Book calendar events for the week of February 20, 2011

Words & Ideas

Compiled by Grace Krilanovich.

SUNDAY

Drew Friedman: The caricaturist will present and sign his new book, “Drew Friedman’s Sideshow Freaks.” Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 4 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Hitched: Rebel Writers: Established authors will be paired with emerging writers for a group reading: Stephen Elliott (“The Adderall Diaries”) with Antonia Crane, and Brendan Constantine (“Letters to Guns”) with Max Kaisler. Hosted by Xochitl-Julisa Bermejo. Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice. 5 p.m. (310) 822-3006.

Taboo: The member of the Black Eyed Peas will present and sign his new book, “Fallin’ Up: My Story.” Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 1 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

MONDAY

Russell Simmons: The entertainment industry entrepreneur will present and sign his new book, “Super Rich: A Guide to Having It All.” Eso Won Books, 4331 Degnan Blvd., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (323) 290-1048.

TUESDAY

Gregory Boyle: The Jesuit priest known as “Father Greg,” founder of Homeboy Industries, will present and sign the paperback release of his book, “Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion.” Diesel Bookstore, 225 26th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 576-9960.

Cheryl Burke: The “Dancing With the Stars” Season 1 champ will present and sign her new book, “Dancing Lessons: How I Found Passion and Potential on the Dance Floor and in Life.” Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Christo: The artist will sign copies of his new book, “Christo and Jeanne-Claude.” Taschen Store Beverly Hills, 354 N. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 274-4300.

Dambisa Moyo: Aloud at Central Library presents the author of “How the West Was Lost: Fifty Years of Economic Folly — and the Stark Choices Ahead” in conversation with Matt Miller (“The Two Percent Solution”). Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025. https://www.aloudla.org.

Raul Ramos y Sanchez: The author of “House Divided” will read and sign his second novel in his America Libre trilogy. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

WEDNESDAY

Susan Jacoby: Zócalo presents a discussion and signing with the author of “Never Say Die: The Myth and Marketing of the New Old Age.” Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), 250 S. Grand Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org.

Sharrie Williams: The author of “The Maybelline Story: And the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It” will present and sign her new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

THURSDAY

T.C. Boyle: Host Michael Silverblatt will interview the author on the subject of his new novel, “When the Killing’s Done.” Bookworm, 89.9 KCRW-FM, 2:30 p.m. https://www.kcrw.com.

Robert K. Elder: The editor of “The Film That Changed My Life: 30 Directors on Their Epiphanies in the Dark” will present and sign his new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Jonathan Evison: The author of “West of Here” will read and sign his new novel. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Carlos Fuentes: Aloud at Central Library presents the acclaimed author in conversation with journalist Sergio Muñoz-Bata on the subject of Fuentes’ new novel “Destiny and Desire.” Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Full; standby only. (213) 228-7025. https://www.aloudla.org.

Jaime Hernandez: The co-creator of the “Love and Rockets” comic book series will discuss his work, including a recent lavish coffee table compendium, “The Art of Jaime Hernandez,” with journalist and author Gustavo Arellano. Book signing to follow. Fullerton Public Library, 353 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton. 6:30 p.m. Free. (714) 738-6333.

Tim Johnson: The author of “Tragedy in Crimson: How the Dalai Lama Conquered the World but Lost the Battle With China” will present and sign his new book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Karin L. Stanford: The author of “African Americans in Los Angeles” will present and sign her new photography book. Eso Won Books, 4331 Degnan Blvd., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (323) 290-1048.

FRIDAY

Scott Brown: The U.S. senator from Massachusetts will present and sign his new book, “Against All Odds: My Life of Hardship, Fast Breaks and Second Chances.” Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. noon. Free. (626) 449-5320.

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

Liel Leibovitz & Matthew Miller: The authors of “Fortunate Sons: The 120 Chinese Boys Who Came to America, Went to School and Revolutionized an Ancient Civilization” will present and sign their new book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

SATURDAY

Amber Benson and Jeri Estes: The authors of “Serpent’s Storm” and “Stilettos and Steel,” respectively, will sign their new books. Dark Delicacies, 4213 W. Burbank Blvd., Burbank. 2 p.m. Free. (818) 556-6660.

Dan Charnas: The author of “The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip-Hop” will present and sign his new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 5 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Slake Issue 2 Group Reading: Contributors Elizabeth Banicki, Ben Ehrenreich, Yxta Maya Murray and Sam Slovick will be joined by Slake publisher Joe Donnelly for a reading from the new issue of the Los Angeles literary magazine. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 5 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.