Authors in town this week: Benjamin Busch, Erik Larson and Pico Iyer
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Benjamin Busch has an interesting resume. He’s an actor -- he played Anthony Colicchio on the HBO series “The Wire,” appearing in the final three seasons of the show -- and also a photographer, former Marine Corps officer and writer.
The son of novelist Frederick Busch, he was raised in upstate New York and went to Vassar College. An item in the New Yorker recently noted that his parents had protested the Vietnam War and Benjamin confounded them by joining the Marines after graduating. He served two tours of duty in Iraq with the 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and, while there, took photographs of his combat experience. He has shown those photographs in three exhibitions. In his memoir, “Dust to Dust,” he considers his life so far -- he’s in town this week at Vroman’s and Skylight Books.
Also this week: Pico Iyer, one of our favorite writers and thinkers, is in conversation with Lisa Napoli in a Live Talks Los Angeles program at the Fowler Musuem at UCLA on Thursday. Erik Larson, author of “Devil in the White City” and, most recently, “In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror and an American Family in Hitler’s Berlin” in conversation with David Kipen at Writer’s Bloc on Tuesday. And, if dogs are your thing, W. Bruce Cameron discusses his latest foray into the canine world also on Tuesday at Book Soup.
There are plenty of great, no-cost, low-cost, higher-cost events available, so get out and enjoy. As always, we suggest you check the appropriate venue to confirm information and notice on late cancellations.
Monday, May 14, 7 p.m. Benjamin Busch reads and signs “Dust to Dust: a Memoir.” Vroman’s
Monday, May 14, 7 p.m. David Talbot discusses and signs “Season of the Witch: Enchantment, Terror and Deliverance in the City of Love.” Book Soup
Tuesday, May 15, 7:30 p.m. Benjamin Busch reads and signs “Dust to Dust: a Memoir” Skylight Books
Tuesday, May 15, 7:30 p.m. Erik Larson, author of “Devil in the White City” and “In the Garden of Beasts” in conversation with David Kipen in a Writer’s Bloc event at Temple Emanuel, 300 N. Clark Drive, Beverly Hills. Tickets: $20
Tuesday, May 15, 7 p.m. Christelyn D. Karazin and Janice Rhoshalle Littlejohn discuss “Swirling: How to Date, Mate, and Relate Mixing Race, Culture and Creed’ Eso Won Bookstore
Tuesday, May 15, 7 p.m. W. Bruce Cameron discusses and signs “A Dog’s Journey” Book Soup
Tuesday, May 15, 8 p.m. Gregg Allman talks about his memoir “My Cross to Bear” with Alan Light as part of Live Talks Los Angeles program at Aero Theatre in Santa Monica. Tickets: $25
Wednesday, May 16, 7:30 p.m. Meg Howrey reads and signs her novel “The Cranes Dance” Skylight Books
Thursday, May 17, 7:30 p.m. Dan Rather, former CBS news anchor author of “Rather Outspoken: My Life in News,” in conversation with Marty Kaplan in a Writer’s Bloc event at the Writer’s Guild Theater, 135 S. Doheny Dr., Beverly Hills. Tickets: $20
Thursday, May 17, 7 p.m. Laura Dave discusses and signs her novel “The First Husband” Book Soup
Thursday, May 17, 7 p.m. Augusten Burroughs discusses and signs “This is How: Proven Aid in Overcoming Shyness, Molestation, Fatness, Spinsterhood, Grief, Disease, Lushery, Decrepitude & More For Young and Old Alike” at the New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, 90036, presented by Book Soup. $5 admission or free with purchase of book at the event
Thursday, May 17, 7 p.m. Robert Green signs his novel “Astride a Pink Horse” Eso Won Bookstore
Thursday, May 17, 7:30 p.m. Pico Iyer in conversation with Lisa Napoli in Live Talks Los Angeles program at The Fowler Museum at UCLA. Tickets: $20
Thursday, May 17, 4 p.m. Gregg Allman signs his memoir ‘My Cross to Bear’ Book Soup
Friday, May 18, 7 p.m. Brandon Jones discusses and signs “All Women and Springtime” Book Soup
Friday, May 18, 7:30 p.m. Slake Issue 4 reading, featuring Luke Davies, Joseph Mattson, Melissa Chadburn, Sam Slovick and Clay Steakley Skylight Books
Friday, May 18, 7 p.m. Anne Cherian discusses and signs “The Invitation” Vroman’s
Saturday, May 19, 4 p.m. Drew Friedman in conversation with Leonard Maltin for “Any Similarity to Persons Living or Dead is Purely Coincidental (Two)” Book Soup
-- Jon Thurber