Words & Ideas

Book-related events around the L.A. area.

Compiled by Grace Krilanovich.

SUNDAY

The 100 Best African American Poems: Poet Nikki Giovanni, editor of “The 100 Best African American Poems,” will read and discuss the new anthology with Jawanza Dumisani, Douglas Kearney, Corrie Greathouse, S.A. Griffin, Conney Williams, Ana Reyes, Bryan Sanders, Peter J. Harris and V. Kalli. Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice. 6 p.m. $5-$7; free with purchase of book. (310) 822-3006.

Mary Cappello: The author of “Swallow: Foreign Bodies, Their Ingestion, Inspiration and the Curious Doctor Who Extracted Them” will present and sign her new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., L.A. Noon. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Jan Alan Henderson: The author of “The Legendary Lydecker Brothers” will present and sign his recent nonfiction book. Dark Delicacies, 4213 W. Burbank Blvd., Burbank. 2 p.m. Free. (818) 556-6660.

Spike Lee: The acclaimed filmmaker will present and sign “Spike Lee: Do the Right Thing,” a new companion book to the 1989 film. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., L.A. 3 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

George R.R. Martin: The author will discuss and sign books from his “Song of Ice and Fire” series. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 5 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

The New Short Fiction Series: A dramatic reading of Steve De Jarnatt’s “Rubiaux Rising” and other stories. Barnsdall Art Park, 4800 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. 7 p.m. $10-$15. https://www.newshortfictionseries.com

Ken Sharp and John Borack: The authors of “Starting Over: The Making of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Double Fantasy” and “John Lennon: Life Is What Happens,” respectively, will present and sign their new books. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., L.A. 5 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Vermin on the Mount Reading Series: Jim Ruland hosts a night of irreverent readings with Chiwan Choi (“The Flood”), Antonia Crane, Jeanne Darst, Danielle Dutton (“S P R A W L”) and Patrick O’Neil. Mountain Bar, 473 Gin Ling Way, L.A. 8 p.m. Free. https://www.vermin.blogs.com.

MONDAY

David Levithan: The author of “The Lover’s Dictionary: A Novel” will read and sign his new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

TUESDAY

Robert Crais: The author of “The Sentry” will read and sign his new thriller. Diesel Bookstore, 225 26th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 576-9960.

Dennis Danziger: The author of “A Short History of a Tall Jew” will read and sign his new novel. Singer-songwriter Karen Hart will perform. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Heather Havrilesky: The author of “Disaster Preparedness” will discuss and sign her new memoir. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Hooman Majd and Reza Aslan: Majd, the author of “The Ayatollahs’ Democracy” and Aslan, editor of the anthology “Tablet and Pen” will discuss and sign their new books. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 443-7000.

Siddhartha Mukherjee: Zocalo presents a discussion and signing with the author of “The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer.” Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., L.A. 8 p.m. Free. (310) 440-4500. https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org.

NPR at 40: What Is the Future of Public Radio: Aloud at Central Library presents pioneering broadcast journalist and early NPR correspondent Susan Stamberg in conversation with Geneva Overholser, director of the School of Journalism at USC. Moderated by NPR reporter Leslie Berestein Rojas. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025. https://www.aloudla.org.

WEDNESDAY

Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish: Aloud at Central Library presents the author of “I Shall Not Hate: A Gaza Doctor’s Journey on the Road to Peace” in conversation with Washington Post reporter Laura Blumenfeld. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025. https://www.aloudla.org.

Chris Cleave: The author of “Little Bee” will read and sign his new novel, “Incendiary.” Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Claire Dederer: The author of “Poser: My Life in Twenty-Three Yoga Poses” will present and sign her new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Tom Morello and Sam Durant: The Grammy-winning guitarist from bands Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave and the L.A.-based multimedia artist will discuss the sociopolitical aspects of their work. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 443-7000.

THURSDAY

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

Robert Crais: The author will read and sign his new novel, “The Sentry.” Pasadena Public Library, 285 E. Walnut St., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320. https://www.vromansbookstore.com.

David Vann: Host Michael Silverblatt will interview the author of “Caribou Island.” Bookworm, 89.9 KCRW-FM, 2:30 p.m. https://www.kcrw.com.

Susan Vreeland: The author of “Clara and Mr. Tiffany” will read and sign her new novel. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

FRIDAY

Claire Dederer: The author of “Poser: My Life in Twenty-Three Yoga Poses” will present and sign her new book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.