Los Angeles is home to many things "unliterary." Hollywood celebrities, the porn industry, and paparazzi perpetuate this fact. So, when held against definitive bookish cities Seattle, New York, and San Francisco, LA’s literary credibility falls understandably short. But Central Connecticut State University’s recent list of 75 national literary cities banished Los Angeles to number 61. LA’s literary rating fell behind those of Miami, Phoenix, and Las Vegas. No offense intended toward Sin City, but this can’t be right. more ›

For the first time in its 16-year history, the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books will not be at UCLA. It's going to be at rival school USC. The annual event for the bookish, writerly, and book-curious will be held April 30-May 1 2011 on USC's University Park campus. more ›

There was buzz about a secret flash mob hours before the mob actually appeared. A window of hours during Saturday's festivities was secretly passed along, but no mob was sighted during the supposedly set times. Then, just as we were leaving, we saw an unusual number of umbrellas. It was hot enough for shade protection, yes, but not that hot. more ›

While we're not usually ones to overly promote Target, we were thrilled to see an area at this year's LA Times Festival of Books that is dedicated to book donation. The target truck was front and center, the signage was out and the opens bins stood ready to receive donations. more ›

The LA Times Festival of Books is underway (avoid Westwood entrance for parking, head to Hilgard people, head to Hilgard) and lines are forming for all sorts of panels, stages, cooking demos, food booths (no amazing food trucks that we can find, but the day is young and we are still on the hunt) and the well-publicized scavenger hunt. more ›

We're at it again - inappropriately guessing at who might take home an LA Times Book Prize this year. more ›

It's that time of year again. The LA Times Book Prize finalists have been announced and in just seven weeks, the hot, sweaty, excellent mess that is the Festival of Books will be in full swing once again. Over the next month, we'll be taking a closer look at each category but before we dive headlong into debates over who should've been listed that isn't, who should win but won't, and what it all means for L.A.'s literary scene, let's take a look at the nominees in each category. Final book prizes will be awarded on April 23rd. more ›

The LA Times Festival of Books offered something for everyone this weekend. The many panels, author interviews and signing booths were exciting for bookish nerds like us. If you weren't into the bookish side of the book festival, however, there was plenty to whet your appetite. Literally. more ›

It was a lovely evening of bookish folks gathered about to celebrate books and to kick-off the LA Times Festival of Books which begins today and runs through tomorrow afternoon. The awards ceremony for the Book Prizes was short and sweet, the acceptance speeches were both funny and poignant and the after-party had a full chocolate buffet, complete with ice sculptures. What more could you ask for? more ›

As the LA Times Book Prize award ceremony looms ever-closer, we're taking a look at the books nominated in each category. As we mentioned last week, unlike other big literary awards, the LA Times Book Prize winners are never a sure thing, which is what makes following them all the more fun. more ›

As the LA Times Book Prize award ceremony looms ever-closer, we're taking a look at the books nominated in each category. As we mentioned last week, unlike other big literary awards, the LA Times Book Prize winners are never a sure thing, which is what makes following them all the more fun. more ›

As the LA Times Book Prize award ceremony looms ever-closer, we're taking a look at the books nominated in each category. As we mentioned yesterday, unlike other big literary awards, the LA Times Book Prize winners are never a sure thing, which is what makes following them all the more fun. more ›

The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books is always kicked off by a ceremony that awards one book in each key category with a Book Prize. The nominees in each category were just announced and we're both thrilled and a tad flummoxed by some of their picks, listed below. more ›

We've covered the LA Times Book Prize nominees for the past few weeks and quietly rooted for our picks. The winners, announced at the annual hob-nob affair on Friday night, surprised us. We highlighted our picks weeks ago. What more did the committee have to do other than - you know - pick them? To wit: Biography We said Daniel Mendelsohn for The Lost: A Search for Six of Six Million (Daniel freaking Mendelsohn, the... more ›

If you aren't going to Coachella this weekend and somehow think that attending the LA Times Festival of Books requires less planning...well, you may be right. But only by the smallest of margins. The festival keeps growing and this year may be the largest with 400 authors, 300 exhibit booths, 6 outdoor stages and 97 hour-long panels featuring some of the quirkiest minds in the country. What does this mean for you? In the words of Walter Sobchak, you don't want to roll out there naked. You need a plan. A solid plan that will get you where you want to go and will keep you well-hydrated, well-fed and well, happy. Here's a quick guide to surviving the bookish madness: more ›

The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books will be held this week on Saturday & Sunday, April 28 - 29th. more ›

Good morning LAist readers, are you already taking a break from working? Sounds good to us! Here is what you missed over the Holiday weekend. Enjoy! more ›