A conversation on the Hollywood sign and L.A.

Leo Braudy, the USC cultural historian and critic whose books have been finalists for the National Book Critics Circle Award and the National Book Award, has written a fun and enlightening read on the rise of the Hollywood sign as an American icon — a peculiar sort of icon that doesn't represent anything, but that nonetheless carries many layers of meaning. Professor Braudy will be the special guest, and I'll be the not-so-special interviewer and moderator, this Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Central Library in Downtown. He will talk about the sign and show some photos, we'll have an (I hope) interesting conversation, and the audience will join in with questions and comments. Afterward, we sign books. It's part of the ALOUD series at the library's Mark Taper Auditorium, so that means it's all free but to be safe you should reserve a spot.