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 ›

Alan Zweibel presents Clothing Optional 7:30pm @ Skylight Books more ›

The vermin are back this weekend as Jim Ruland's must-attend night of readings, Vermin on the Mount, features four indie writers tomorrow at 8pm @ Chinatown's Mountain Bar:
• Jim Krusoe, who teaches fiction at Santa Monica College, will read from his just-out Girl Factory which we highlighted not so long ago for its wacky incoroporation of LA yogurt culture.
• Sean Carswell, novelist, short story writer and publisher, will read from Train Wreck Girl.
• Tosh Berman, publisher of Tam Tam books, will read from Boris Vian's The Dead All Have the Same Skin.
• Dicky Murphy, who writes for television, will read from his collection World Cup Eagle.

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