Book calendar

Words & Ideas

Compiled by Grace Krilanovich.

MONDAY

Dolores Dorantes and Sesshu Foster: The authors of “sexoPUROsexoVELOZ” and “Atomik Aztex,” respectively, 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.

Love Hurts: Ask the Experts: 826LA presents a panel discussion with authors Greg Behrendt (“He’s Just Not That Into You”), Sascha Rothchild (“How to Get Divorced by 30”) and Lori Gottlieb (“Marry Him: The Case for Settling for Mr. Good Enough”); moderated by Joel Stein. Busby’s East, 5364 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 8 p.m. $25. www.826la.org.

Jennifer Niven: The author of “The Aqua Net Diaries: Big Hair, Big Dreams, Small Town” will read and sign her new memoir. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

TUESDAY

Free Speech or the Rule of Money?: A conversation with John Dean, author and former White House counsel for the Nixon administration, and John C. Eastman, the Donald P. Kennedy Chair at the Chapman University School of Law, on the subject of the recent Supreme Court ruling permitting corporations and unions to pay for advertising supporting or opposing political candidates. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 443-7000.

Seth Grahame-Smith: The author of “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” will read and sign his new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Mariette Hartley: The actress and author of “Breaking the Silence” will present and sign her autobiography. Venice-Abbot Kinney Branch Memorial Library, 501 South Venice Blvd., Venice. 6:30 p.m. Free. (310) 821-1769.

My Barbarian: The LA-based performance art collective will discuss their work. Otis College of Art and Design, 9045 Lincoln Blvd., L.A. 11 a.m. Free. (310) 665-6827.

Kathleen Norris: The author of “Acedia & me: A Marriage, Monks and a Writer’s Life” will present and sign her new book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Judith Warner: Writers Bloc presents the author of “We’ve Got Issues: Children and Parents in the Age of Medication” in conversation with Atlantic Monthly columnist Caitlin Flanagan. ICM Screening Room, 10250 Constellation Blvd., Century City. 7:30 p.m. $20. www.writersblocpresents.com.

WEDNESDAY

Elif Batuman: Aloud at Central Library presents the author of “The Possessed: Adventures With Russian Books” in conversation with Times book editor David L. Ulin. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025. www.aloudla.org.

Antonio Damasio: The founding director of USC’s Brain and Creativity Institute and author of “Descartes’ Error: Emotion, Reason and the Human Brain” will give a lecture on art and the conscious brain. REDCAT at Walt Disney Concert Hall, 631 W. 2nd St., L.A. 8:30 p.m. $5-$10. (213) 237-2800.

Barbara Hammer and Silas Howard: The experimental filmmaker will discuss her work with writer, director and musician Howard. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 443-7000.

Naomi Hirahara: The author of “Blood Hina” will present and sign the fourth installment of her “Mas Arai” mystery series. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Christopher Hitchens: The author and journalist will deliver the 2010 Daniel Pearl Memorial Lecture, titled “Varieties of Anti-Semitism.” Korn Convocation Hall, Anderson School at UCLA, 110 Westwood Plaza, L.A. 5 p.m. Full; standby only. (310) 206-6365.

Michael Huttner and Rick Jacobs: The authors of “50 Ways You Can Help Obama Change America” will present and sign their new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Elif Shafak The author of “The Forty Rules of Love: A Novel of Rumi” will read and sign her new book. Diesel Bookstore, 225 26th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 576-9960.

THURSDAY

Jay Blakesberg: The rock photographer will present and sign his book, “Traveling on a High Frequency: Photographs 1978-2008.” Mr. Musichead Rock Art Gallery, 7517 W. Sunset Blvd., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (323) 876-0042.

Annabelle Gurwitch and Jeff Kahn: The authors of “You Say Tomato, I Say Shut Up: A Love Story” will present and sign their new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Miriam Pawel: Aloud at Central Library presents the author of “The Union of their Dreams: Power, Hope and Struggle in César Chávez’s Farm Worker Movement” in conversation with Times editor-at-large Jim Newton. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025. www.aloudla.org.

Patti Smith: Part 1 of host Michael Silverblatt’s conversation with the punk legend on the subject of her new book, “Just Kids.” Bookworm, 89.9 KCRW-FM, 2:30 p.m. www.kcrw.com.

Tracking the Cosmos: The Technology of the Antikythera Mechanism: Jo Marchant, author of “Decoding the Heavens: A 2,000-Year-Old Computer -- and the Century-Long Search to Discover Its Secrets,” and science historian and physicist James Evans will discuss the significance and mystery surrounding the ancient clock-like device retrieved from a shipwreck by Greek divers in 1901. LA Times columnist Patt Morrison moderates. Getty Villa, 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades. 7:30 p.m. Free. (310) 440-7300.

FRIDAY

Kevin Opstedal and Duncan McNaughton: The poets will read and discuss their work. Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice. 7:30 p.m. (310) 822-3006.

John A. Rich: Zócalo presents a discussion and singing with the author of “Wrong Place, Wrong Time: Trauma and Violence in the Lives of Young Black Men.” Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), 250 S. Grand Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (213) 626-6222. www.zocalopublicsquare.org.

Stuart Y. Silverstein: The editor of “Not Much Fun: The Lost Poems of Dorothy Parker” will present and sign the new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

SATURDAY

Camille Rose Garcia: The pop surrealist artist will present and sign copies of her new illustrated edition of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” Merry Karnowsky Gallery, 170 S. La Brea Ave., L.A. 8 p.m. Free. (323) 933-4408.

Ed Ruscha: The artist will present and sign his new book, “Fifty Years of Painting.” Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Kevin & Hannah Salwen: The father-daughter authors of “The Power of Half: One Family’s Decision to Stop Taking and Start Giving Back” will present and sign their new book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 6 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

WriteGirl Group Reading: Teen girls from the local creative writing and mentoring center will read from their new anthology, “Silhouette.” Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 5 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

NEXT SUNDAY

Dirty Laundry Group Reading: Comedians Laura Silverman, Doug Benson, Maggie Rowe, Jim Vallely, Randy Sklar and Kevin Nealon will present and sign the new anthology “Dirty Laundry: Real Life. Real Stories. Real Funny.” Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 5 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.