Thursday February 26
Andrew Breitbart and Mark Ebner discuss “Hollywood Interrupted: Insanity Chic in Babylon – The Case Against Celebrity.” This book takes a good look at the most outrageous and the most scandalous behavior of Hollywood’s celebrities, covering everything from drug rehab, cults, breakdowns, warped Hollywood child-rearing, bad medicine, hypocritical political maneuvering and the everyday inexplicable behavior on the part of show business personalities. 6:30 p.m. at Borders Park Avenue.
Friday February 27
Ruth Vanita reads from “Same-Sex Love in India,” a surprising array of writings on same-sex love from over 2,000 years of Indian literature. Translated from more than a dozen languages and drawn from Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim and modern fictional traditions, these writings testify to the presense of same-sex love in various forms since ancient times. 7 p.m. at the Center. $6 for members, $10 for nonmembers.
Saturday February 28
Larry Everest will read from his new book, “Oil, Power & Empire: Iraq and the U.S. Global Agenda,” which exposes how the Bush administration used 9/11 to launch an unbounded war for greater empire, and examines why conquering Iraq is central to U.S. imperialism, and explains how the Bush juggernaut can be derailed. 7 p.m. at Bluestockings Bookstore.
Tuesday March 2
Norman Lebrecht, a popular political, cultural and musical commentator, will read from his debut novel, “The Song of Names.” This is the story of the friendship of two Jewish boys who grow up together in London in the years before, during, and after World War II, combining Jewish history with descriptions of war-torn London with a musical twist. 7 p.m. at Housing Works Used Book Café.
Danny Wallace, a British journalist and comedy writer, will discuss and sign copies of his book, “Join Me,” the story of how Wallace created a mass following by putting out an ambiguous message asking people join him. To his surprise, thousands of people responded and vowed to join Wallace and “Join Me” quickly became a phenomenon. With the help of a few trusted Joinees and the crackpot leader of a well-established cult, Danny promulgates his uncle’s dreams of a Utopian society, struggles to keep his girlfriend, manages to stay humble amidst the newfound celebrity, and remarkably provides a sense of purpose and belonging to Joinees everywhere. 7:30 p.m. at Barnes and Noble Astor Place.
Wednesday March 3
Edward Ball will discuss and sign copies of his book, “Peninsula of Lies,” the nonfiction story of the mysterious Dawn Langley Simmons who broke every taboo. Born Gordon Langley Hall, the British son of servants, made his way to New York City and befriended upper-class women. Hall eventually ended up rich in segregated Charleston, South Carolina, living as a woman and married to a black man. The mystery of her sexual identity thickened when Hall was seen around town with a bun in the oven and eventually pushing a baby carriage. 7 p.m. Barnes and Noble Chelsea.
Venues
Barnes and Noble Astor Place, 4 Astor Place, 212 420 1322.
Barnes and Noble Chelsea, 675 6th Ave. at 22nd St., 212 727 1227.
Bluestockings Bookstore, 172 Allen St. at Stanton, 212 777 6028.
Housing Works Used Book Café, 126 Crosby St., 212 334 3324.
The LGBT Center, 208 W. 13th St. 212 620 7310.
Borders Park Avenue, 461 Park Ave., 212 980 6785.
