Book calendar

Words & Ideas

Compiled by Grace Krilanovich.

SUNDAY

Peter Clothier: The author of “Persist: In Praise of the Creative Spirit in a World Gone Mad With Commerce” will present and sign his new book. Laguna Art Museum, 307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach. 1 p.m. Free with paid museum admission. (949) 494-8971.

Charlie Huston: The author of “Sleepless” will read and sign his new crime thriller. Dark Delicacies, 4213 W. Burbank Blvd., Burbank. 2 p.m. Free. (818) 556-6660.

Ian Whitcomb: The musician and author (“After the Ball: Pop Music From Rag to Rock”) will discuss and sign his books. West Los Angeles Regional Library, 11360 Santa Monica Blvd., L.A. 2 p.m. Free. (310) 575-8323.

MONDAY

Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl: The authors of “Beautiful Creatures” will discuss and sign their new young-adult novel. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

TUESDAY

Downsizing the American Dream: A conversation with Les Leopold (“The Looting of America: How Wall Street’s Game of Fantasy Finance Destroyed Our Jobs, Pensions and Prosperity -- and What We Can Do About It”) and Dean Baker (“Plunder and Blunder: The Rise and Fall of the Bubble Economy”); moderated by Ian Masters, host of KPFK-FM’s “Background Briefing.” Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 443-7000.

Greg Mortenson: The author of “Three Cups of Tea” and “Stones Into Schools” discusses and signs his books. Loyola Marymount University, 1 LMU Drive, L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (310) 338-2700.

Ozzy Osbourne: The seemingly invincible rocker will present and sign his new autobiography, “I Am Ozzy.” Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Tim Page: Aloud at Central Library presents the Pulitzer Prize-wining music critic in conversation with Sasha Anawalt, the USC Annenberg School for Communication’s director of arts journalism programs, on the subject of Page’s new book, “Parallel Play: Growing Up With Undiagnosed Asperger’s.” Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025. www.aloudla.org.

Ian Whitcomb: The musician and author of “Letters From Lotusland” will present and sign his new book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

WEDNESDAY

Angelo Cannavacciuolo: The Italian author will present and sign his latest novel, “Le cose accadono,” with the help of actress Alessia De Rosa Morricone, who will read select passages, and USC professor Alessio Filippi, who will moderate a discussion. Italian Cultural Institute, 1023 Hilgard Ave., L.A. 6:30 p.m. Free. (310) 443-3250, Ext. 114.

Donna de la Perriere and Joseph Lease: The poets will read and discuss their work. Otis College of Art and Design, 9045 Lincoln Blvd., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (310) 665-6892.

Emil Draitser: Aloud at Central Library presents the author of “Shush! Growing Up Jewish Under Stalin: A Memoir” in conversation with St. Mary’s College of California professor Suzi Weissman. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025. www.aloudla.org.

Gregg Easterbrook: Zócalo presents a lecture by the New Republic senior editor and author of “The Progress Paradox: How Life Gets Better While People Feel Worse.” Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 443-7000.

Charlie Huston: The author will read and sign his latest novel, “Sleepless.” Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Bruce Eric Kaplan: The New Yorker cartoonist will present and sign his new book, “I Love You, I Hate You, I’m Hungry.” Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Onramp Issue No. 2: Editor Florencia Pita will moderate a discussion of the new compendium of student projects from the 2007-2009 academic years. SCI-Arc, 960 E. 3rd St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 613-2200.

D.A. Powell: The poet will read and discuss his work. Doheny Memorial Library at USC, 3550 Trousdale Parkway, Los Angeles. 7 p.m. Free; RSVP to mpw@college.usc.edu.

Garth Stein: The author of “The Art of Racing in the Rain” will discuss and sign his latest novel. Diesel Bookstore, 225 26th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 576-9960.

THURSDAY

Joshua Ferris: The author of “Then We Came to the End” will read and sign his new novel, “The Unnamed.” Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Neil Gaiman: The author of comics series “The Sandman,” novella “Coraline,” Newbery Medal-winning young-adult novel “The Graveyard Book” and many other novels and story collections will discuss and sign his books. Royce Hall, UCLA, 340 Royce Drive, L.A. 8 p.m. $24-$48. (310) 825-2101. www.uclalive.org.

Daniel Olivas: The author of “Anywhere but L.A.” will read and sign his new collection of stories. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Art Spiegelman and Françoise Mouly: Host Michael Silverblatt will interview the comics artist and author (“Maus”) and longtime art editor for the New Yorker on the subject of their new book, “The Toon Treasury of Classic Children’s Comics.” Bookworm, 89.9 KCRW-FM, 2:30 p.m. www.kcrw.com.

FRIDAY

Kola Boof: The poet will read and discuss her work. Whitmore-Lindley Theatre Center, 11006 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (818) 623-0040.

Ivy Pochoda: The author of “The Art of Disappearing” will read and sign her debut novel. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

The Promising Series: A launch part for the new anthology “Fifty Gay and Lesbian Books You Must Read” will feature readings by contributors Felice Picano, Fenton Johnson, Matias Viegner and Promising Series curator Noel Alumit. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

SATURDAY

Sean Carroll: The author of “From Eternity to Here: The Quest for the Ultimate Theory of Time” will discuss and sign his new book. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 5 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

P. Gabrielle Foreman: The literary historian and co-editor of a reissued edition of the 1859 novel “Our Nig: Or, Sketches From the Life of a Free Black” will read and discuss the book, its author Harriet E. Wilson and the late-blooming cultural significance of each. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 5 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Literature Live! What Books Press and the Glass Table Collective present readings by authors and poets Molly Bendall, Ramon Garcia, Karen Kevorkian, Gail Wronsky, Katharine Haake and Chuck Rosenthal. Porter Ranch Branch Library, 11371 Tampa Ave., Northridge. 2 p.m. Free. (818) 360-5706.

Anne Rice: The author will sign her latest novel, the first book in her religious romance series “The Songs of the Seraphim,” “Angel Time.” Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 1 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.