Book calendar

Words & Ideas

Compiled by Grace Krilanovich

SUNDAY

Shelly Fredman: The author of “No Such Thing as a Free Ride” will read and sign the latest installment of her Brandy Alexander mystery series. Village Books, 1049 Swarthmore Ave., Pacific Palisades. 4 p.m. Free. (310) 454-4063.

Stephen D. Gutiérrez and Daniel A. Olivas: The authors will read and discuss their work in the REDCAT lounge. REDCAT at Walt Disney Concert Hall, 631 W. 2nd St., L.A. 2 p.m. Free. (213) 237-2800.

The New Short Fiction Series: A dramatic reading of Tatjana Soli’s “Pasta Diva” and other stories, performed by Sally Shore, Liz Elliott, Jessica Hopper and Lorene Noh. 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 a reading by poets Ching-In Chen (“The Heart’s Traffic”) and Elizabeth Bradfield (“Approaching Ice”). Ruskin Art Club, 800 S. Plymouth Blvd., L.A. 1:30 p.m. $5-$10. (310) 669-2369.

Ira M. Resnick: The author of “Starstuck: Vintage Movie Posters from Classic Hollywood” will present and sign his new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 4 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Vermin on the Mount: Author Jim Ruland (“Big Lonesome”) hosts this bimonthly reading series. The latest installment will feature Jami Attenberg (“The Melting Season”), Jennine Capo Crucet (“How to Leave Hialeah”), Times staff writer Margaret Wappler and T. Greenwood (“The Hungry Season”). Mountain Bar, 473 Gin Ling Way, L.A. 8 p.m. Free. www.vermin.blogs.com.

MONDAY

Tim Johnston: The author of “Irish Girl” will read and sign his new collection of stories. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Little House on the Bowery West Coast Tour: Author Dennis Cooper (“Ugly Man: Stories”) will be joined by Mark Gluth (“The Late Work of Margaret Kroftis”) and James Greer (“The Failure”), whose latest novels are included in Akashic Books’ Little House on the Bowery series, which Cooper edits. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

TUESDAY

Duane “Dog” Chapman: The bounty hunter will present and sign his new book, “Where Mercy Is Shown, Mercy Is Given.” Borders Books & Music, 9301 Tampa Ave., Northridge. 7 p.m. Free. (818) 886-5443.

Jared Diamond and John Long: A conversation with the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “Guns, Germs and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies” and the Australian paleontologist, who was recently appointed vice president of research and collections at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 443-7000.

Jeff Garlin: The comedian will present and sign his new book, “My Footprint: Carrying the Weight of the World.” Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Robert S. Levinson: The author of “The Traitor in Us All” will read and sign his new crime thriller. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Lisa Lutz: The author of “The Spellmans Strike Again” will read and sign the fourth and final installment in her Spellmans mystery series. The Mystery Bookstore, 1036-C Broxton Ave. , Westwood. noon. Free. (310) 209-0415.

Travis Nichols, Paul Killebrew and Monica Fambrough: The poets will read and discuss their work. Machine Project, 1200-D N. Alvarado St., L.A. 8 p.m. (213) 483-8761.

Jodi Picoult: The author will read and sign her new novel, “House Rules.” All Saints Episcopal Church, 132 N. Euclid Ave., Pasadena. 7 p.m. $28; includes copy of “House Rules.”. (626) 449-5320. www.vromansbookstore.com.

Lisa See: The author will read and sign her latest novel, “Shanghai Girls.” Diesel Bookstore, 225 26th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 576-9960.

WEDNESDAY

Michelle Alexander: Zócalo presents a discussion and signing with the author of “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness.” Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 443-7000. www.zocalopublicsquare.org.

Jan Balakian: The author of “Reading the Plays of Wendy Wasserstein” will present and sign her new book of essays. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Chang-rae Lee: The author of “The Surrendered” will read and sign his new novel. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Lisa Lutz: The author of “The Spellmans Strike Again” will read and sign the fourth and final installment in her Spellmans mystery series. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Lionel Shriver: Aloud at Central Library presents the author of “We Need to Talk About Kevin” in conversation with Times columnist Meghan Daum on the subject of Shriver’s new novel “So Much for That.” Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025. www.aloudla.org.

Richard Thompson: The British folk rock icon will discuss his career, signature tunes and distinctive guitar technique. The GRAMMY Museum, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., L.A. 8 p.m. $15-$20. (213) 763-2133.

THURSDAY

Mark Arax: The author of “West of the West” will discuss and sign his book about California. William H. Hannon Library at Loyola Marymount University, 1 LMU Drive, L.A. 5:30 p.m. Free. (310) 338-2788.

David Corbett: The author of “Do They Know I’m Running?” will read and sign his new mystery novel. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

John McPhee: Host Michael Silverblatt will interview the author on the subject of “Silk Parachute,” his new collection of essays. Bookworm, 89.9 KCRW-FM, 2:30 p.m. www.kcrw.com.

Dr. Luc Montagnier: The French virologist, whose 1983 discovery of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) earned him a Nobel Prize in 2008, will present a lecture. Whittier College, Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts, 6760 Painter Ave., Whittier. 1:30 p.m. Free; RSVP required. (562) 907-4219.

Tim O’Brien Aloud at Central Library presents the author of “The Things They Carried” in conversation with Times Book Editor David L. Ulin. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Full; standby only. (213) 228-7025. www.aloudla.org.

John Vorhaus: The author of “The California Roll” will read and sign his new novel. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

FRIDAY

Cara Black: The author will read and sign her latest, “Murder in the Palais Royal.” Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Gabrielle Burton: The author of “Impatient With Desire” will read and sign her new novel, a fictionalized account of the ordeal of the Donner Party. Village Books, 1049 Swarthmore Ave., Pacific Palisades. 7:30 p.m. Free. (310) 454-4063.

Susan Wheeler and Claudia Rankine: The poets, authors of “Assorted Poems” and “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely,” respectively, will read and discuss their work. Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice. 7:30 p.m. (310) 822-3006.

SATURDAY

Marcia Cohee, Bruce Boston and Charles Bivins: The poets will read and discuss their work. Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice. 7:30 p.m. (310) 822-3006.

DC Pierson: The author of “The Boy Who Couldn’t Sleep and Never Had To” will read and sign his debut novel. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 5 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

George Takei: The actor (“Star Trek”), gay rights activist and author of the autobiography “To the Stars” will present a lecture, “Embracing Change.” Unitarian Universalist Church, 1260 18th St., Santa Monica. 7:30 p.m. Free. (310) 829-5436.

Danielle Trussoni: The author of “Angelology” will read and sign her new novel. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 4 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.