Struggling to make some sense of the war. he yearns only to return to his fiancee and Widowed mother. His plight is recounted candidly yet modestly. and in the plainest of English With some stilted dialogue. While it is unclear if Ha Jin's style is a deliberate ploy representing the protagonists approach to the language. the matter-of—fact cataloguing of events certainly makes the horror and brutality of life at war easier on the palate.
Indeed the poetry of this piece unfolds With the narrative: in homage to his father's service. lla Jin
huinanises a conflict that was understood little by those involved in the carnage and offers a timely. unrestricted insight into the personal realities of a war waged over ideology and VVlll.
(Mark Edmundsonl
COMIC TRAVELOGUF LOUIS THEROUX
The Call of the Weird lMacmillanl 0.0
Back in the late 90s. a geeky chap Willi a famous surname came from behind the scenes of Michael Moore's 7V Nation to spend some l‘i/eird Weekends which cast a less than flattering light on ufologists. pom stars and white supremacists. These were mainly ‘normal' folk who happened to stumble in front of
l ouis 'lhei'oux's radar. but as soon as his reputation grew. he thought it would be a whee/e to hang out With eccentric politicians. DJs and hoxers.
Neil
_ Gaiman
The award-wit'ming cult novelist will be reading
from and signing copies of ‘Anansi Boys’, the long-awaited follow
up to ‘American Gods’.
WEDNESDAY
9TH NOVEMBER
AT 7PM
{O k: " J a, 153")". «w .Lt'u mulls: item ‘ {MIR ill-7122mm
The results were never guite the same. so ‘l'ravels in American Suhculture' features Theroux attempting to track down the original characters who helped make his name. An amusing 'oddballs reunited' venture would be entertaining enough. but he has gone into this proiect Willi some vague idea of trying to learn more about himself than his subjects. Ultimately. it proves that he remains in the shadow of Moore as well as fellow humourist Jon Ronson and bumbling boom operator Nick Broomfield.
(Brian Donaldson)
WA'I‘I‘IRS'IT )N I‘I'S
Venue: The Roxy Art House, 2 Roxburgh Place
Tickets £3, available from Waterstone’s, 128 Princes Street, Edinburgh. Tel: 013] 2262666
The
Fruitmarket
Gallery
Unbound
Art Publishing Forum Saturday 19 November, 2—5pm
Unbound: Art Publishing Forum otters a timely discussion of independent art publishing in Scotland, tocusing on books produced by galleries, museums and independent publishers in close collaboration with artists and writers on art.
The forum examines the commissioning, design, production and distribution of art books, together with the economic models and audiences that ensure their continued cultural presence and survival. 7
Forum speakers
45 Market Street,
Edinburgh EH1 lDF
- Marc lambert (Chair)
CEO, The Scottish Book Trust
- James Brook Book Works, London On working with artists outside the i structure of an exhibition programme
- Nathan Coley Artist
On the process and impact of publishing books within the development of his practice
0 Maria Fusco Course Leader. Book Arts 1 and Illustration, University of East London
On successful distribution models in art publishing
- Elizabeth McLean Deputy Director
The Fruitmarket Gallery
On the Fruitmarket Gallery/s publishing programme, as one of the several
Scottish galleries that regularly publish
books with artists.
- Annla Theobald
Revolver Publications, Frankfurt
Offering an international perspective,
and talking about ’Kiosk’ a travelling
exhibition of art books
Book Fair Ham—2pm
The Fruitmarket Gallery Bookshop will run a one day only Book Fair presenting the best from independent publishers and a wide range of contemporary art book’s.
Tickets $10 ($7 conc.)
Booking essential
P Ol3l 22o 8l8l ' E bookshop@fruitmarket.co.uk 02:338an j
P +44 [0] 131 225 2383 infoialfruitmarketcouk F +44 [0] T3] 220 3l30 wwwfruitmarketcouk
37-17 Nov 2005) THE LIST 31