Explore the Sunday Excitement at the LA Times Festival of Books
As the LA Times Festival of Books gears up for an exciting Sunday on April 26, attendees can anticipate an array of engaging panels and discussions featuring prominent figures from literature, film, and music. From timely conversations surrounding social issues to celebratory events in honor of literary milestones, this year’s festival showcases a vibrant atmosphere for all book lovers.
Featured Speakers and Events
- Jon M. Chu, director of the acclaimed film “Wicked,” will engage in a discussion with Times reporter Ashley Lee at 1:30 PM.
- Actor and activist Wilmer Valderrama joins Fidel Martinez at 11:30 AM on the Main Stage.
- Musician Robyn Hitchcock will converse with author Jonathan Lethem at 11:00 AM.
- Josh Gad will share the stage with Jon Lovett, host of “Pod Save America,” at 12:40 PM.
- Comedian Chelsea Handler, celebrated for her recent Netflix special, will discuss her experiences with Yvonne Villarreal at 1:50 PM.
Exciting Panels and Discussions
This year also marks the 250th birthday of renowned author Jane Austen, celebrated with a special screening of the first episode of “Miss Austen,” featuring insights from Gill Hornby and executive producer Christine Langan, commencing at 10:00 AM.
A wide range of thought-provoking panels await attendees, including:
- Magical Realism in Contemporary Fiction: Featuring finalists for the Art Seidenbaum Award, author Pemi Aguda joins Hilary Leichter, Muriel Leung, and Claire Stanford at 10:30 AM.
- Unequal Ground: A critical discussion on systemic racism in agriculture and food policies, with panelists Melissa Ann Chadburn, Bernadette Atuahene, Sarah Jones, and Andrea Freeman taking the stage at 10:30 AM.
- The Call Is Coming From Inside the House: This panel focuses on authors writing about the writing process, featuring Danzy Senna, Edan Lepucki, Ashley Whitaker, and Nnedi Okorafor.
- Under My Skin: A noon panel addressing gender and identity in fiction, with Emily St. James, Rax Will, Daniel Lavery, and Zee Carlstrom.
Environmentally Focused Discussions
Climate change and its impacts will also be addressed, notably in the panel titled “Red Flag Warning: California, Wildfires and Where We Go From Here,” scheduled for 1:30 PM. Experts including Obi Kaufmann, Manjula Martin, Jordan Thomas, Jack Dolan, and Lucero Chavez-Ramirez will discuss the future challenges posed by increasing wildfire intensity.
For those interested in ecological initiatives, The Times will feature a Native Plants booth, providing visitors with information on local gardening and a giveaway of free sunflower seeds, crafted to support bird-friendly habitats.
A Glimpse at Literary Highlights
Looking for book recommendations? Authors such as Amy Tan and Lili Taylor are making waves with their recent works, alongside graphic novel adaptations of notable texts like Octavia Butler’s “Parable of the Talents.”
Don’t miss this chance to engage with authors, discover new writings, and participate in enriching conversations at the LA Times Festival of Books. As Groucho Marx once said, “Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.”
