The 30th Los Angeles Times Festival of Books took place at USC, attracting tens of thousands of literature enthusiasts who flooded the city’s campus on Saturday.
This annual event, renowned as the largest literary festival in the nation, offers a rich program of readings, screenings, and panels showcasing the work of acclaimed authors and other literary figures.
With more than 550 storytellers participating across seven outdoor stages and 15 indoor venues, the festival has garnered immense popularity over the years.
While attendance figures for the first day were not immediately available, festival organizers noted that the atmosphere was vibrant and bustling, predicting attendance could reach as high as 85,000 by the day’s end as the sun shone brightly after a rainy start.
Among the notable presenters on Saturday were authors Matthew Specktor and Griffin Dunne, who spoke about their memoirs exploring the complexities of growing up in Hollywood.
The two authors engaged in a thought-provoking discussion with former Times book editor and critic David L. Ulin that drew a crowd of over 150 participants in USC’s Town and Gown ballroom.
Specktor, who has penned several novels and nonfiction works, discussed themes from his book “The Golden Hour: A Story of Family and Power in Hollywood.”
Dunne shared insights from his memoir, “The Friday Afternoon Club: A Family Memoir,” which reflects on poignant moments of his life, including his experiences related to his late father and celebrated literary family members.
A highlight of their discussion was Dunne’s mention of the posthumous publication of Joan Didion’s “Notes to John,” a collection of intimate journal entries directed to her husband.
Dunne was taken aback when he learned of this deeply personal release only a day before it was publicly announced, reflecting on Didion’s dual role as both subject and reporter of her own life experiences.
During the noon panel discussion at the festival, another notable gathering occurred at the Eileen Norris Cinema Theatre, where over 100 attendees listened to authors E.A. Hanks, Laurie Woolever, Sloane Crosley, and Kareem Rosser delve into themes of grief.
Moderated by Elizabeth Crane, the authors shared their reflections on writing about loss, many of them recounting challenges related to experiencing multiple losses throughout their writing journeys.
The panel tackled the nonlinear nature of grief, with Crane emphasizing that the supposed five stages of grief do not always unfold in a sequential manner.
Humor punctuated the discussions as Crosley and Hanks amusingly referenced the kind of music suitable for writing about heavy topics like suicide, drawing laughter from the engaged audience.
Crosley recounted her own journey in “Grief is for People,” intertwining her experience of losing jewelry in a burglary with the profound impact of losing her best friend to suicide.
Hanks, in her memoir “The 10: A Memoir of Family and the Open Road,” reflected on her efforts to navigate her mother’s passing and the death of a close friend during her travels, revealing the decade-long process that led to her book’s publication.
She offered words of encouragement to aspiring writers, stating that the road to publishing often serves as a journey toward creative recovery.
In the afternoon, the festival also featured a main stage appearance by Paige DeSorbo and Hannah Berner, co-hosts of the popular podcast “The Giggly Squad,” who brought a humorous and candid dialogue to the event.
The duo discussed their new book “How to Giggle: A Guide to Taking Life Less Seriously,” which is styled like an early-2000s teen magazine, jam-packed with quizzes and personal anecdotes.
Addressing a standing-room-only crowd, Berner playfully remarked on the audience’s intelligence, while both hosts shared their experiences in reality television and how they manage anxiety.
When asked about cultivating close friendships, DeSorbo advised attendees to seek out those who allow them to be their true selves.
The festival’s activities commenced the previous evening with the 45th Los Angeles Times Book Prizes ceremony, held at USC’s Bovard Auditorium.
This prestigious event recognizes exemplary literary achievements, honoring authors across a broad range of career stages through 13 award categories for works published over the past year.
Notably, award-winning author Pico Iyer was honored with the Robert Kirsch Award for lifetime achievement, while acclaimed poet Amanda Gorman received the Innovator’s Award for her advocacy in promoting literacy and empowering youth.
The ceremony featured remarks from Times Executive Editor Terry Tang and was emceed by Times columnist LZ Granderson, who set a tone of celebration and unity among book lovers.
Tang emphasized the festival’s role in providing a space for connection amid the current times of confusion and distress, urging participants to find purpose and community through their shared love of literature.
image source from：https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-04-26/tens-of-thousands-of-people-expected-to-attend-first-day-of-annual-book-festiva
