Octavia E. Butler, Mike Davis and books to help us understand the fires
Welcome to the L.A. Times Book Club newsletter.Hello, fellow readers. I’m culture critic and fervent bookworm Chris Vognar. This week we take a look at…
10 books we’re looking forward to this year
Welcome to the L.A. Times Book Club newsletter.Hello, fellow readers. I’m culture critic and fervent bookworm Chris Vognar. Another year of reading has come and…
The secret behind Jimmy Carter’s prolific writing career
After Jimmy Carter was defeated in the 1980 presidential election a reporter asked if he’d write a memoir. The reply was certain, “Yes ... I…
Richard Perry, producer behind ‘You’re So Vain,’ dead at 82
Richard Perry, a hitmaking record producer with a flair for both standards and contemporary sounds whose many successes included Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain,” Rod…
What’s the difference between human smuggling and trafficking?
Welcome to the L.A. Times Book Club newsletter.Hello, fellow readers. I’m culture critic and fervent bookworm Chris Vognar. This week we speak with lifelong Angeleno…
Marcus J. Moore, De La Soul and unauthorized biographies
Hello, fellow readers. Welcome to the L.A. Times Book Club newsletter. Newsletter You’re reading Book Club An exclusive look at what we’re reading, book club…
Cher’s rise to stardom and rocky romance with Sonny Bono come into focus in new memoir
On the shelf Cher: The Memoir, Part One Dey Street Books, 432 pages, $31If you buy books linked on our site, The Times may earn…
Jim Abrahams, spoof-comedy great behind 'Airplane!' and 'Naked Gun' films, dies at 80
Jim Abrahams, who along with Jerry and David Zucker made up the filmmaking trio behind the spoof comedies 'Airplane!' and 'Naked Gun,' has died at…
Cher’s real name is the world’s dullest surprise: 3 better tidbits
Cher always thought her real name was Cherilyn. Then she found out it was Cheryl. The end.The story could be summed up that simply, but…
Jaleel White looks back on his Urkel days in a new memoir
On the Shelf 'Growing Up Urkel' By Jaleel WhiteSimon & Schuster, 336 pages, $29If you buy books linked on our site, The Times may earn…
Youngmi Mayer wants you to laugh while crying over her memoir
Welcome to the L.A. Times Book Club newsletter.Hello, fellow readers. I’m culture critic and fervent bookworm Chris Vognar. This week we speak with comedian and…
How Taylor Swift reinvented pop music
Welcome to the L.A. Times Book Club newsletter.Hello, fellow readers. I’m culture critic and fervent bookworm Chris Vognar. This week we speak with Rolling Stone…
Hanif Abdurraqib’s new book shows basketball can be poetry
Welcome to the L.A. Times Book Club newsletter.Hello, fellow readers. I’m culture critic, fervent bookworm and hoops head Chris Vognar.This week we speak with poet…
Get under its shell and you'll be charmed by 'Memoir of a Snail' and its unique loner
Voiced by Australian stars Sarah Snook, Kodi Smit-McPhee and Jacki Weaver, this decidedly grown-up piece of animation makes a sophisticated case for the medium. Source…
Sum 41’s Deryck Whibley claims his memoir is ‘100%’ true
Sum 41 frontman Deryck Whibley is doubling down on his claims that he was sexually abused by his band’s former manager.Whibley claims in his memoir,…
Al Pacino memoir ‘Sonny Boy’ delves into ‘Godfather,’ ‘Scarface’
Book Review 'Sonny Boy' By Al PacinoPenguin, 370 pages, $35If you buy books linked on our site, The Times may earn a commission from Bookshop.org,…
‘Nothing but lies’: New Navalny memoir foretells collapse of Putin’s regime | Politics News
Posthumous memoir, Patriot, of Russian opposition leader who died in prison is set to be released on October 22.Russian dissident Alexey Navalny, who died earlier…
How a new book honors Emmett Till
Welcome to the L.A. Times Book Club newsletter.Hello, fellow readers. I’m culture critic and fervent bookworm Chris Vognar.This week I spoke with Wright Thompson, a…
Sum 41 manager Greig Nori denies Deryck Whibley’s coercion allegations
Greig Nori, the former manager for pop punk band Sum 41, has denied the claims in singer Deryck Whibley’s memoir accusing him of sexual coercion…
Sum 41’s Deryck Whibley alleges sexual abuse by former manager in new memoir ‘Walking Disaster’
Deryck Whibley (Travis Shinn) Deryck Whibley is ready to tell you everything.When the Sum 41 frontman first sat down to write what would become his…