Book Soup

Marginalia ? the notes and doodles scribbled in the white space of printed material ? is usually an afterthought, but for Sergio Aragones, it's an art. The prolific illustrator has long filled the margins (and pages and covers) of Mad magazine with keen cartoons that have helped define the publication's irreverent sense of humor. Aragones' work has been collected in the new book "Mad's Greatest Artists: Sergio Aragones," which he will sign and discuss. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd.

MARCH 7 Jodi Picoult The bestselling author discusses and signs her new novel, "Lone Wolf. " Told from multiple points of view, it's the story of grown siblings wrestling with the fate of their father, who is gravely ill. Picoult is known for writing popular fiction and for her outspoken support of women's fiction that focuses on families and relationships (just don't call it "chick lit"). Presented by Vroman's Bookstore. Ramo Auditorium at Caltech, 332 S . Michigan Ave. Free.

Pioneering performance artist and educator Rachel Rosenthal will be presenting and signing her new memoir-manifesto, "The DbD Experience: Chance Knows What It's Doing," which describes her performance technique and weekend-long "Doing by Doing" workshop. Book Soup. 8818 W. Sunset Blvd. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110. http://www.booksoup.com.

Words & Ideas Compiled by Liesl Bradner. SUNDAY Nancy Daley : The author "Fatty McPherson," will be joined by her son and actor-writer John Francis Daley for a reading. Barnes & Noble , 731 N. San Fernando Blvd., Burbank. 4 p.m. (818) 558-1383. Steve Pemberton: The Walgreens executive and author will be signing his book, "A Chance in the World. " Barnes & Noble, , 731 N. San Fernando Blvd., Burbank. 1 p.m. (818) 558-1383. Shorty Rossi: The tough-talking star of Animal Planet's hit show "Pit Boss" discusses and signs "Four Feet Tall and Rising: A Memoir.

Great poetry is transcendent, but Pamela August Russell proves the other side of the coin also has its charms in reading from her new collection, "B Is for Bad Poetry," a bent look at modern life featuring original works with such titles as "Nietzsche and the Ice-Cream Truck" and "A Beginner's Guide to Mediocrity." It may not be Whitman, but Russell's verses are often a whole lot funnier. Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 2 p.m. Sat. (310) 659-3110.

There may not be another painter that has captured the feeling of Los Angeles better than Ed Ruscha. He's wrung resonance from gas station signs, loneliness from advertisements and epic wonder from the most tedious urban detritus. Here he signs a loving retrospective of his work, "Ed Ruscha: Fifty Years of Painting," with texts by James Ellroy, Richard Wagner and many others. Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Saturday. www.booksoup.com.

For some, a book club means Chardonnay, gossip and some bookish conversation. For Oprah Winfrey, it's meant making bestsellers and, as she said Monday, "the biggest controversy in our 25 years. " As her broadcast television show comes to a close, Winfrey welcomed the reason for that controversy — the not-truthful memoirist James Frey — onto two full shows of her final 10, putting her once-vital Book Club back at the center of the national discussion. Oprah's Book Club launched quietly in 1996, and a nod soon became a sure shot to the bestseller list and a windfall for publishing as a whole.

BOOKS Over the course of his career as a punk-rock singer, spoken-word poet, writer and radio personality, Henry Rollins has largely operated in the realm of words. With his new photography book, "Occupants," Rollins ventures into the world of images, chronicling his observations of and reactions to such far-flung locales as Iraq, Bangladesh, Northern Ireland and South Africa. He'll appear at a signing. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Thu. (310) 659-3110.

Comedian, actress and provocateur Sarah Silverman can add author to her list of accomplishments with the publication of her new memoir, "The Bedwetter." She will speak briefly and sign copies of the book, a collection of humorous personal essays. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 6 p.m. Thursday. (310) 659-3110. http://www.booksoup.com.

Two major independent bookstores in Los Angeles are about to become partners: Pasadena-based Vroman's has signed an agreement to purchase Book Soup in West Hollywood. Glenn Goldman, Book Soup's longtime owner, began looking for a buyer when he fell severely ill, and the fate of the store has been up in the air since his death in January. "Glenn and I had talked about it," Allison Hill, Vroman's president and chief operating officer, told The Times on Friday night, "and we've been in conversations with the seller since January."

BOOKS Richard Sparks The choral conductor and co-author of "Along the Cherry Lane" discusses the music industry memoir he penned with father-in-law Milton Okun, the music producer and founder of Cherry Lane Music. Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110. http://www.booksoup.com Norman Lebrecht The author of "Why Mahler? How One Man and Ten Symphonies Changed Our World" will discuss the life, work and legacy of Gustav Mahler. Lebrecht will be joined by Deborah Borda, president and chief executive of the L.A. Philharmonic.

Compiled by Liesl Bradner. SUNDAY Dennis Palumbo: The author leads the workshop "Taking the Mystery Out of Writing Mysteries" and signs "Fever Dream," Vromans Bookstore 3729 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena. 4 p.m. (626) 449-5320. Heather Donahue: The actress and author signs her memoir, "Grow Girl: How My Life After The Blair Witch Project Went to Pot. " Dark Delicacies 3512 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank. 2 p.m. (818) 556-6660. Tribute to Christopher Hitchens: A morning of remembrance along with reading selections from the late author's collection of writings.

COMEDY The Black Version Let's set the stage: An audience member shouts out the title of a popular film and a cast of black comedians then improvs its version, so come IMDB ready. The crew's many funny credits include "MADtv," "Reno 911!," "Punk'd" and "The Pee-wee Herman Show. " Groundlings Theatre, 7307 Melrose Ave., L.A. 8 p.m. $15. (323) 934-4747. http://www.groundlings.com. The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret Writer, actor and comedian David Cross will present and discuss his TV series about a bumbling American office drone who bluffs his way into a senior position at his company's London office.

Glenn Goldman, whose independent bookstore, Book Soup, became a Sunset Boulevard landmark known for its tall, teetering stacks and mazes of shelves crammed with titles that attracted entertainment and tourist industry clientele, died Saturday. He was 58.