat: Los Angeles Book Launch: Editors and contributors to the 2010 edition of the local guide to food venues of every stripe will present and sign the new book: Colleen Bates, Linda Burum, Amelia Saltsman, Jenn Garbee, Miles Clements, Jean Barrett and Joseph Shuldiner. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 5 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

I Slept With Joey Ramone Book Launch: The Ramones’ frontman’s brother Mickey Leigh will be joined by Alan Arkush, P.J. Soles, Howie Pyro and others for a group reading and signing of Leigh’s new book, “I Slept With Joey Ramone: A Family Memoir.” La Luz de Jesus Gallery, 4633 Hollywood Blvd., L.A. 6 p.m. Free. (323) 666-7667.

Arthur Japin: The author of “Director’s Cut” will read and sign his new novel. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 2 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Mark Peel: The chef will present and sign his new cookbook, “New Classic Family Dinners.” Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 5 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

NEXT SUNDAY

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama: Whole Child International presents the Tibetan spiritual leader, who will deliver a public address on cultivating compassion and serving the needs of vulnerable children around the world, and will be joined by musical guest Sheryl Crow. Gibson Amphitheatre, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City. 1:30 p.m. $30-$205. (866) 448-7849.

Douglas Kearney: The poet will read and sign his new collection, “The Black Automaton.” Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 5 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Kaumudi Marathe: The chef will discuss and sign her new book, “The Essential Marathi Cookbook,” which -- outside of this program -- is not yet available in the US. Pacific Asia Museum, 46 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena. 2 p.m. Free with museum admission. (626) 449-2742, Ext. 20.