BOOK CALENDAR

TODAY

BRENTWOOD: Judith Seid reads “God-Optional Judaism,” Dutton’s Brentwood Books, 11975 San Vicente Blvd., 2 p.m. (310) 476-6263.

COSTA MESA: Kent McArthur signs “How to Be Happy, Healthy, Wealthy & Wise,” Borders Books & Music, 3333 Bear St., 1 p.m. (714) 279-8933.

LOS ANGELES: Nuala O’Faolain (“Are You Somebody?”) in discussion with Fionnula Flanagan, $8, Mark Taper Auditorium of the Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 5th and Flower streets, 2 p.m. Reservations: (213) 228-7025.

LOS ANGELES: Poets Philip Levine and Richard Garcia read their work, $7, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., 1 p.m. Tickets: (877) 522-6225.

LOS FELIZ: Michael Ford (“Nursery Rhyme Assassins”) and Ray Manzarek (“The Poet in Exile”) read their books, Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., 4 p.m. (323) 660-1175.

SANTA MONICA: Nora Hamilton and Norma Stoltz Chinchilla read “Seeking Community in a Global City,” Midnight Special Bookstore, 1318 Third Street Promenade, 2 p.m. (310) 393-2923.

WEST HOLLYWOOD: Fred Luskin signs “Forgive for Good,” Bodhi Tree Bookstore, 8585 Melrose Ave., 2:30 p.m. (310) 659-1733.

*

MONDAY

BRENTWOOD: Nuala O’Faolain reads “My Dream of You,” Dutton’s Brentwood Books, 11975 San Vicente Blvd, 7 p.m. (310) 476-6263.

CENTURY CITY: Director-screenwriter Peter Jackson, screenwriter Fran Walsh and stars Sean Astin and Christopher Lee discuss the screenplay of “The Lord of the Rings,” based on the book by J.R.R. Tolkien, Brentano’s, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., 2 p.m. (310) 785-0204.

SIMI VALLEY: Presidents Day-themed storytelling with Jim Woodard, Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, 40 Presidential Drive, 10:15 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. (800) 410-8354.

*

TUESDAY

BEVERLY HILLS: Writers Bloc presents A.B. Yehoshua (“Mr. Mani”) in conversation with Elizabeth Swados, $15, Temple Emanuel, 300 N. Clark Drive, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: (323) 655-TKTS.

BRENTWOOD: Indu Sundaresan reads “The Twentieth Wife,” Dutton’s Brentwood Books, 11975 San Vicente Blvd., 7 p.m. (310) 476-6263.

BURBANK: Chrissie Blaze discusses “Workout for the Soul,” Barnes & Noble, 731 N. San Fernando Blvd., 7:30 p.m. (818) 558-1155.

CANOGA PARK: Kevin Roderick discusses “The San Fernando Valley,” Borders Books & Music, 6510 Canoga Ave., 7:30 p.m. (818) 887-1999.

SANTA MONICA: Todd Compton reviews “The Sons of Science Fiction” by Gene Wolfe, Santa Monica Public Library, 1343 6th St., 1:30 p.m. (310) 458-8646.

SANTA MONICA: Cynthia Heimel discusses “Advanced Sex Tips for Girls,” Barnes & Noble, 1201 Third Street Promenade, 7:30 p.m. (310) 260-9110.

WEST HOLLYWOOD: Mike Medavoy signs “You’re Only as Good as Your Next One,” Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., 8 p.m. (310) 659-3110.

*

WEDNESDAY

BRENTWOOD: Denise McIver reads “Droppin’ Science,” Dutton’s Brentwood Books, 11975 San Vicente Blvd., 7 p.m. (310) 476-6263.

CENTURY CITY: Patrick Michael Rucker signs “This Troubled Land,” Brentano’s, 10250 Santa Monica, 7 p.m. (310) 785-0204.

ENCINO: Greg Martin reads “The Buddha in Your Mirror,” Barnes & Noble, 16461 Ventura Blvd., 7:30 p.m. (818) 380-1636.

IRVINE: Antonia Darder discusses “Reinventing Paulo Freire,” UC Irvine, Cross-Cultural Center, 4 p.m. (949) 824-7215.

LOS ANGELES: Rabbi Ari Hier discusses “Abraham Isaac Kook,” Barnes & Noble, 10850 W. Pico Blvd., 7:30 p.m. (310) 475-4144.

SANTA BARBARA: Mario Vargas Llosa (“The Feast of the Goat”) discusses “History, the Future and the Writer’s Obligation,” $6, UC Santa Barbara Campbell Hall, Mesa Road, 8 p.m. (805) 893-3535.

WEST HOLLYWOOD: Douglas Harding signs “On Having No Head,” Bodhi Tree Bookstore, 8585 Melrose Ave., 7:30 p.m. (310) 659-1733.

WEST HOLLYWOOD: Robert Mailer Anderson reads “Boonville,” Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., 8 p.m. (310) 659-3110.

WOODLAND HILLS: Radio personality Kitty Felde, host of “Talk of the City” and its “Book Club of the Air for Young Adults” on KPCC-FM (89.3), will discuss her radio show, Platt Branch Library, 23600 Victory Blvd., Woodland Hills, 7:30 p.m. (818) 340-9386.

*

THURSDAY

BEVERLY HILLS: Peter Carey reads “True History of the Kelly Gang,” Beverly Hills Public Library, 444 N. Rexford Drive, 7 p.m. (310) 659-3110.

BRENTWOOD: Jean Thompson reads “Wide Blue Yonder,” Dutton’s Brentwood Books, 11975 San Vicente Blvd., 7 p.m. (310) 476-6263.

BURBANK: Lysa Moskowitz-Mateu signs “Conversations With the Spirit World,” Barnes & Noble, 731 N. San Fernando Blvd., 7:30 p.m. (818) 558-1155.

CENTURY CITY: Sarah Waters signs “Fingersmith,” Brentano’s, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., 7 p.m. (310) 785-0204.

LONG BEACH: Guadalupe Garcia-Montano, Kelly Jacquez and Daniel Olivas sign “Fantasmas,” Cultura Latina Bookstore, 4125 Norse Way, 7 p.m. (562) 982-1515.

LOS ANGELES: Ronald Barnett discusses “The Reluctant Tourist,” Optimist Club luncheon meeting, $10, Fu’s Palace, 8751 W. Pico Blvd., noon. Reservations: (310) 858-8800.

LOS ANGELES: DeWayne Wickham signs “Bill Clinton and Black America,” Barnes & Noble, 10850 W. Pico Blvd., 7:30 p.m. (310) 475-4144.

PACIFIC PALISADES: Bernat Rosner, Frederic Tubach and Sally Tubach sign “An Uncommon Friendship,” Village Books, 1049 Swarthmore Ave., 7:30 p.m. (310) 454-4063.

SANTA BARBARA: Kathy Zuckerman (“Gidget”) and Shirley Lim (“Joss and Gold”) sign their books, Borders Books & Music, 900 State St., 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m., respectively. (805) 899-3668.

SANTA MONICA: Scott Phillips discusses “The Ice Harvest,” Barnes & Noble, 1201 Third Street Promenade, 7:30 p.m. (310) 260-9110.

*

FRIDAY

CENTURY CITY: Janet Leigh signs “The Dream Factory,” Brentano’s, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., 7 p.m. (310) 785-0204.

HUNTINGTON BEACH: Tebot Bach presents poets David St. John and Sarah Maclay, Fidelity Federal Bank, 19900 Beach Blvd., 8 p.m. (714) 968-0905.

IRVINE: bell hooks reads “Communion,” UC Irvine, Cross-Cultural Center, 7 p.m. (949) 824-7215.

LOS ANGELES: DeWayne Wickham signs “Bill Clinton and Black America,” Eso Won Books, 3655 S. La Brea Ave., 7 p.m. (323) 294-0324.

LOS FELIZ: Susie Bright discusses “How to Write a Dirty Story,” Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., 7:30 p.m. (323) 660-1175.

VENICE: Marvin Bell (“Nightworks”) and Jeanette Clough (“Celestial Burn”) read their work, $7, Beyond Baroque, 681 Venice Blvd., 7:30 p.m. (310) 822-3006.

*

SATURDAY

ALISO VIEJO: Irma Slage discusses, “Phases of Life After Death,” Aliso Viejo Library, 1 Journey, 2 p.m. (949) 360-1730.

BURBANK: Tracy Hogg discusses “Secrets of the Baby Whisperers for Toddlers,” Barnes & Noble, 731 N. San Fernando Blvd., 1 p.m. (818) 558-1155.

COSTA MESA: Daniela Turudich signs “Vintage Wedding,” Borders Books & Music, 3333 Bear St., 1 p.m. (714) 432-7854.

GLENDALE: Mondo Fax signs “Buying Time,” Barnes & Noble, 245 N. Glendale Ave., 2 p.m. (818) 246-4677.

HUNTINGTON BEACH: David Olson signs “Lazy Daisy,” Barnes & Noble, 7777 Edinger Ave., 11 a.m. (714) 997-8781.

LOS ANGELES: bell hooks reads and signs “Communion” at 1 p.m.; Steven Barnes (“Lion’s Blood”) and Tananarive Due (“The Living Blood”) read and sign their books at 5 p.m., Eso Won Books, 3655 S. La Brea Ave. (323) 294-0324.

LOS FELIZ: Susan Patron discusses the best children’s books of 2001, Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., 10:30 a.m. (323) 660-1175.

LOS FELIZ: Used-book sale, Los Feliz Public Library, 1874 N. Hillhurst Ave., 10 a.m. (323) 661-2629.

MANHATTAN BEACH: Kevin Fagan signs “Drabble: Who Wants to Be a Fenderhead?,” Barnes & Noble, 1800 W. Rosecrans Ave., 2 p.m. (310) 725-7027.

NORTHRIDGE: Pamela Skaggs signs “Ronnie,” the Bookhouse, 17048 Devonshire St., 2 p.m. (818) 832-0976.

PASADENA: Michael Hoeye signs “Time Stops for No Mouse,” Vroman’s, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., 2 p.m. (800) 769-BOOK.

PASADENA: Terry Stanfill signs “The Blood Remembers,” Borders Books & Music, 475 S. Lake Ave., 1 p.m. (626) 304-9773.

SANTA MONICA: bell hooks reads “Communion,” Midnight Special Bookstore, 1318 Third Street Promenade, 6 p.m. (310) 393-2923.

*

Send notices (in Book Calendar format) to Book Calendar, Book Review, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012, or fax them to (213) 237-4712, or e-mail Ethel.A[email protected]