Book Calendar events for the week of January 30, 2011

Words & Ideas

Compiled by Grace Krilanovich.

SUNDAY

Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller: The legendary songwriting duo will present and sign their recent autobiography, “Hound Dog.” Every Picture Tells a Story, 1333 Montana Ave., Santa Monica. 6 p.m. Free. (310) 451-2700.

Joseph McElroy: The author will read and sign his new collection, “Night Soul and Other Stories.” Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 5 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Not Content: Collaborative Social Writing Event: Les Figues Press presents the first of three installments in a yearlong series of text projects at Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions (LACE). Writer-participants include Harold Abramowitz, Amanda Ackerman, Sarah Shun-lien Bynum, Teresa Carmody and Kate Durbin. LACE Gallery, 6522 Hollywood Blvd., L.A. 1-4 p.m. (323) 957-1777.

Patton Oswalt: The comedian will discuss and sign his new book, “Zombie, Spaceship, Wasteland.” Dark Delicacies, 4213 W. Burbank Blvd., Burbank. 2 p.m. Free. (818) 556-6660.

Tongue and Groove: This installment of the monthly reading series will feature contributors to the new issue of Slake: John Albert, Dana Johnson, Joseph Mattson, Victoria Patterson, Rachel Resnick, Harry Shannon and musical guest Dorian Wood. Hotel Cafe, 1623 1/2 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles. 6 p.m. $6. https://www.tongueandgroovela.com.

MONDAY

Alice Hoffman: Writers Bloc presents the author of “The Rose Garden” in conversation with Gail Eichenthal. Writer’s Guild Theater, 135 S. Doheny Drive, Beverly Hills. 7:30 p.m. $20. https://www.writersblocpresents.com.

TUESDAY

Mike Brown: The astronomer will present and sign his new book, “How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming.” Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Aminatta Forna and Janice Shapiro: Forna, the author of the memoir “The Devil That Danced on the Water” and the novels “Ancestor Stones” and “The Memory of Love,” will be joined by Shapiro, author of the new collection of stories “Bummer.” Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 443-7000.

Nick Galifianakis: The author of “If You Loved Me, You’d Think This Was Cute: Uncomfortably True Cartoons About You” will present and sign his new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

David L. Ulin: Writers Bloc presents The Times’ book critic and author of “The Lost Art of Reading: Why Books Matter in a Distracted Time” in conversation with Peter Guber. https://www.writersblocpresents.com. MGM Screening Room, 10250 Constellation Blvd., Century City. 7:30 p.m. $20.

WEDNESDAY

Karen Abbott: The author of “American Rose: A Nation Laid Bare: The Life and Times of Gypsy Rose Lee” will present and sign her new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Bill Sharpsteen: The author of “The Docks” will present and sign his new book about the Port of Los Angeles. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

THURSDAY

Joyce Appleby and Peter Barnes: Aloud at Central Library presents the historian (“The Relentless Revolution: A History of Capitalism”) and the entrepreneur in conversation on the subject, “What’s the Matter with Capitalism?” Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025. https://www.aloudla.org.

Kids of the Black Hole: How LA Hardcore Changed the World: A panel discussion featuring author Steven Blush (“American Hardcore”), musicians Keith Morris and Tony Cadena, Frontier Records’ Lisa Fancher and photographer Edward Colver. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

James L. Kugel: The author of “In the Valley of the Shadow: On the Foundations of Religious Belief” will present and sign his new book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

FRIDAY

Liza Bakewell: The author of “Madre: Perilous Journeys With a Spanish Noun” will present and sign her new book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Cathy Whitlock: The author of “Designs on Film: A Century of Hollywood Art Direction” will present and sign her new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

SATURDAY

Olivia De Berardinis: The noted contemporary pinup artist will sign her books, among them “Let Them Eat Cheesecake,” “Betty Page by Olivia” and “American Geisha: The Art of Olivia.” Gallery Nucleus, 30 W. Main St., Alhambra. 6 p.m. Free. (626) 458-7477.

Joyce Farmer: The author of “Special Exits” will present and sign her new graphic memoir. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 5 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Stephen R. Palumbi: The author of “The Death and Life of Monterey Bay: A Story of Revival” will present and sign his new book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. Noon. Free. (626) 449-5320.

NEXT SUNDAY

Little House on the Bowery Showcase: Authors Lonely Christopher (“The Mechanics of Homosexual Intercourse”) and Joseph Mattson (“Empty the Sun”) will be joined by Little House on the Bowery series editor Dennis Cooper for a reading and signing. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 4 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.