FESTIVAL BOOKS | Hitlist BOOKS HITLIST
Yasmin Sulaiman’s pick of the best book-related happenings to head to this week Square Gardens, 0845 373 5888, 13 Aug, 8.15pm, £12 (£10).
THE VIEW FROM CASTLE ROCK After their successful theatrical collaboration with Grid Iron in 2014 on Letters Home, the Edinburgh International Book Festival once again teams up with another first-rate Scottish company, this time with Stellar Quines for this adaptation of Nobel Prize winner Alice Munro’s short story collection. artSpace at St Mark’s, 0845 373 5888, 13–29 Aug (not 16, 21, 23), times vary, £15 (£12). Previews 11 & 12 Aug, 10.30am, £10.
EDINBURGH BOOK FRINGE Word Power’s annual book festival gets under way this weekend. Look out for appearances across August, including Samir Jeraj on The Rent Trap (14 Aug), The Comet Seekers author Helen Sedgwick (18 Aug), The Outrun’s Amy Liptrot (25 Aug) and crime writer James Robertson (26 Aug). Word Power Books, 662 9112, 13–27 Aug, times vary, free.
KATE TEMPEST See preview, page 35. Charlotte
EIMEAR MCBRIDE The author of the Bailey’s Prize- winning A Girl Is A Half-Formed Thing discusses her new novel, The Lesser Bohemians, about a woman who moves from Ireland to London in the 1990s. Charlotte Square Gardens, 14 Aug, 0845 373 5888, 4pm, £12 (£10).
BILLY BRAGG The iconic singer-songwriter talks to Vic Galloway about his new annotated collection of songs, A Lover Sings. See preview, page 35. Charlotte Square Gardens, 14 Aug, 0845 373 5888, 8.15pm, £12 (£10).
LAURA BATES It’s always a treat to hear the Everyday Sexism founder talk. This year, she’s at Charlotte Square discussing sex, pornography and body image in support of her book Girl Up. You’ll also catch her at the Amnesty International Imprisoned Writers Series on the same day at 5.30pm (free tickets available on the day). Charlotte Square Gardens, 0845 373 5888, 14 Aug, 8.45pm, £12 (£10).
Han Kang
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UNBOUND The book festival’s series of free late-night events gets off to a great start with interactive drawing from The Phoenix Comic (14 Aug), Liz Lochhead and the Hazey Janes (16
Aug), the Bookshop Band and Man Booker International Prize winner Han Kang (17 Aug), and Bidisha (18 Aug). Charlotte Square Gardens, 0845 373 5888, nightly from 14 Aug, 9pm, free.
The beautiful green space of Charlotte Square Gardens in the centre of Edinburgh is transformed into a magical village of tents and walkways, theatres, cafés, bookshops and grassy areas to sit, read and soak up
Book and browse events: www.edbookfest.co.uk
the Festival atmosphere.
800 authors in 750 events including:
Ali Smith • Jonathan Safran Foer • Eimear McBride • Erica Jong • Miranda Sawyer • Chris Brookmyre Mark Haddon • Judith Kerr • Edward Ross • Jackie Kay • Billy Letford • Packie Bonner • Janet Ellis
Lemn Sissay • Kevin Barry • Val McDermid • Chris Boardman • Michel Faber • Shappi Khorsandi • Irvine Welsh
Ray Mears • Geoff Dyer • Liz Lochhead • A L Kennedy
32 THE LIST FESTIVAL 11–18 Aug 2016