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.