Culture PickBooks are life! Technology and over-reaching state governments can threaten their existence, but we can confidently say they will never go away. The LA Times Festival of Books, in association with USC,  has been celebrating the power of the  printed word for nearly three decades now.

This year, the annual event is bigger than ever. Stacey Abrams, Idina Menzel, Katie Porter, Meghan Trainor, Michael Connelly, Laura Dern, Omar Epps, Jennifer Garner, Roxane Gay, Lane Moore and many many more make appearances, sharing thoughts and inspirations.

The largest book festival in the United States, the event touts “500 writers, experts and storytellers” and hundreds more exhibitors on a 226-acre campus with seven outdoor stages and activity areas plus live music, food trucks and other amusements.

Highlights should include the “Ideas Exchange” series spotlight featuring Dern and her mom Diane Ladd chatting with Times columnist Mary McNamara about their book Honey, Baby, Mine: A Mother and Daughter Talk Life, Death, Love (and Banana Pudding); the L.A. Times Book Club conversation with Gabrielle Zevin, author of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow; and comedian/”Tinder Live” host Lane Moore’s panel about her new book You Will Find Your People: How to Make Meaningful Friendships as an Adult with Judy Greer and Akilah Hughes.

Popstar Trainor (who fittingly, just had a huge hit with the track “Mother”) will also be talking about her revealing tale of new parenthood, Dear Future Mama, with the Times’ Angel Jennings.

Festival of Books at University of Southern California, 3551 Trousdale Pkwy; Sat.-Sun., April 22-23. Tickets and info at events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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