Books and Literature

California Live’s Jessica Vilchis sits down with Jim O’Heir, who played the loveable Jerry on “Parks and Recreation,” to discuss his new memoir “Welcome to Pawnee.” He shares what inspired him to write the book, the cast member who checked on him most often during the series’ run, and the number one rule they had on set.

California Live’s Amber Pfister joins our sister shows “Chicago Today” and “The Hub Today” to reveal this month’s Banned Book Club read: “The Awakening” by Kate Chopin.

California Live correspondent Laila Muhammad visits Octavia’s Bookshelf in Pasadena where owner Nikki High curates a collection of books by BIPOC authors. The unique bookshop encourages community connection through fun events, guest speakers and more.

California Live’s Jessica Vilchis sits down for a raw and enlightening conversation with the author of “Sin Padres, Ni Papeles.” Stephanie L. Canizales, who is also an Assistant Professor of Sociology at UC Berkeley, writes about the struggles this vulnerable community faces while striving for a better future.

California Live’s Jessica Vilchis chats with TODAY’s Al Roker and his daughter Courtney Roker Laga about their new cookbook “Recipes to Live By.” The cookbook is a compilation of cherished Roker family recipes from over the years

California Live’s Jessica Vilchis joins our sister shows “Chicago Today” and “The Hub Today” to reveal this month’s Banned Book Club read: “Beloved” by Toni Morrison.

The Nobel Prize in literature has been awarded to the South Korean author Han Kang for what the Nobel committee called her “intense poetic prose.”

California Live’s Jobeth Devera sits down with Kyla Zhao, a 26-year-old Stanford graduate who spends her days working as a data analyst and her nights crafting change-making chapters. Her novels, centered around women and girls of color fighting to carve their place in male-dominated spaces, have earned her a Forbes 30 Under 30 honor and recognition from the California State...

“The book uses the same techniques as the show to encourage speech and 20 milestones, all through a playful story!”

Banned Books Week started in 1982 and draws attention to censorship.

Two new reports provide a mixed but compelling outlook on the wave of book removals and challenges as the annual Banned Books Week begins for schools, stores and libraries nationwide.

California Live’s Jessica Vilchis chats with award-winning author and screenwriter Gary Goldstein about the release of his third novel, “Please Come to Boston.” This follow-up to his second book, “The Mother I Never Had” is a heartfelt coming-of-age story about college kids in the seventies finding themselves and finding love.

The 78-year-old country music legend has made it her mission to improve literacy through her Imagination Library book giveaway program. And in recent months, it has expanded statewide in places like Missouri and Kentucky.

San Diego County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer Monday outlined a proposed policy intended to protect “banned books” and ensure they are accessible at all 33 county library branches.

There’s a new proposal to challenge book bans in San Diego, reports NBC 7’s Todd Strain.

California Live’s Jessica Vilchis sits down with physician and author Dr. Ian Smith to get a preview of “Eagle Rock,” the fourth installment of Smith’s successful “Ashe Cayne” series.

California Live’s Jessica Vilchis sits down with Terri Sjodin, author of “Presentation Ready,” to learn her top tips for setting yourself up for success during life’s important moments. Whether it’s a job interview, a client meeting or in everyday interactions with friends and family, you may be making crucial communication errors.

California Live correspondent Laila Muhammad heads to Studio City to meet 18-year-old Annabelle Chang and check out the highly curated collection of young adult-focused books.

Edna O’Brien has died at age 93. She was one of the world’s most admired and controversial writers who scandalized her native Ireland with her debut novel, “The Country Girls,” which was censored and even burned.

Richard Behar’s new biography, “Madoff: The Final Word,” takes readers into the fraudster’s final years in prison, and all that came before.