the BEAT of the week: Jonathan Lethem at Skylight Books.

As the author of such critically acclaimed contemporary classics as The Fortress of Solitude, Motherless Brooklyn and Chronic City, as well as an established essayist for McSweeney's and The New Yorker, Jonathan Lethem has become a revered name in the literary scene. And so it goes without saying that nearly every new piece published is sure to be scrutinized, and probably lauded, if not well-respected in the least.

I expect his latest work will get as much attention, and more. For the also-well-beloved book series 33 1/3, where artists comment on influential music albums, Lethem takes on the Talking Heads classic Fear of Music. It's promoted to be a personal and passionate take on the 1979 album, delving into the music from the perspective of his New York childhood -- all of which fits perfectly in tune with Lethem's oeuvre. This is definitely Lethem's niche.

You can get an even more personal take from Lethem himself when he makes an appearance at Skylight Books this Sunday. He'll be promoting and signing copies of the book, and band Big Mess will be covering Talking Heads covers afterwards. Consider it a well-deserved party, celebrating two modern classics.

Jonathan Lethem will be appearing at 5pm this Sunday, April 29 at Skylight Books, located at 1818 N Vermont Ave. in Los Feliz.

-- Chau Tu

Click It. BEAT picks of the week.

I saw this dress at J. Crew today (it was sold out), isn't it perfect?

LudoBites is coming to Lemon Moon (I ate many lunches--and cookies!--from here in the summer of 2007, it's fresh and delicious) later this month and for most of February, make your reservations Tuesday.

Coldplay at the Hollywood Bowl (May 1, 2, and 4) tickets are going on sale, presale is Sunday 10:00 a.m. till 10:00 p.m., and the password is singer.

Chanel's spring 2012 nail polish colors (named April, May, and June (a coral-like pastel peach) are great!

Jeff Garlin (Jeff from Curb Your Enthusiasm) will be at Book Soup Sunday at 4:00 p.m. discussing and signing his new book, Curbing It.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: jcrew.com

Click It. BEAT picks of the week.

I didn't have much interest in seeing The Descendants based on the trailer, but after reading and hearing lots of good things (it's a New York Times Critics' Pick), we caught it this afternoon, and I highly recommend it.

Planning your Thanksgiving menu? Order delicious pie(s) from Susina Bakery.

A simple Thanksgiving side dish, Green Beans with Lemon and Brown Butter, a Tori Ritchie Tuesday Recipe.

The Kardashians (Kourtney and Khloé anyway) will be at the Grove's Barnes & Noble tomorrow night for a signing of their new book, Dollhouse.

Latest great Target / designer collaboration: Harajuku Mini by Gwen Stefani. I just wish this dress came in my size!

Clarins and FEED Projects sets at Nordstrom and Bloomingdale's (great gift ideas).

Demi Moore's divorce statement. I hope she keeps the house.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: impawards.com

Click It. BEAT picks of the week.

It's an exciting week in the food world (and for anyone with a sweet tooth!), Christina Tosi's Momofuku Milk Bar cookbook is now available. On Tuesday November 8th she'll be doing two Los Angeles signings--one at 2:00 p.m. at the Beverly Hills Williams-Sonoma, and another at 5:30 p.m. at Roy Choi's Chego.

Another sugary item--between now and November 20th, any large drink from participating Carl's Jr.s comes in one of four Immortals collector's cups. I sure wouldn't mind looking at Henry Cavill (or Mickey Rourke for that matter) while enjoying an ice cold fountain Coke.

I love these boots for fall.

A sweet and under-appreciated movie starring Owen Wilson, Jack Black, and Steve Martin.

It's officially cold season, double up on Emergen-C packets--Raspberry and Tangerine flavors combined in water for one powerful and refreshing dose of Vitamin C.

There's still time to buy Magic Pink Ice from Arcona during October for 25% of the sale to be donated to Cancer and Careers. You really can't go wrong with any Arcona product, and this hydrating gel is one of their best.

Happy Halloween (I'll be drinking pumpkin ale and watching scary movies)!

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: Clarkson Potter Publishing

the BEAT of the week: Henry Rollins at Book Soup.

Love him or hate him, Henry Rollins is a pretty enigmatic guy. From hosting a radio show on KCRW to doing his spoken word performances to music blogging for the LA Weekly, Rollins has become anything but predictable.

And so his next venture, turns out, is a book of photography. Occupants features photography from the man himself, taken all over the world, including far-off places like Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Northern Ireland, Saudi Arabia and South Africa. And as expected, the photos -- accompanied with writings by Rollins -- are stark and honest, providing a deeper commentary.

Hear Rollins tell the stories behind his photos when he appears for a signing at Book Soup this Thursday. Beyond being able to get a signed copy of the book, having the chance to listen to the man speak in person is definitely going to be entertaining and fascinating in and of itself.

Henry Rollins will be signing his new book, Occupants, on Thursday, Oct. 27, at 7pm at Book Soup, located at 8818 Sunset Blvd. in West Hollywood.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: Henry Rollins

Advance Notice. Ellen DeGeneres at Barnes & Noble.

Ellen DeGeneres is one of my favorite comedians, and I'd love to meet her. I saw her once on La Cienega in a silver Porsche and that was exciting, but going to a book signing would be so much fun!

Luckily for Los Angeles, Ellen will be at the Grove's Barnes & Noble next Tuesday night celebrating the release of her new book, Seriously ... I'm Kidding.

If you haven't seen Ellen DeGeneres - Here and Now, rent or buy it ($6.99 on amazon) immediately.

Tuesday October 4 at 7:00 p.m. Wristband distribution with book purchase begins at 9:00 a.m. day of event. Info: barnesandnoble.com, (323) 525-0270

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: Grand Central Publishing

Do It. The Whistleblower book signing at Barnes & Noble.

Rachel Weisz gives a remarkable performance in one of her many recent films, The Whistleblower. It's truly disturbing and scary, not in the Dream House sense, but because the horrors you see on screen really happen, every day.

The film is inspired by true events--the life of Kathryn Bolovac, an American police officer who went to post-war Bosnia as part of the U.N. International Police Task Force and discovered a mess of human trafficking, sex scandal, and government corruption.

Bolovac co-authored a book with Cari Lynn, The Whistleblower: Sex Trafficking, Military Contractors, and One Woman's Fight for Justice. Tomorrow night, Lynn will be at the Grove's Barnes & Noble for a signing.

You can check out more on the film here. Read more on human trafficking / modern day slavery (27 million worldwide) here and here.

Thursday September 15 at 7:30 p.m. 189 The Grove Drive, Suite K 30. Info: barnesandnoble.com, (323) 525-0270

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: Samuel Goldwyn Films

Advance Notice. Moby at Book Soup.

Moby (an Angeleno who lives in this awesome Hollywood Hills castle) has a new album and book out, and on Monday he'll be at Book Soup for a signing. There are a few fantastic reviews on Amazon, so if you're already a Moby fan, or just curious about what he's been up to recently (other than eating/hanging out at Oaks Gourmet), check out Destroyed.

Monday September 12 at 7:00 p.m. 8818 Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood. Info: booksoup.com, (310) 659-3110

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images North America via zimbio.com

Do It. Nars event at Barneys.

If you love Nars makeup as much as I do, you'll want to be at Barneys this Saturday afternoon to meet its founder, François Nars (and maybe pick up a new, limited edition Laguna 'multiple').

Signed copies of Makeup Your Mind: Express Yourself (Nars' book, published in April by Rizzoli) will be available.

Saturday June 25, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Call (310) 276-4400 ext. 5596 to pre-order a book or make an appointment with a Nars national makeup stylist, in store June 23-25.

Barneys is located at 9570 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. Info: barneys.com, (310) 276-4400

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: frappelattes.com

Do It. Maria Menounos signing at Book Soup.

You probably recognize her face, or at least her name, from TV: Today and Access Hollywood.

Maria Menounos has some life tips to share, on everything from organization, to success at work, to weight loss and style. Her new book, Everygirl's Guide to Life, came out April 12, and tonight she'll be at Book Soup to discuss and sign it.

Book Soup is located at 8818 Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood. Info: booksoup.com, (310) 659-3110

Friday April 22 at 7:00 p.m.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: conventionscene.com

Do It. Gwyneth Paltrow book signing at Williams-Sonoma.

Gwyneth Paltrow will be signing her new cookbook, My Father's Daughter, on Thursday at Beverly Hills' Williams-Sonoma.

The food lover and loyal gym-goer is featured on Self magazine's May cover, and is rumored to be Bon Appétit's June cover girl.

With a forward by Mario Batali, the book's off to a good start.

Thursday April 21 at 5:00 p.m. at Williams-Sonoma (or you can pre-order now to secure a place in line/"ticket"), 339 North Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills. Info: williams-sonoma.com, (310) 274-9127

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: yourbellalife.com

Advance Notice. Janet Jackson at Book Soup.

Janet Jackson's book, True You: A Journey to Finding and Loving Yourself, was released in February, and next month the five-time Grammy winner will be at Book Soup signing it.

The book covers fame, food, depression, and struggles and successes with self-esteem, as well as fitness secrets from her trainer and wholesome recipes from her nutritionist, David Allen.

Friday April 15 at 3:00 p.m.

Book Soup is located at 8818 Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood. Info: booksoup.com, (310) 659-3110

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: Harper's Bazaar

Advance Notice. Rainn Wilson and "SoulPancake" at USC.

Rainn Wilson is best known as Dwight from "The Office," but you shouldn't dismiss Wilson as the heartless dork he plays on TV. It turns out that Wilson's actually written a book, and this ain't no Al Roker mystery novel.

No no, instead, Wilson implores readers of SoulPancake to ponder the big questions: "Have you ever wondered how your thoughts affect reality? Or if you only had one hour left to live, how you’d spend it? Would you want to know the exact moment you die? What does art have to do with the soul?" The book, thought great illustration and design, pushes readers to examine these thoughts while providing quotes and ideas from others that have circulated throughout history. "How do you determine truth?" for example, is seen above, accompanied by a quote from Harry Truman: "Intense feeling too often obscures the truth." The page also asks "What is truth?" and "What's one thing you know for sure?"

It's digging deep, but that's the point. And you can even get the choice to dig into Wilson's own mind, when he and his SoulPancake co-authors makes an appearance at USC on April 25th. The event is free, and there's a book signing to follow. Check out more info on the event here, and on the book here.

An Evening with the SoulPancake authors takes place on April 25th at 7:30pm at USC's Bovard Auditorium, located at 3551 Trousdale Pkwy. near downtown.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: SoulPancake

Check It. The Fighter on DVD, and The Kind Diet in paperback.

The Fighter is out on Blu-ray and DVD today. It did very well all through awards season, scoring seven Oscar noms, and two wins--for Christian Bale (Best Supporting Actor) and Melissa Leo (Best Supporting Actress).

Also out today--Alicia Silverstone's The Kind Diet in paperback, made with soy ink and recycled paper. She will be signing at the Grove's Barnes & Noble tonight at 7:30 p.m.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: thegeekgeneration.com

Advance Notice. Andre Dubus III to present Townie at Book Soup.

"“Townie” is a better, harder book than anything the younger Mr. Dubus has yet written; it pays off on every bet that’s been placed on him. It’s a sleek muscle car of a memoir that — until it loses traction in clichés about redemption at its very end — growls like an amalgam of the best work by Richard Price, Stephen King, Ron Kovic, Breece D’J Pancake and Dennis Lehane, set to the desolate thumping of Bruce Springsteen’s “Darkness on the Edge of Town.” It could become, and I mean this fondly, one hell of a Ben Affleck movie." How's that for an endorsement? Dwight Garner's words from the New York Times.

Between my Irish heritage, my college visits to BU to see my best friend, and my two trips to Lowell, Mass. in the summer of 2009 to see my boyfriend when he was working on The Fighter, I have a major soft spot for Beantown (and its surroundings). I also love a good memoir.

Author Andre Dubus III will be at Book Soup next week to present and sign Townie. I'd order it on Amazon right now if I wasn't so interested in what he'll have to say (and I really want a signed copy).

March 14 at 7:00 p.m. event free. book is $25.95.

Book Soup is located at 8818 Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood. Info: booksoup.com, (310) 659-3110.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: Jake Guevara / The New York Times

Advance Notice. Alicia Silverstone signing The Kind Diet.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about my discovery of Alicia Silverstone's website/online community, The Kind Life, an extension of her book, The Kind Diet.

In March, she'll be at the Grove for an author event (which typically means discussion and signing) in celebration of the book coming out in paperback. It's now available for pre-order through Barnes & Noble for just $12.27 (a bargain compared to the $21.99 list price - not to mention the $29.99 hardcover).

I think I'll bring along my Clueless special "Whatever!" edition DVD to see if she'll sign that too (I was in 5th grade when the film came out and thought Cher was the just the coolest).

March 15 at 7:30 p.m. Info: barnesandnoble.com, (323) 525-0270

189 The Grove Drive, Suite K 30 in Los Angeles (3rd and Fairfax)

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: barnesandnoble.com

Advance Notice. Steve Lopez at Book Soup.

Steve Lopez, one of L.A.'s most popular columnists (who I'm lucky enough to run into at the supermarket sometimes), has a new book out--a compilation of his best columns over the years.

Lopez was portrayed by Robert Downey, Jr. in Joe Wright's 2009 film The Soloist.

He'll be a Book Soup two weeks from tonight to discuss and sign Dreams and Schemes: My Decade of Fun in the Sun (he joined the Los Angeles Times in May 2001).

January 27 at 7:00 p.m.

Book Soup is located at 8818 Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood. Info: (310) 659-3110, booksoup.com

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: Paramount Pictures via northbynorthwestern.com

Do It. Craig Semetko signing Unposed.

This new book, Unposed, from photographer Craig Semetko, is a great Christmas gift idea for the photography lover in your life--or for your own coffee table.

To make it extra-special, get it signed on Saturday afternoon at Book Soup, where Semetko will be discussing and signing.

Saturday December 4 at 1:00 p.m.

Book Soup is located at 8818 Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood. Info: booksoup.com, (310) 659-3110.

Unposed book is $49.95

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: teneues.com

Do It. Upcoming book discussions and signings.

Reminder: The Red Hot Chili Peppers book signing event at the Grove's Barnes & Noble today at noon.

Other notable upcoming L.A. book events:

Mad Men costume designer Janie Bryant discusses and signs her new book The Fashion File (written with Monica Corcoran Harel) at Book Soup - November 10 at 7:00 p.m.

L.A. Ink's Kat Von D with her new book, The Tattoo Chronicles, at the Grove's Barnes & Noble November 18 at 6:00 p.m.

Stan Lee at the Grove's Barnes & Noble on November 20 at 2:00 p.m. with Stan Lee's How to Draw Comics

A new book from the always amusing "Stuff White People Like" crew - Whiter Shades of Pale will be discussed and signed at Book Soup November 29 at 7:00 p.m.

Check back often for more!

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: youritlist.com

Do It. Judd Apatow at Skylight Books.

You know Judd Apatow as the filmmaker behind some of recent times' funniest movies and TV shows -- Knocked Up, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Freaks and Geeks -- but he also now happens to be an author.

Well, sort of. He's the editor of a new book called I Found This Funny: My Favorite Pieces of Humor and Some That Might Not Be Funny At All, in which he compiles different works from authors like F. Scott Fitzgerald and Jonathan Franzen and some non-authors like Conan O'Brien. Considering what he does for a living, I think Apatow is a pretty good judge for what's funny, and I'm sure this book will have some great moments.

But if you want some real Apatow action, catch him as he promotes the book tomorrow afternoon at Skylight. It'll be a fun way to start off your Halloween, and maybe some of his famous comedic buddies will be stopping by.

Judd Apatow will be appearing Sat., Oct. 30th at noon at Skylight Books, located at 1818 N. Vermont Ave. in Los Feliz.

-- Chau Tu