BookSwell

Join us for a lively discussion and booksigning with the brilliant Mariel Buqué, PhD moderated by Ana Flores. Join us for the groundbreaking conversation with Dr Mariel Buqué, mooderated by Ana Flores. Break the Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma by Dr. Mariel Buqué "With Break the Cycle, Dr. Mariel Buqué is gifting us with the guidebook we need to heal the intergenerational trauma we all carry but might not have awareness of yet. The invitation is clear: to recognize and claim that we are the cycle breakers and heal our souls. Dr. Buqué has collected the teachings along her journey to provide us loving guidance with concrete expert knowledge, lessons to integrate with holistic and therapeutic practices – and even sound baths!" —Ana Flores, CEO of WeAllGrow Latina Free Event but Order your book inadvance for pick up. "Breaking The Cycle"   About Mariel Buqué, PhD Mariel Buqué, PhD, is a Columbia University–trained trauma-informed psychologist, professor, and sound bath meditation healer. She has appeared as an expert on Good Morning America and Today and in Allure, Self, Glamour, and Well + Good, among many other outlets, and has offered wellness talks to corporations such as Google, Capital One, Read More ...

Join Ben Breen as he discusses his wild new book on the birth of psychedelic science. ABOUT THE BOOK A bold and brilliant revisionist take on the history of psychedelics in the twentieth century, illuminating how a culture of experimental drugs shaped the Cold War and the birth of Silicon Valley. Far from the repressed traditionalists they are often painted as, the generation that survived the second World War emerged with a profoundly ambitious sense of social experimentation. In the '40s and '50s, transformative drugs rapidly entered mainstream culture, where they were not only legal, but openly celebrated. American physician John C. Lilly infamously dosed dolphins (and himself) with LSD in a NASA-funded effort to teach dolphins to talk. A tripping Cary Grant mumbled into a Dictaphone about Hegel as astronaut John Glenn returned to Earth. At the center of this revolution were the pioneering anthropologists—and star-crossed lovers—Margaret Mead and Gregory Bateson. Convinced the world was headed toward certain disaster, Mead and Bateson made it their life’s mission to reshape humanity through a new science of consciousness expansion, but soon found themselves at odds with the government bodies who funded their work, whose intentions were less than pure. Mead and Read More ...

How Amy Chua went from a shy Asian kid to a Yale Law professor and author of conversation-starting books! ABOUT THE EVENT Amy Chua will discuss her journey from the daughter of immigrants to Yale Law professor and author of conversation-starting books—and now novelist. Amy Chua’s most recent book is “The Golden Gate”, a historical novel. Perhaps her most famous (or infamous) book is “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Amy Chua is the John M. Duff, Jr. Professor of Law at Yale Law School. She graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College and cum laude from Harvard Law School, where she was Executive Editor of the Harvard Law Review. After practicing on Wall Street for a few years, she joined the Yale Law School faculty in 2001 and is a noted expert in the areas of foreign policy, globalization, and ethnic conflict. Amy is the bestselling author of numerous books, including World on Fire: How Exporting Free Market Democracy Breeds Ethnic Hatred and Global Instability (2002), which was selected by both The Economist and the U.K.’s Guardian as a Best Book of 2003; Day of Empire: How Hyperpowers Rise to Global Dominance – and Why They Read More ...

Join us for an evening of poetry, performance, and dance. Poet Cecilia Woloch and Roma performers Cristo Osorio (from Spain) and Bogumiła Delimata (from Poland) present an evening of passion and enchantment; combining spoken word, imagery, music, dance, and theater in the Gypsy spirit of duende.   Doors Open: 7:00 PM, Performances: 7:30 PM   Following the performances join us for an outdoors afterparty in the Poets’ Garden.     About the performers:   Cecilia Woloch is a poet, writer, and performer based in Los Angeles. She has published six collections of poems, most recently an expanded and updated edition of Tsigan: The Gypsy Poem. Her honors include fellowships from the Fulbright Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Center for International Theatre Development. She collaborates regularly with musicians, dancers, visual artists and theatre artists around the world.   Bogumila Delimata, born in Wroclaw, Poland of pure gypsy heritage. World renowned Impressionist Romani Painter combining feminist art with Romani roots, Romani and Flamenco dancer. Renowned actress both in film and theatre in her native Poland with musical and dance performances throughout Europe and the Americas.   Cristobal Osorio, born in Barcelona, Spain. Captivating singer and guitarist steeped in Read More ...

Featuring a panel of civil rights leaders, Palabras Literary Salon, a reception, and shopping with arts vendors. Join West Hollywood City Poet Laureate Jen Cheng for an afternoon celebrating civil rights heroes:   1:30pm-3pm: A panel of civil rights leaders speak about building coalitions. Rudy Ortega Shonda Buchanan Ronna Magy Miya Iwataki Marth Gonzalez 3:30pm-5pm: an edition of Palabras Literary Salon featuring BIPOC poets and writers sharing around the theme “visionaries.” Before, after and between these sessions enjoy a reception and shopping with arts vendors. The event is free admission, but we request that you RSVP here. For more information about the event, visit: https://go.weho.org/poet

Join us for a fantastic evening of literary bliss as we celebrate the book launch and signing of Angelina Sáenz and ire'ne lara silva, where Book Launch and Book Signing: Angelina Sáenz and ire'ne lara silva Please join Angelina Sáenz and Texas State Poet Laureate, ire'ne lara silva, for the Los Angeles book launch of their books, Maestra and the eaters of flowers. We will have books to sell and sign. Poet David Quiroz will be our esteemed MC, Poets Luivette Resto, Bridgette Bianca and Teresa Mei Chuc will feature as well. A dance party will follow and the music will be provided by the amazing, GFunk Trece. Artwork and merchandise by Lorna Alkana will be available for purchase. Food, drinks and postres can be bought with Horchatería Rio Luna. Come and enjoy the gorgeous space, beautiful people, the words and the celebration! Date: Saturday, Jan. 20th, 2023 Time: 5pm Location: Horchateria Rio Luna, Paramount Boulevard, Paramount, CA, USA Don't miss this opportunity to engage with these incredible writers and celebrate their latest creations. Get your books signed, ask questions, and connect with fellow book lovers. We can't wait to see you there!

A night of poetry featuring 5 incredible poets, moderated by Elizabeth Metzger & Liz (L. A.) Johnson! ABOUT THE EVENT Los Angeles poets L.A. Johnson and Elizabeth Metzger will co-host a reading and Q & A with five extraordinary poets as part of a curated reading series with local and non-local poets. L. A. Johnson is a writer from California. She is currently a Mellon Humanities postdoctoral fellow at the University of Southern California. The winner of the 2021 Rumi Prize in Poetry from Arts & Letters, her poems appear in Best New Poets, Poetry Magazine, The Slowdown Podcast, and elsewhere. Elizabeth Metzger is the author of Lying In (Milkweed, 2023), as well as and The Spirit Papers, winner of the Juniper Prize for Poetry, and the chapbook Bed, recipient of The Sunken Garden Chapbook Prize. She is a poetry editor at the Los Angeles Review of Books and she lives in California. ABOUT THE POETS Natalie Shapero is a writer whose work has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, The London Review of Books, The New York Review of Books, The Paris Review, The Nation, and elsewhere. She is the author of the poetry collections Read More ...

Lights, camera, MURDER! Explore Hollywood and uncover the secrets of this world famous neighborhood.Explore the dark underbelly of Hollywood with the ultimate Haunted Hollywood walking tour. As the sun sets over Hollywood, you will be led on a fright filled walk down the Boulevard of Broken Dreams to visit haunted hotels, theaters, and landmarks.If you love Hollywood, the paranormal, or true crime - this is the tour for you! This 2hr walking tour is led by expert guides with a passion for sharing LA history. Stories and stops on the tour include:■The Pantages Theatre and Howard Hughes■Suicide at the Hollywood Sign■The Hollywood Ripper and Manson Murders■The Roosevelt Hotel, home to Marilyn Monroe and many more Hollywood spirits■And much more!Whether you're visiting LA for the first time or have lived here your whole life, this tour is sure to make you see Hollywood in a whole new light. From ghosts, to arson sprees and serial killers, Hollywood has more than its share of secrets. Come uncover them with us!INFORMATIONThis is a 2 hour walking tour that begins at the Pantages Theatre and ends near the Hollywood and Highland Metro entrance at 6815 Hollywood Blvd.This tour contains stories and descriptions of some Read More ...

BN The Grove welcomes actor & author David Duchovny to discuss THE RESERVOIR with Justine Bateman on January 25 at 7PM PT!**PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THESE GUIDELINES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DUE TO CHANGING COVID-19 REQUIREMENTS**Join Barnes & Noble - The Grove at Farmers Market on January 25, 2024 as we welcome award-winning actor, writer, director, New York Times best-selling author, and singer-songwriter David Duchovny to the store to celebrate the new paperback release of his novel, THE RESERVOIR, a twisted rom-com for our distanced time, when the merest touch could kill and conspiracy theories propagate like viruses—a contemporary union of Death in Venice, Rear Window, and The Plague. The new paperback edition features a brand-new short story, “The Scare Owl”, that wasn't included in the hardcover.David will be in conversation with author of Fame: The Hijacking of Reality and Face: One Square Foot of Skin, Justine Bateman.To make this event safe and enjoyable for all attendees, please read the below guidelines ahead of buying a ticket, so you know what to expect on the day. To avoid disappointment, we must stress that there will be no access to the event for non-ticketholders.TICKET INFORMATION**A ticket includes:Solo Book Admission - $30.66 Read More ...

Come and celebrate the release of Tlotlo Tsamaase's debut novel, Womb City, from Erewhon Books!Come and celebrate the release of Tlotlo Tsamaase's debut novel, Womb City, from Erewhon Books! We're so excited to have this Africanfuturist horror novel in the hands of readers, and we hope you're able to join us as Tlotlo reads from xer novel, takes questions, and signs copies for readers!About the authorTlotlo Tsamaase (xe/xem/xer or she/her/hers) is a Motswana writer. Xer novella, The Silence of Wilting Skin, is a Lambda Literary Award finalist, and was the first Motswana nominee for the Rhysling Award. Tlotlo received support from the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative, and xer story “Behind Our Irises” jointly won the Nommo Award. Xer short fiction has appeared in multiple best-of anthologies, Africa Risen, New Suns 2, Chiral Mad 5, and other venues. Womb City is Tlotlo’s debut novel.About the bookThe first novel from award-winning author Tlotlo Tsamaase, Womb City, has earned much praise with two starred reviews from Foreword Magazine and Publishers Weekly, who called it a "thrilling and thought-provoking page-turner . . . Tsamaase is a writer to watch." This genre-bending Africanfuturist horror novel blends The Handmaid’s Tale with Get Out in Read More ...

Join us for a special in-person event with bestselling author Dean Koontz!In a special in-person appearance, bestselling author Dean Koontz will join L.A. Times Book Club readers on Sunday, Jan. 28 to discuss his novel, “The Bad Weather Friend.”Koontz will be in conversation with Times assistant managing editor Samantha Melbourneweaver at UC Irvine starting at 1 p.m. Pacific.In his new book, Koontz introduces an affable Newport Beach real estate agent who mysteriously loses his job, his reputation and his fiancée. As the agent’s life crashes, a terrifying seven-foot-tall “bad weather friend” arrives at his home in a giant crate and kicks the thriller into high gear.“We are living in such dark and dangerous times that I believe readers need what this story has to offer,” Koontz told his editor about the novel.Koontz is the author of the Odd Thomas and Jane Hawk series, as well as many standalone suspense novels, most recently “After Death” and “The House at the End of the World.” His books have sold more than 500 million copies and are published in 38 languages. Koontz lives in Orange County with his wife, Gerda, and their golden retriever, Elsa.IN-PERSON EVENT INFOWhen: Jan. 28, 2024 at 1 p.m.Where: Read More ...

An inspiring book about the power of community based on one of Rabbi Sharon Brous’s most impactful sermons.Tuesday, January 30 at 7:00PMThe Amen Effect: Ancient Wisdom to Mend Our Broken Hearts and WorldRabbi Sharon BrousIn conversation with Father Gregory BoyleCo-presented with Skylight Books“Rabbi Brous shares remarkable compassion, insight, and moral vision in these pages that illuminate a way forward at a time when the fog of fear and anger in the world grows ever dense. This wonderful book is welcome, affirming, and urgently needed.” —Bryan Stevenson, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Just MercyJoin us for a conversation with one of our country’s most prominent rabbis, Rabbi Sharon Brous of IKAR, discussing her new book, The Amen Effect, which looks at our society’s deep disconnection and alienation and explores how we can tackle our loneliness and isolation by embracing and rebuilding our communities.Rabbi Brous will be in conversation with celebrated Los Angeles-based activist and founder of Homeboy Industries, Father Gregory Boyle.

Writers Bloc and PEN AMERICA present Moshe KasherWE REQUEST THAT YOU WEAR A MASK AT THE PROGRAM.Stand-up comedian Moshe Kasher, author of the magnificent memoir, Kasher in the Rye: The True Tale of a White Boy from Oakland Who Became a Drug Addict, Criminal, Mental Patient, and Then Turned 16, has written another book. And it's as absorbing, consuming, and culturally relevant as his first.Subculture Vulture is the story of Moshe Kasher's unbelievably unconventional life in six parts, each part relating to his significant experience exploring and living many different lives as part of many groups. His adolescence in Alcoholics Anonymous. American Sign Language Interpreter. His complicated relationship with religious Judaism. Burning Man employee. Raver. And of course, Comedy. Moshe Kasher is dazzlingly funny while leading us head-on into truths about communities and consequential subcultures that formed who he is.Mayim Bialik stands at the crossroads of comedy and mental health. Talk about a brilliant multi-hyphenate. Mayim Bialik's acclaimed and enormously popular podcast, Breakdown, covers a range of mental health issues, based on her background and interest in neuroscience. The podcast is notable not only for her expertise, but also for her guest list, which includes a wide array of scientists, Read More ...

Join Mark Daley as he discusses his new memoir. ABOUT THE BOOK A heartrending and unforgettable memoir of an unlikely journey to parenthood through America's broken foster care system. What does it take to keep a child safe? As a long-time strategist and activist fighting for better outcomes for foster children, Mark Daley thought he had the answer. But when Ethan and Logan, an adorable infant and a precocious toddler, entered into their lives, Mark and his husband Jason quickly realized they were not remotely prepared for the uncertainty and complication of foster parenting. Every day seven hundred children enter the foster care system in the United States, and thousands more live on the brink. Safe offers a deeply personal window into what happens when the universal longing for family crashes up against the unique madness and bureaucracy of a child protection system that often fails to consider the needs of the most vulnerable parties of all--the children themselves. Daley takes us on a roller coaster ride as he and Jason grapple with Ethan and Logan's potential reunification with their biological family, learn brutal lessons about sacrifice, acceptance, and healing, and face the honest, heartbreaking, and sometimes hilarious challenges of Read More ...

Join us for a captivating in-person lecture on books bound in human skin during Rare Books LA - Pasadena!Dark Archives: Books Bound in Human SkinJoin librarian and author Megan Curran Rosenbloom for a discussion of her book Dark Archives: A Librarian’s Investigation into the Science and History of Books Bound in Human Skin, which was a New York Times editor’s choice.Megan Curran Rosenbloom is Collection Strategies Librarian at UCLA Library in Los Angeles. She served as a medical librarian for many years, during which she developed a keen interest in the history of medicine and rare books.This talk is being held during Rare Books LA - Pasadena.For the love of books! Rare Books LA – Pasadena welcomes booksellers and bibliophiles from around the world to share their love of books, fine prints, maps, ephemera, and more on February 3-4, 2024 at the Pasadena Convention Center.“This book fair is a can’t miss whether you’re searching for the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for the book lover in your life or just want to spend a fun and educational day with a loved one,” said Rare Books LA Director Jodi Tolan. In addition to rare books, visitors will see everything from historic maps Read More ...