Spring Arts 2015: Books

MARCH 25–MAY 15

The Big Read Los Angeles: “Into the Beautiful North” by Luis Alberto Urrea

From the kickoff at City Hall on March 25 through mid-May, libraries, schools and cultural institutions invite book lovers to read Urrea’s novel of immigration and join in dozens of activities citywide.

City Hall, 200 N. Spring St.; free; neabigread.org

APRIL 18-19

The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books and book prizes

The two-day book festival will feature hundreds of authors — including T.C. Boyle, LeVar Burton, Jacqueline Woodson, Luis Rodriguez, Patton Oswalt, Roz Chast and Candice Bergen — in readings, discussions and signings. The prizes, which present awards to authors in 10 categories, are open to the public.

USC campus, free; $10 for the prize ceremony; latimes.com/festivalofbooks

APRIL 29

An Evening With Eric Bogosian

Best known as a playwright and performer, Eric Bogosian brings his storytelling talents to the book “Operation Nemesis: The Assassination Plot That Avenged the Armenian Genocide,” a researched history of the Armenian genocide and those bent on revenge.

LiveTalksLA, the Alex Theatre, Glendale; $23-$95. livetalksla.org

MAY 12

“The Familiar: Volume 1: One Rainy Day in May” by Mark Z. Danielewski

The author of “House of Leaves” returns with a new book, using a simple story — of a girl and a lost pet — to conceal an elaborately structured, complex, multi-voiced novel that is slated to launch an ambitious series.

Pantheon: 880 pp, $25

MAY 15-17

LéaLA

After taking a year off, LéaLA, Los Angeles’ Spanish-language book festival, is back. Presented by the Guadalajara International Book Fair and with support from the government of Mexico, the fair celebrates Spanish-language literature. 85,000 people attended the fair in 2013.

Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S. Figueroa St.; free. lea-la.com

carolyn.kellogg@latimes.com